God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be the first born of all creation. As the first born, Jesus took on the inheritance rights and special status normally given to the first born son. This included taking the place and receiving the blessing meant for the first born, even when he was not the first to be born physically. By becoming human and dying on the cross, Jesus exchanged his rights as God's first born to save all those who believe in him from perishing. As a result, believers become part of Christ's body and church as joint heirs with him as God's first born son.