The Devotional – 1071 – Foot Steps in First Corinthians, On Going

The Devotional – 1071 – Foot Steps in First Corinthians, On Going

Life has many bends in the road, some these can be unnoticeable while others cause us to re-orient the struggle to stay on track. Most all of these events are temporal and yet all of them leave us with the battle scars of survival. There is one bend in the road that we never overcome. It is a daily battle for each one of us, even those who say that they have no battle. Of course I am talking about SIN; “If we say that we have no sin, we make Him (God) a liar, and His Word is not in us” – 1 John 1:10. Yet even if someone believes that God is a liar – they still will die a physical death. This physical death then is not victory is it? No it is defeat and the fight of life to the death is the result of sin; of which all of us will experience apart from the rapture when this physical body will be changed instantly to the likeness of Christ.

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

So with the above said; “But Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (died) – (verse 20). With just this verse of scripture we could spend the rest of the devotional just looking into the word… firstfruits and maybe we should. What does it mean to be the very first fruit?

The word is found in the Old Testament 26 times and in the New Testament 7 times. In just a brief reading of the Old Testament verses the firstfruits of living as a Jew was to give to the LORD from the first of your labor, your increase, harvest and all that could be offered to the LORD, even your firstborn child. The willingness to do this proved to the Israelite that he was living in faithful obedience to God.

In the seven remaining verses in the New Testament the offering of faith and obedience to God is offered to God, by God Himself, mankind is required only to believe God. Jesus Christ whom the world of sin and death has no victory over, became the “firstfruit” of the resurrected life and all of those who believe this are the fruits of His obedience to God the Father. This is the revealing Truth that the apostle John speaks of (John 1:14). The Word that became flesh, full of grace and Truth.

Also, Jesus is the “firstfruits” of God’s LAMB, His pure sinless LAMB who is the only One to take away the SIN of the WORLD. With boldness and confident diction John the Baptizer says – John 1 29-14.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." 32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

The results of God’s Grace and Truth and the offering of the LAMB of God by GOD Himself produced for everyone who believes to be the following FRUIT of victory over sin and death. Faith is the fruitful result victory over sin. “Therefore beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD (His firstfruit sacrifice), knowing that your labor (fruitful sacrifice) is not in vain in the LORD.