The Firstfruits

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

In my limited amount of gardening experience, I have consistently found that the first fruits are always the best fruits.  It holds the sweets nutrients, the strongest vigor, and produces the best seed for next year.  It is the first fruit, it is the best fruit.

Jesus Christ was/is the first fruit of them that slept.  He was the first to walk this earth as a man that was without sin.  He was the first to meet Satan with the power of the Holy Ghost.  He was the first to come out of grave bringing victory.  He was the first fruits of them that slept.  Those that slept encompass the souls, the numerous and countless that were waiting under the alter for resurrection unto life.  Waiting for the coming of the Lord.  They could not be the first fruit, they were kept under the alter, which is holy.  They were not worthy to open the book and loose the seals thereof; simply put, they were not the best.  Sin tainted the even the most noble among them, the product of which was a people waiting for the coming of Christ.  Jesus was the personification of better things.  A better way, better covenant, better testament, better temple, and better fellowship with the Father.  He was born to grow, die, and be resurrected as the first fruit.  The first fruit that would lead the harvest.  Typically, in agriculture, the first fruit is the indicator of things to come, as in the natural so in the spiritual.  Christ was the first fruit and the indicator of things to come.  He would ascend to heaven and send the Holy Ghost.  This would be the second coming of himself in the person of the Spirit which would raise us from the dead into a life of righteous.  It can and will translate us from citizens of this world to citizens of heaven.  Providing assurance of a home in heaven, while here as pilgrims on earth.  Jesus Christ has brought to us the opportunity to come into perfect fellowship with the Father, through the second coming of the Holy Spirit.  Once we are brought into the person of Christ (through the Spirit) and made to eat of flesh and drink of his blood (though the Spirit) we are now abiding in the vine and are products of the same vine that the first fruit was tapped into.  For this reason, and this reason only, are we holy, or ever able to claim the glorious liberty and power that is found in living holy.  It is all because of the first fruit.

Holiness is not an unattainable state of being.  It is not a priest in fancy robes, or a monk in a secluded temple.  It is the union between God and man; through the vehicle of the Holy Spirit.  It is grounded on a conversion experience and witnessed by the Holy Ghost; after you have died to yourselves (i.e. you’re plans, wishes, ambitions, etc.), your sins, and raised again by the power of God.  Once repented, once dead, once risen, and once given; you are now a fruit of the vine ready to grow and mature.  Living in pursuit of conformity to the image of the first fruit; separated from the purists of the world and planted together with Him in the likeness of resurrection.