Last week I wrote about how Christ is the “first fruits” of the resurrection, that is, how Christ is just the first of many people who will be raised from the dead and given an incorruptible body (1 Cor 15:20ff). Elsewhere, James used this same metaphor to describe Christians, “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” (James 1:18; NASB). What does it mean for us to be the first fruits of God’s creation?

Drawing from our discussion last week, being the “first fruits” meant that we are the first of the crop to be harvested. In the Old Testament, the feast of Firstfruits was a festival dedicating the first yield of one’s crops to the Lord (usually taking place in late spring or early summer). For us, then, this would mean we are only the first of God’s harvest. God has redeemed us and saved us from our corruption, spiritually and physically. The rest of creation, too, longs for redemption (Rom 8:19–25). Thankfully, though God subjected creation to futility, He 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” (8:20b-21).

God does not only intend to rescue humanity through Jesus. God will redeem all creation. In this way, the fall of man and of creation in Genesis 3 will be completely undone. God will once again be recognized as King and Lord of his wonderful universe!