The Body of Christ is `grafted in` to the `root` which is the Lord.
The Lord is the `holy One` not Israel.
The Lord is the One who `supports us,` not Israel.
The Lord is the One who `nourishes us,` not Israel.
`For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.` (Rom. 11: 16)
`But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.` (Rom. 11: 18)
`…and you, …became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.` (Rom. 11: 17)
Marilyn.
Fail.
I didn't mention the root. I mentioned the tree. The "wild" branches are grafted into an existing tree and they both partake of the same root, that is the Lord. So you've 1) ignored the scripture cited, 2) ignored the context of the text, and three argued a red herring.
And you've proven my point: There is no two different blessings! There is one tree. Not two.
You said the church's inheritance is in heaven and Israel's is on earth. Yet scripture asserted and I have argued and now you have confirmed there is only one tree and its common root is Christ.
Who is the "first fruits"?
Romans 8:18-23
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body."
Who is the "we" of that text? Christians! It is the Christian, both Jew and Gentile who possesses the first fruits of the Spirit that is....
Christ crucified and resurrected.
1 Corinthians 15:20-25
"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet."
Christ is the first fruits.
James 1:12-18
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures."
Who is the "we" of that text? According to the opening of the letter it is, "
the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad" who believe in the resurrected Lord. Christians!
Revelation 14:1-5
"Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless."
Who would the first century readers have understood to be the ones "
purchased from among men" by Christ?
So again we see the shared imagery of "first fruit" being the Spirit, Jesus, the Gentile converts and tall those who follow Christ. This figure of first fruit goes all the way back to Exodus and the Mosaic code, the tithe of Abraham and the sacrifice of Abel, and even the first sacrifice in which God clothed the first sinners by the shedding of blood.
All foreshadowing Christ
and his body.
