Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Introduction

I would like to start by reading

Introduction

I would like to start by reading

James says that God brought us forth, or created us, to be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

This is supposed to give us a sense of purpose and meaning.

This evening I would like for us to look at what it means to be a kind of firstfruits of God’s creatures.

James 1:18 (ESV) Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Where does firstfruits come from?

James says that God brought us forth, or created us, to be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

This is supposed to give us a sense of purpose and meaning.

This evening I would like for us to look at what it means to be a kind of firstfruits of God’s creatures.

OT

Where does firstfruits come from?

OT

When we look into the Old Testament we see God give a command to the Israelites to offer the firstfruits of their sons, their flock and their field to God.

This offering was supposed to be considered the most holy and best of what they had.

The giving of it was intended to remind them of the steadfast love that God has shown them in providing them with everything they have.

This would take place multiple times a year with a special feast also devoted to the offering of firstfruits.

It happened on the day after Sabbath, the first day of the week.

One of the instances where they offered the firstfruits of the harvest to God is especially interesting because it shows the attitude they are supposed to have when they offer it.

In we see Israel being commanded to describe what they are doing when they offer the firstfruits to God after they enter the land in .

When we look into the Old Testament we see God give a command to the Israelites to offer the firstfruits of their sons, their flock and their field to God.

This offering was supposed to be considered the most holy and best of what they had.

The giving of it was intended to remind them of the steadfast love that God has shown them in providing them with everything they have.

This would take place multiple times a year with a special feast also devoted to the offering of firstfruits.

It happened on the day after Sabbath, the first day of the week.

One of the instances where they offered the firstfruits of the harvest to God is especially interesting because it shows the attitude they are supposed to have when they offer it.

In Deuteronomy 26 we see Israel being commanded to say this to the priest after you bring in your harvest once you enter the land of promise.

Notice how they were supposed to describe what they are doing when they offer the firstfruits to God after they enter the land in Deut 26:5-11.

(Deuteronomy 26:5–11, ESV) “And you shall make response before the Lord your God, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father.

And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor.

Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.

And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.

And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’

And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God.

And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

This idea of offering to God your firstfruits was the showing of gratitude and recognition that God has been faithful to His promise to bring the children of Israel into the land.

We can see that from the Israelite’s perspective, they offer it because everything they enjoyed was from Him.

From God’s perspective, v. 18-19, we can see that he wants to have a people who are His holy and treasured possession so accepting this offering in some way solidifies that they are just that.

In , God calls young Israel the holy firstfruits of his harvest.

This idea of offering to God your firstfruits was obviously a showing of gratitude and recognition that God has been faithful to His promise to bring the children of Israel into the land.

We can see that from the Israelite’s perspective, they offer it because everything they enjoyed was from Him.

From God’s perspective, v. 18-19, we can see that he wants to have a people who are His holy and treasured possession so accepting this offering in some way solidifies that they are just that.

(, ESV) The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest.

All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.”

In Jeremiah 2:3, God calls young Israel the holy firstfruits of his harvest.

In this text He is saying that Israel is the best of the nations.

This idea of firstfruits is that, from God’s perspective, this is the best part of the fruit of God’s labor and it belongs to him!

In that text you see God judging any who would try to take Israel away from Him.

He is protecting them as His treasured possession.

The Jeremiah text in particular uses firstfruits the way James uses it.

(Jeremiah 2:1–3, ESV) The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest.

All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the Lord.”

NT

In this text He is saying that Israel is the best of the nations.

This idea of firstfruits is that, from God’s perspective, this is the best part of the fruit of God’s labor and it belongs to him!

In that text you see God judging any who would try to take Israel away from Him.

He is protecting them as His treasured possession.

The Jeremiah text in particular uses firstfruits the way James uses it.

NT

The words are spoken in a way that conveys Christians as the best and most holy of all God’s creatures.

It was the case for Israel in their youth and must be the case for Christians forever.

James mentions this phrase so briefly but it carries great importance for Christians.

In the New Testament the idea of a harvest is seen throughout Jesus’ teachings and parables.

Jesus at one point calls for the apostles to pray for reapers to go gather up the harvest.

As the church spreads to new areas the first converts are also called the firstfruits, but this is not the way that James is talking about the dispersed Christians.

Transition: So why does James bring this up?

Why is it important for Christians to understand that God has brought us forth to be a firstfruits for him?

Look again at James and read verse 18 recognizing that he is talking to the dispersed Christians who will soon be creating those new converts.

“Of his creatures” shows that this is not talking about the firstfruits of his church, or of a particular area.

Is this important?

James 1:18 (ESV) Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Transition: The words are spoken in a way that conveys Christians as the best and most holy of all God’s creatures.

It was the case for Israel in their youth and must be the case for Christians forever.

James mentions this phrase so briefly but gives it such importance for Christians.

Why is this important to them?

God brought these Christians forth in order to be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

We see their purpose in this phrase, and, as with any statement of purpose, this phrase was intended to motivate those dispersed to remain faithful.

The reason God brought them forth and made them alive again was so that they can be of some benefit to Him.

God doesn’t want a harvest that is close to spoiled and unworthy to eat.

The Israelites would do that sort of thing all the time, offering up blind and lame animals, and the prophets condemned them for it.

James wants them to recognize that they are supposed to be the best and most holy of all of His creation while they are surrounded by those who aren’t brought forth by the word of God.