The firstfruits are those whom God called (John 6:44) out of the value systems of this world (Gal 1:4) to conform to the mindset and attitude of Christ (Phil 2:4-5). They are in the world but not of the world (John 17:16) and will be sanctified by the Word of Truth (17:17) - meaning that they are not being deceived by false doctrine and teachings. Unless God the heavenly Father called them like Abraham, Moses and the Apostle Paul, amongst others, all of humanity are going through life ignorant of the plan and purposes of God. The Apostle Paul recognised those who are called to be the firstfruits of His creature (James 1:18) and acknowledged them as such (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:15).
The prerogative of those who are called to be the firstfruits is that of God the Father. For He foreknew those whom He calls even before they were born (Rom 8:29-30). Those called will have a lifetime of striving in order to please God and be separate and different from the world (1 John 2:15-17). That is why 'not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.' (1 Cor 1:26-27). As Christ had said, 'narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.' (Matt 7:14). Those who hope to be overcomer of self (pride, greed, selfishness etc.), the deception of Satan and the lure of society will have to choose God's way.
The true church of God that Christ founded on the Day of Pentecost in AD 31 consists of a small group of true believers who understood the gospel of the Kingdom and all its accompanied truth handed down to Christ as the Prophet (Deut 18:15) and Messenger (Mal 3:1c). There is only one true church that He founded (Matt 16:18) and not a mixture of churches with differing doctrines and practices. They are the 'little flock' (Luke 12:32) with the Father's name written on their forehead (Rev 14:1) - meaning the Holy Spirit is indwelling in the cognitive part of their mind situated at the frontal lobe of the brain. The will and work of the Heavenly Father are always in their mind. The have not been corrupted by false doctrine ('spiritual virgins') and have avoided the political and religious system of the world (Rev 14:4) which are nothing more than the doctrines and traditions of men (Mark 7:7-8). The called are prepared to forsake all to abide in the truth and be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ (Like 14:33), for they are the called, chosen and faithful (Rev 17:14).
Those who are being called and are obedient, God has given them the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32) to empower them to overcome trial and tribulations which are necessary to trim their character to be more Christlike for the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). The firstfruits that make up the true church of God in this church age follow the government of God led by Christ as the Head. They must learn to be good followers of Christ now in order to lead others into God's kingdom come the millennium.Those who cannot follow the commandments and laws of God now will not qualify as the firstborn of God in the First Resurrection when Christ returns - 'for judgment must begin at the house of God' (1 Peter 4:17).
God's plan for the salvation of mankind is revealed in the observance of His Holy Days - not holidays! The Day of Pentecost is the picture of the calling and harvesting of the firstfruits of the church of God who will later assist Christ in bringing the rest of humanity to salvation when He returns. We are now living in such a time when God is calling and choosing His firstfruits to be trained and prepared - a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people - to reign with Christ in His kingdom (1 Pet 2:9). Those who have ears to hear will do well to heed the advice of the Apostle Peter to 'give diligence to make your calling and election sure; For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' - 2 Pet 1:10-11.
The prerogative of those who are called to be the firstfruits is that of God the Father. For He foreknew those whom He calls even before they were born (Rom 8:29-30). Those called will have a lifetime of striving in order to please God and be separate and different from the world (1 John 2:15-17). That is why 'not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.' (1 Cor 1:26-27). As Christ had said, 'narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.' (Matt 7:14). Those who hope to be overcomer of self (pride, greed, selfishness etc.), the deception of Satan and the lure of society will have to choose God's way.
The true church of God that Christ founded on the Day of Pentecost in AD 31 consists of a small group of true believers who understood the gospel of the Kingdom and all its accompanied truth handed down to Christ as the Prophet (Deut 18:15) and Messenger (Mal 3:1c). There is only one true church that He founded (Matt 16:18) and not a mixture of churches with differing doctrines and practices. They are the 'little flock' (Luke 12:32) with the Father's name written on their forehead (Rev 14:1) - meaning the Holy Spirit is indwelling in the cognitive part of their mind situated at the frontal lobe of the brain. The will and work of the Heavenly Father are always in their mind. The have not been corrupted by false doctrine ('spiritual virgins') and have avoided the political and religious system of the world (Rev 14:4) which are nothing more than the doctrines and traditions of men (Mark 7:7-8). The called are prepared to forsake all to abide in the truth and be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ (Like 14:33), for they are the called, chosen and faithful (Rev 17:14).
Those who are being called and are obedient, God has given them the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32) to empower them to overcome trial and tribulations which are necessary to trim their character to be more Christlike for the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). The firstfruits that make up the true church of God in this church age follow the government of God led by Christ as the Head. They must learn to be good followers of Christ now in order to lead others into God's kingdom come the millennium.Those who cannot follow the commandments and laws of God now will not qualify as the firstborn of God in the First Resurrection when Christ returns - 'for judgment must begin at the house of God' (1 Peter 4:17).
God's plan for the salvation of mankind is revealed in the observance of His Holy Days - not holidays! The Day of Pentecost is the picture of the calling and harvesting of the firstfruits of the church of God who will later assist Christ in bringing the rest of humanity to salvation when He returns. We are now living in such a time when God is calling and choosing His firstfruits to be trained and prepared - a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people - to reign with Christ in His kingdom (1 Pet 2:9). Those who have ears to hear will do well to heed the advice of the Apostle Peter to 'give diligence to make your calling and election sure; For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' - 2 Pet 1:10-11.
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