What is the Concept of Firstfruits?

[Notion]

My understanding is that every word from God is an image of a concept (an image of his awareness) which is to be conceived - his words are images of his awareness of his will, which we are to become aware of/conceive.

We speak to be understood - we speak to reproduce our awareness.

So, with the above in mind, please help me understand what concept God is trying to have us conceive by the usage of firstfruits? What is he trying to show us?

Why does he want firstfruits, first born, spotless lambs, etc? What is he doing with them? What are they to him? Please tell me anything and everything you can think of which relates to firstfruit.

 

[cyberlizard]

start here: 6. The Feast of Firstfruits (First Fruits)


Steve

 

[Radagast]

So, with the above in mind, please help me understand what concept God is trying to have us conceive by the usage of firstfruits?

In which bible passage?

 

[Notion]

In which bible passage?

All of them. I think it must be one concept being imaged/illustrated in multiple ways. There must be some commonality which is the definition or concept or idea being expressed.

Also, for anyone who will help me understand, can you please use layman's terms and try to explain the concept? (Not just what the concept is but how we should understand it.)

 

[Radagast]

All of them. I think it must be one concept being imaged/illustrated in multiple ways. There must be some commonality which is the definition or concept or idea being expressed.

Also, for anyone who will help me understand, can you please use layman's terms and try to explain the concept? (Not just what the concept is but how we should understand it.)

A complex concept used in different ways across the whole bible, in 30 different verses. And you want me to explain all that in layman's terms in one short post?

Sorry, no can do.

 

[Notion]

start here: 6. The Feast of Firstfruits (First Fruits)


Steve

Firstfruit is the fruit(result of work) of Love(agape/giving selflessly)? And it is the only acceptable fruit? The only Holy fruit? It is blameless (spotless)?

Am I off track? Can you help?

If Jesus is the firstfruit of resurrection, what is the work? (If the fruit is resurrection, the work is?) To become spiritually blameless by being agape/selfless? Is it by giving your first and best work to God or is it to all people? Also, whose work was the resurrection? Father's or Yeshua's? Or maybe sort of from Father (Yeshua's head) to the body(Yeshua) and then back? As in the way we receive seeds (what we see or hear of the word) and our work is to plant those seeds. We receive those seeds from our head, who is Yeshua, and the fruit of our work is spiritual awareness unto others after doing work(spreading gospel/planting seeds)? And Father takes those spiritually awoken as firstfruits as it was our blameless and spotless work? The only Holy work which we may achieve? And anything else is sin? I mean, in truth, what use has God actually got with the fat of an animal? Wasn't it Cain's actions and not what he brought before God which was in question? See... Cain didn't understand the concept... like me.

How far off am I?

 

[Notion]

It doesn't have to be a short post. Use as many words as you need. Not only might you be helping me, but all who ever search for firstfruits in times to come.

 

[Souldier]

I really don't understand this first fruits thing any more than you do, but it seems like some good meditation. I think about Proverbs which says to honor God with the first fruits, and i think about Paul saying to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. I think about how the Lord says that a seed falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone, yet it produces much fruit. I think about the fruit of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, truth, ect





Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;



James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.



Romans 8:21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

8 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.




Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit[a] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

 

[Souldier]

For me the scriptures are a deep well of wisdom and truth. It is hidden within. When i see things and consider them its like my mind has been overloaded with information. My puny brain cannot comprehend it all. I see that it is far greater than i am. I may become discouraged even though i am so happy to see this great mystery, or at least parts of it. I get discouraged because it seems within my grasp yet i cannot hold onto it. I become weak and see how weak i am. I guess i must wait on the Lord and he will strengthen me once again

 

[Souldier]

All i can say is Amen. The Lord is indeed Almighty. Walk by faith, not sight.



1 Co 1:8 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”[a]
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Glory Only in the Lord
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[c]

 

[Steeno7]

My understanding is that every word from God is an image of a concept (an image of his awareness) which is to be conceived - his words are images of his awareness of his will, which we are to become aware of/conceive.

We speak to be understood - we speak to reproduce our awareness.

So, with the above in mind, please help me understand what concept God is trying to have us conceive by the usage of firstfruits? What is he trying to show us?

Why does he want firstfruits, first born, spotless lambs, etc? What is he doing with them? What are they to him? Please tell me anything and everything you can think of which relates to firstfruit.

In the NT, "firstfruits" is used to reference something given in advance, anticipating a greater benefit or "harvest" to come.

 

[ViaCrucis]

It sounds to me as though the OP wants a complete unifying explanation for every use of certain words or ideas; as though the Bible means only one thing when it uses a word.

That's not how the Bible works. The Bible must be read in its context, not by assuming there is some secret "Bible language" that needs to be decrypted. So when St. Paul writes that Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection he means exactly how it sounds: That Christ is the first to have been raised from the dead. It has nothing to do with Christ's teaching about trees bearing fruit, or anything like that. It means what the author intends it to mean in its context.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Souldier]

It sounds to me as though the OP wants a complete unifying explanation for every use of certain words or ideas; as though the Bible means only one thing when it uses a word.

That's not how the Bible works. The Bible must be read in its context, not by assuming there is some secret "Bible language" that needs to be decrypted. So when St. Paul writes that Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection he means exactly how it sounds: That Christ is the first to have been raised from the dead. It has nothing to do with Christ's teaching about trees bearing fruit, or anything like that. It means what the author intends it to mean in its context.

-CryptoLutheran

I think the whole thing is a bit more complex than you suggest. Sure Christ is the first to be resurrected, yet Jesus also says that a seed falls to the ground and dies, but it bears much fruit. Its a lot to study and understand. At least in my opinion it is anyway.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I think the whole thing is a bit more complex than you suggest. Sure Christ is the first to be resurrected, yet Jesus also says that a seed falls to the ground and dies, but it bears much fruit. Its a lot to study and understand. At least in my opinion it is anyway.

Conflating metaphors results in confusion, not clarity.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Souldier]

Conflating metaphors results in confusion, not clarity.

-CryptoLutheran

There is no denying that we are a little confused about many things. Look at Revelation. Look at a lot of things Paul says.

Im only trying to understand it all, and i think its all connected in some way. If i dont understand then it doesnt matter because i must walk by faith not sight anyway.

 

[Souldier]

I was thinking about confusion. GT is confusion. I like to ponder Gods mystery and walk by faith not sight, especially when i dont understand everything. All this division and denomination is confusion however, i like to separate myself from all of that and try to seek a deeper relationship with Christ. THe more i do that the more i see how utterly helpless i am. Its a humbling experience but it has its rewards.

 

[Souldier]

This scripture may be helpful too. Im not sure if or how it fits in, but it seems to speak of the hardworking farmer partaking of the crops first. Its alot to think about.


2 Timothy 2:6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.