The Bible Resurrections: Who is part of the first fruits?

(See part #2 here)

Let me put some focus on what is the meaning of 'first fruits', and then we will look at who makes up this part of the resurrection.

What is first fruits?

The harvest began with the first fruits, which concerned the first fruits and grains to ripen in the season and were offered to the LORD as a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Exodus 23:16,19).

Leviticus 23:9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.

Just as the firstfruits of the harvest were a sacrifice to the LORD so Jesus Christ was sacrificed for our sins and raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25); hence, he's the firstfruits of the resurrection of the righteous.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23, Paul teaches that Christ in his bodily resurrection is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." As such, he is the guarantee that all those who belong to Him will be raised from the dead by the time we get to His second coming. In the Old Testament, the first sheaf of the crop was to be brought to God (Leviticus 23:10 Leviticus 23:11 Leviticus 23:17) as a guarantee that the rest of the harvest was coming. So, it is in God's redemption harvest. First, Christ the "firstfruits" has triumphed in His resurrection; then, the rest of his "crop", the redeemed, will be raised triumphantly in stages up until His second coming (1 Corinthians 15:23).

1 Cor.15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept [died]. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

It is clear that Jesus is the first of many that would be resurrected to life. But is He the only one who makes up this 'first fruits' part of the resurrection of the righteous?

Who are the first fruits?

In a sense, yes! Christ is the first fruits, but the body of Christ is more than just the resurrected 'earthly' body of Christ. Both you are I, and ALL who have responded in faith to the grace gospel, which speaks of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, are 'His body', and make up the first fruits of this resurrection of the righteous. How do I get to this deduction? Let's look at what the Bible says.

Jesus took our place in judgement. In other words, He died for us! When God turned his back on Christ, He was turning His back on us! Our judgement, death, and resurrection, is not in the FUTURE! We have ALREADY been judged, and died, and resurrected to life!

We, who are the Body of Christ, are connected to Christ's death and resurrection.

We were judged when He was judged (Rom.8:1 There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. The Greek word for condemnation is literally "down-judgment"; Isa.53:8; Rom.4:8; 2 Cor.5:19; Col.2:13-14)
We died and were buried when He died and was buried (Rom.6:5-8; Gal.2:20).
We were raised with Him (Col.2:12; Col.3:1; Rom.8:11).

Do you get it? In this regard, we are part of , or participate in the first fruits resurrection of Christ (Rom.8:23).

The Body of Christ is UNIQUE compared to all other! We are ALREADY judged, died, and resurrected!! Our salvation is ALREADY achieved! I know I am stressing the point, but it is important to see this and understand our position in the sequence of resurrections and raptures. Have a look at this final example to really drill this point in.

Notice how Paul puts emphasis on Jesus in the following scripture,

God raised JESUS and set Him in heavenly places

Eph.1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Now, in the following verse, notice how Paul, saying the SAME thing, puts emphasis on us, the Body of Christ,

God raised US and set us in heavenly places

Eph.2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

So, this is my point. Since we are "in Christ", hidden in Him, we are seen "as Him" in the eyes of God, I stand in confidence with this view that we, as the Body of Christ, are counted as part of the first fruits of the resurrection of the righteous. Now, if this is the case, then who makes up the main harvest?

I will delve into more details on the main harvest resurrection in my next post.