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The Work of the Firstfruits
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughThe wavesheaf offering, as the first of the firstfruits, holds a central place in the period from wavesheaf to Pentecost, representing Jesus Christ being accepted before God as our High Priest. He is the First of the Firstborn, glorified in the first resurrection. This period begins with the waving of the sheaf of firstfruit barley, symbolizing Christ, and underscores the harvest of the firstfruits and God's integral role in it. The entire panorama of God's work with His firstfruits is portrayed, from Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice for sin and our High Priest to the time when all of His brothers and sisters, the children of God, fully enter His Family. The emphasis during these fifty days of counting is on the intense labor of sowing and reaping carried out by human beings, striving to be offered before God as an acceptable offering, with Christ as the cornerstone of this spiritual harvest.
Jesus in the Feasts (Part Two): Firstfruits
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the sacred calendar of God, the concept of firstfruits holds profound significance, pointing directly to Jesus Christ as the central figure. Christ is identified as the firstfruits, as plainly stated by Paul in I Corinthians 15:23, where He is called "Christ the firstfruits," marking Him as the initiator of God's spiritual harvest. This designation is reinforced in Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5, where He is termed the firstborn from the dead, emphasizing His preeminence as the first to rise in glory. The Old Testament offerings in Leviticus 23 further illustrate this imagery, with the wave sheaf day and Pentecost both revolving around the theme of firstfruits. The wave sheaf offering, linked closely to Pentecost through the seven-week count, begins the harvest, while Pentecost concludes it with the offering of two wave loaves, both identified as firstfruits to the Lord. Though Scripture does not explicitly call Christ the first of the firstfruits, His role as the initial and supreme firstfruit is clear, paving the way for others to follow. Christ's position as the firstfruit is not only chronological but also qualitative, surpassing all others in authority and privilege, as Paul describes Him in Colossians 1:15 as the prototokos, first in preeminence. On wave sheaf day, He stands as the firstfruit, the beginning of God's harvest, while on Pentecost, He is the model firstfruit, the standard of excellence that the elect must emulate. Those who follow, also called firstfruits to the Lord as noted in James 1:18 and Revelation 14:4, are of the same kind yet subordinate, coming after Him in time and bearing the mark of human imperfection, symbolized by the leaven in the Pentecost wave loaves. As the Firstfruit, Christ forges the path for His followers, blazing a trail through His life and example. His call to "Follow Me," given to His disciples, sets the tone for discipleship, urging them to imitate His actions and walk as He walked. He is the way, the truth, and the life, the sole path to the Father, ensuring that those who adhere to His example will reach the goal of becoming firstfruits in the Kingdom of God. On Pentecost, Christ's centrality is undeniable. As the dispenser of the Holy Spirit, a responsibility given to Him by the Father, He equips those called to follow Him, enabling them to walk the path of righteousness. His example, coupled with the tools of the Spirit and the law, provides the means for growth and transformation, guiding His brethren toward becoming firstfruits after His manner. Thus, the focus of this feast remains firmly on Christ, the Firstfruit, whose life and work make all things possible for those who seek to emulate Him.
The Wavesheaf Offering
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe concept of the "First of the Firstfruits" holds a significant place in understanding God's plan as revealed through the offerings and harvests. Both Exodus 23:19 and 34:26 mention the phrase "first of the firstfruits," indicating an early and special portion of the harvest. This is further connected to the Feast of Harvest, also known as Pentecost, described in Exodus 23:16 as the firstfruits of labors sown in the field. If the firstfruits represent the early harvest, the "first of the firstfruits" points to an even earlier segment, symbolized by the wavesheaf offering. This small, initial harvest, marked by the cutting of the wavesheaf, initiates the count to Pentecost, the culmination of the early harvest season. In the spiritual context, Jesus Christ embodies this archetype as the firstfruits, linked to a harvest and resurrection. Paul in I Corinthians 15:20 states that Christ has risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, establishing a direct connection between firstfruits and resurrection. This is reiterated in I Corinthians 15:23, where Christ is the firstfruits, followed by those who are His at His coming. James 1:18 further includes believers as a kind of firstfruits of His creatures, solidifying their place in this spiritual harvest. Revelation 14:4 identifies the 144,000 as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, emphasizing their unique role in this divine plan. The wavesheaf offering, though not designated as a holy day, is far from minor in its meaning to salvation. It represents a critical step in God's redemptive work, culminating in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, who as the firstborn among many brethren, was accepted by God as the sacrifice for sins and installed as our High Priest. This event marks the real beginning of the spiritual harvest of human souls, pointing toward the ultimate resurrection and transformation of believers upon His return.
