“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures”
that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures
The idea of “firstfruits” is an Old Testament expression that communicated the idea of the first portion and best crops (Deuteronomy 26:1–19). The first crops announce the new season. They are a pledge of a new order. The priest would save a sheaf of the firstfruits before the Lord (Leviticus 23:11). This signaled that the crop came from the Lord.
Those who come to Christ in the new generation (regeneration) are a foretaste and pledge of the kind of people God brings into His Kingdom. As God’s “firstfruits” (born-again people), we can resist temptation with a new capacity to serve God. God gives us eternal life, new life, regenerated life, so He is not responsible for temptation. Christians of the first century are the first installment of God’s new order of believers in eternity. In heaven, we will be God’s treasure because God concentrated us to Himself.
Principle:
There is a great harvest coming whereby everything will be new for Christians.
Application:
The Christian will not only experience the regeneration of her soul at salvation but a complete regeneration of her body, soul, and spirit at her entrance into God’s kingdom.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:18-23).
Because they belong to His family, God will exalt Christians above non-Christians. We are the “bride of Christ” (Revelation 2:19).
