Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The first fruits offering in the Old Testament was first mentioned in Exodus 23:19. When the annual harvest was gathered, the best of the very first of the crops that were collected were to be offered to God in gratitude for the harvest.

In referring to this practice, James (in my opinion) was saying that those who became followers of Christ at the time in which he was writing through the receiving of the gospel message (the word of truth), and the forgiveness of their sins through faith, were similarly consecrated as the very beginning of the worldwide harvest of the redeemed that God was seeking to gather from among humanity, and that He has continued to gather to the present day -- the start of restoring humanity to what God had meant it to be at the time of creation in terms of fellowship with Him.

September 06 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

George Fitt Spiritual Gift of Discernment

Firstfruits are those elected before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).

They include the prophets, writers of Scripture and a few others.

Notice the order: Those he predestined, He also called, those he called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified (Romans 8:30).

For them, their calling is irresistible.

Calvinist doctrine on salvation only applies to a few (Matthew 22:14).

Notice the order for all others: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

This is Arminian doctrine on salvation.

This calling is resistible.

Many are called, few are chosen (Mathew 22:14).

September 04 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report