"CHRIST the Firstfruits"

 

Leviticus 23:4-14 "These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your GOD: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings."

     The Feast of Firstfruits followed the Passover. Symbolizing CHRIST's future sacrifice, the paschal lamb secured the payment for sin; the firstfruits taken from the ripening fields in the Promised Land signified the fruit of the new life of redemption provided by GOD (vv.4-10). On the first day of the week (Sunday, the day of CHRIST's future resurrection, v.11), the priest offered the "wave sheaf," a shock of grain waved toward Heaven. This action recognized GOD's faithfulness in providing a bountiful crop. Notice, however, that the harvest had not yet been reaped -- the wave sheaf of grain was just the first of what would be gathered later. By faith, Israel was thanking GOD for what HE would supply in the full harvest yet to come (v.10b).

     The Feast of Firstfruits is a wonderful type of what CHRIST's resurrection means for the believer. JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF was the wave sheaf, or "the firstfruits." HE was the first to be raised from the dead unto eternal life, and because HE lives, all who believe on HIM will also be raised from the dead in resurrection power at the appointed time (1st.Corinthians 15:20-23 pictured above). The fact that JESUS rose bodily from the grave assures the believer of future resurrection glory: "HE that raised up CHRIST from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by HIS SPIRIT that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11 pictured above). Those who are saved will be part of GOD's "harvest." Like Old Testament Israel, we can, with thankful hearts, look forward in faith to our resurrection and gathering into GOD's heavenly storehouse as the result of what HE has already accomplished in raising JESUS from the dead. Our future is certain: Because CHRIST lives, we shall live forever with HIM. DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation

"HE Rose Again . . . According to the Scriptures"

 

Luke 24:13-32 "And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, JESUS HIMSELF drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know HIM. And HE said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad ? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto HIM, Art THOU only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days ? And HE said unto them, What things ? And they said unto HIM, Concerning JESUS of Nazareth which was a PROPHET mighty in deed and word before GOD and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered HIM to be condemned to death, and have crucified HIM. But we trusted that it had been HE which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher; and when they found not HIS body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that HE was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but HIM they saw not. Then HE said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not CHRIST to have suffered these things, and to enter into HIS glory ? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, HE expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning HIMSELF. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and HE made as though HE would have gone further. But they constrained HIM, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And HE went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as HE sat at meat with them, HE took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew HIM; and HE vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while HE talked with us by the way, and while HE opened to us the Scriptures ?"

     At the core of the Gospel message is the resurrection of JESUS. The Bible declares that JESUS CHRIST "died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and . . . was buried, and . . . rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1st.Corinthians 15:3-4). The risen CHRIST showed "in all the Scriptures the things concerning HIMSELF" to the two disconsolate disciples on the road to Emmaus (vv.25-27 pictured above). These "things" included the many passages in the Old Testament wherein the resurrection as well as the substitutionary death of CHRIST were prefigured or foretold. The Old Testament Scriptures came alive in a way never before imagined. An understanding of the WORD turned sadness into rejoicing for these two travelers (vv.15-17). In like manner, our own hearts also will "burn within us" (vv.31-32 pictured below) when we see CHRIST in the Scriptures as they did that day. We have the same WORD and the same HOLY SPIRIT to open our understanding of GOD's WORD. We will study a few of these texts in the following days.

     The Gospel message that we declare to the lost must contain the historic fact of the LORD JESUS CHRIST's bodily resurrection from the grave. Why is this so important ? It is the resurrection that attests to HIS deity, HIS perfect provision for sin through HIS finished work of Calvary, HIS present intermediary ministry before GOD the FATHER, and HIS promised return that will occur in the same manner in which HE ascended into Heaven. Many people claim to believe in the resurrection of CHRIST, but unless they hold to the glorious, fundamental implications of JESUS' resurrection, then their profession is deficient. We must proclaim JESUS CHRIST crucified and risen again ! DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation