First fruits bible new testament
The "firstfruits" is a biblical concept that refers to the first and best part of a harvest, which is offered to God as a symbol of gratitude and worship. In the New Testament, the concept of firstfruits is mentioned in several passages, including:
- Romans 8:23 - "And not only the creation, but ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 - "But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
- 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."
In these passages, the concept of firstfruits is used to describe the following:
- In Romans 8:23, the firstfruits of the Spirit refer to the initial experience of salvation, which is a taste of the eternal life that is to come.
- In 1 Corinthians 15:20, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the guarantee of the resurrection of all believers.
- In James 1:18, the firstfruits of all he created refer to the redeemed people of God, who are the first to experience the new creation and the redemption of all things.
The concept of firstfruits is also used in the Old Testament to describe the offering of the first and best part of the harvest to God, as a symbol of gratitude and worship (e.g. Leviticus 23:10-11, Deuteronomy 26:1-11). In the New Testament, the concept is applied to the spiritual realm, where the firstfruits are seen as a symbol of the redemption and resurrection that is to come.