What Are FirstFruits, And Why Should I Care?
By Guy Siverson
The other day while I was talking with a friend of mine the subject of FirstFruits came up. No, firstfruits are not kin to picking a peach over a plum and considering it first. So what exactly are firstfruits and what does this term mean within the realms of Christendom?
Let's start gaining an understanding for this term by first turning to Webster.
1 : the earliest gathered fruits offered to the Deity in acknowledgment of the gift of fruitfulness
2 : the earliest products or results of an endeavor
Definitions provided by Webster.com
Here firstfruits are seen as those who are the first of the souls to be harvested for eternal salvation. While I can tell you that I did challenge my friend's positions on this point, isn't it more important to turn to God's Word and find out what it has to say about the subject of firstfruits?
A quick search of the term firstfruits from BibleGateway.com revealed 31 entries for firstfruits. While are project appears to have just become a small Bible Study, many of the firstfruits verses can be cut away as they deal with how crops were to be handled rather than looking directly at what this term should mean to each one of us.
Romans 8:23
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Here we find that we have received the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit. Considering that this was a clear promise Christ gave when He ascended back to Heaven I find that this makes sense.
John 16:7
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
Next we find that Christ Himself was seen as a type of firstfruits.
1 Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
When Christ rose from the grave He became the firstfruits of all who had ever died? Why? Simple, no one had previously been able to defeat one of our greatest foes, death itself. Not only does this set Christ apart as God, but it also clearly demonstrates that He was more than just a man as well as being Holy clear thru.
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Romans 11:16
If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Else, you and I have no chance of being changed into Holy beings at some time in the future. And, if we are not holy and pure without sin then we have no hope of being reunited with the Father God; for He cannot look upon sin in any form?
James 1:18
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Now that Christ has paid it all for us, we have the ability to be reborn and become a type of firstfruits, but not the actual firstfruits of redemption. Thus we could conclude that Christ Himself is the entirety of the firstfruits. This would be possible minus this verse that follows.
1 Corinthians 15:23
But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
While Christ is indeed part of the firstfruits there are 3 separate categories listed above.
1. Christ
2. Firstfruits
3. Those who belong to Him
Why make such a clear division between category 2 & 3 unless there is indeed a distinction to be made.
Matthew 27:52-53
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
In conclusion, as it relates to salvation I find 3 different types of first fruits.
1. Christ Himself
2. Those who came out of their tombs when Christ died
3. Christians alive today, we are the one's that this next verse applies to...
Revelation 14:4
These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.