Firstfruits of the Resurrection

When we left off with the Apostle Paul’s legal case for the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, he drew the inevitable conclusions from the false assertion of the Corinthian Resurrection-denyers.  Paul logically concluded that if Jesus was not raised from the dead, all who proclaim that He was are not only being deceived and deceivers, but we’re also fools.  We are to be pitied because we’ve believed a lie.  And now Paul states the truth. The other shoe drops in Jesus’ being the firstfruits of the very real Resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Do you see Paul’s intellect?  No one can deny that all people die.  It’s one of the most empirically proven facts of the universe.  Paul says, if you believe all people die (which traces back to the Fall of Man and the introduction of mortality) then it’s not a stretch to believe that if Jesus was Resurrected, He’s the firstfruits and the same will apply to those who belong to Christ. 

Adam represented us in sin leading to earthly death.  Jesus Christ–the firstfruits–represents us in eternal life which means Resurrection for all who believe!

In Bible-speak, firstfruits are the best of the crop which can represent the first of the harvest (Leviticus 23:10-11, 17, 20) as an offering to God acknowledging the whole harvest belongs to Him, and the term firstfruits also denotes the best.  First in time.  First in quality.

Jesus is the firstfruits.  Jesus is the best!  As the author of Hebrews writes:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12:2)

What Does It Mean to Be Resurrected?  After the perfect sacrifice and firstfruits of Christ in His Resurrection, Jesus paved the way for the rest of the harvest.  That’s you and me and all of us who acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  He is the author, the pioneer, the perfecter, the firstfruits–wholly acceptable to God.  Not just wholly but holy, therefore acceptable to God, just as we will be because of the blood of Christ has made us acceptable to the Father!

Our series on 1 Corinthians 15 entitled What It Means to Be Resurrected can be accessed fully from the archives beginning April 2017.