A Kind of Firstfruits
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Listen to the "Verse by Verse" episode covering this scripture.
The Bible uses many agricultural analogies to describe spiritual truths. God calls His people firstfruits—the first ones called to salvation. “‘Firstfruits’ refers to the first portion of the harvest given to God, a foretaste of that which was to come” (Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, note on James 1:18).
Firstfruits also are a major aspect of God’s harvest festivals. Passover represents Jesus Christ, the first of the firstfruits. Pentecost, or “the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors” (Exodus 23:16), represents the New Testament Church.
For more about how this analogy fits into God’s plan of salvation, download our free booklet From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.
