'Christ the Firstfruits' | Westside Eagle Observer

"Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." John 12:31-32

The evidence is there! We have the testimony of many eyewitnesses and He appeared alive from the dead to hundreds. Jesus did die for our sins as the Scriptures said He would, He was buried, and He did rise again, bodily, as the Scriptures promised (1 Cor. 15:1ff.).

Christ truly is risen from the dead, but what does the resurrection of Christ Jesus mean to you and to me? We are still sinners living in a sin-filled world. And unless Christ returns soon, we all must die and be buried in our own tombs. And what of those many believers -- including so many loved ones -- who have gone before us? Their bodies decay in their graves!

Christ's resurrection proves that full atonement has been made for all our sins -- indeed, for the sins of the world. When He cried out from the cross the words, "It is finished," it was. He had paid the price, suffered our full punishment and redeemed all mankind. As the Scriptures say, righteousness "shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification" (Rom. 4:24-25). Our sins have been paid for on the cross; and through faith in Christ, we are no longer accounted guilty before the LORD God; we are forgiven and counted righteous in His sight!

"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Think of it: "firstfruits." Firstfruits are, as the name says, the first fruits to grow and ripen. They were presented to the Lord (Lev. 23:10ff.; Ex. 34:22) and were evidence of other fruits yet to grow and ripen before the final harvest when all are gathered in.

Christ is the firstfruits of all those who have fallen asleep, the forerunner of all who die with faith in God's mercy and forgiveness for Christ's sake. Yes, unless Christ returns soon, we will die and, like Christ, be laid in our tombs. But, as Christ was raised from the dead on the third day, so also on the Last day, when Christ returns, we shall be made alive and raised up to be with our God and Savior forever (cf. 1 Cor. 15:50-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Cor. 5:1-8).

"For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming."

What does the bodily resurrection of Jesus on the third day mean to those of us who trust in Him? It means we can live our lives and die in the confidence that as Jesus rose from the dead, the firstfruits, we also shall be raised up on the Last Day to everlasting life with Him. It gives us the confidence to profess with Job: "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another" (Job 19:25-27).

We give You thanks and praise, Lord Jesus, our God and Savior, that You took on human flesh and blood, died to make atonement for our sins and rose again in triumph. Grant us Your Spirit and give us the confidence that, as You were raised up from the dead on the third day, so You will raise us up on the Last Day to everlasting life in Your glorious kingdom. Amen.

Editorial on 03/30/2016