God's Spiritual Harvest
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe concept of the "first of the firstfruits" holds a significant place in God's plan as outlined in the agricultural harvests and spiritual symbolism of the wave sheaf offering. This offering, detailed in Leviticus 23:9-14, involves bringing a sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest to the priest, who waves it before the Lord for acceptance on the day after the Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. This sheaf, consisting of an omer of barley still on the stalk, represents the very beginning of the spring harvest and is termed the first of the firstfruits, a mandatory offering for each Israelite with a harvest. In the Old Testament, the wave sheaf offering symbolized a thankful acknowledgment of God as the Giver of the harvest, sanctifying it to Him. The spiritual significance emerges in the New Testament, where agricultural harvests become types of God's spiritual harvest of people into His Kingdom. Referenced in Exodus 23:19 and Exodus 34:26, the phrase "first of the firstfruits" underscores the earliest portion of the harvest, embodied in the wave sheaf offering as a small initial harvest leading to the count toward Pentecost, the culmination of the early harvest. Jesus Christ is symbolically linked to this offering, representing the first of the firstfruits through His resurrection from the dead. As described in I Corinthians 15:20, Christ has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, establishing Him as the firstborn among many brethren. This connection is further emphasized in I Corinthians 15:23, where the order of resurrection is outlined: Christ as the firstfruits, followed by those who are Christ's at His coming. James 1:18 reinforces this by stating that we, too, are a kind of firstfruits of His creatures, brought forth by His will through the word of truth. The 50-day period from the wave sheaf offering to Pentecost begins with the waving of a sheaf of firstfruit barley, representing Christ, and concludes with the waving of two leavened loaves, symbolizing the called-out people of God. This period encapsulates God's work with His firstfruits, from Christ's acceptance as the perfect sacrifice and High Priest to the ultimate inclusion of His brothers and sisters into His Family, highlighting the emphasis on the firstfruits of the Kingdom during Pentecost.
Our Journey from Passover to Pentecost
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingEven as we are to personally count the 50 days to Pentecost, we also must think continually of the lessons these days teach us about our spiritual journey.
Boaz and Pentecost
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe name of Boaz (a type of Christ) appears many times more than Ruth (a type of the church), indicating Christ's intense work on behalf of the church.
Consequences of Resurrection and Ascension
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughNeither Christmas or Easter appear in the Feasts of the Lord, but we find plenty of emphasis on the resurrection and ascension of Christ in the Holy Days.
Countdown to Pentecost 2001
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHow does one count to Pentecost when Passover is on a weekly Sabbath, making the Last Day of Unleavened Bread the only other available Sabbath to begin the count?
Principled Living (Part Six): Becoming Holy
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPentecost forces us to stand out from the crowd, separated as firstfruits for sanctification and holiness. God has called us to be different.
Spiritual Maturity
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Kingdom parables allude to the process of spiritual maturity, depicting a planted and cultivated seed becoming a sprout, eventually bearing fruit.
Our Affinity to Christ (2002)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOur lives must be totally wrapped up in Christ, exemplifying His character. As we overcome, taking the same steps as Christ did, we will receive His reward.
Our Affinity to Christ
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus has already suffered the things we have, and now serves as our compassionate High Priest and Advocate. He provides the pattern we are to emulate.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughConfusion over time of Passover, the wavesheaf offering, and Pentecost results from making assumptions unwarranted by clear scriptural evidence.
John (Part Twenty-Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe book of John provides a plethora of signs corroborating Christ's authenticity and also shows how to live as God would live if He were a man.