1 Corinthians 15 12 26 The Vital Importance

1 Corinthians 15: 12 -26 The Vital Importance of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and His Role as the “Firstfruits” of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15: 12 -19 The Apostle Paul is absolutely clear: Without a physically resurrected Jesus Christ; our faith is powerless to save us from our sins or provide eternal security for our souls in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 15: 20 -26 Jesus is described as the “firstfruits” of the Resurrection, being the first human to be raised with a resurrection body. He is now “the firstborn from the dead. ” (Colossians 1: 18, Revelation 1: 5).

In a farming culture, the joy of seeing the “firstfruits” of the harvest is huge! The firstfruits are the promise of more to come…it is beginning of the harvest. For Christians, Jesus’ resurrection body is the “template” for our future ones.

Romans 6: 8 -10 8 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ”

Revelation 1: 17 -18 17 … “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. ”

On a deeper level, the Apostle Paul uses the idea of “firstfruits” to connect to the day that Jesus was raised from the dead. That Sunday began the Jewish feast called the “Feast of Firstfruits, ” where they would honor God with the first batch of grain crops that were harvested.

Leviticus 23: 9 -14 In addition to the sacrifice of a lamb and other grain and drink offerings, each person would bring a sheaf of barley to the priest. The priest would wave the sheaf over the person, in the presence of God, for the person’s blessing.

Hebrews 7: 24 -25 24 “Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. ”

In the old ritual, the priest waved the barley sheaf over the person, signifying their sacrifice was acceptable. “Christ the Firstfruit” now waves to us, as Priest in the presence of the Father, declaring His sacrifice as perfect and that as He now is we someday shall be too.

Jesus Christ is the “Firstfruits” of the Resurrection: 1. ) The Promise of a future harvest in Heaven for all who trust in Him. 2. ) The Priest who lives forever to intercede for us on behalf of the Father.