kept and concluded the Jewish Feast of Firstfruits. “ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept . . . Christ the first- fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (I Cor. 15:20, 23). He was God’s posses sion ; then by His resurrection the Father was claiming the Body which was rightfully His, the Body which He Himself had pre pared for the Son (Heb. 10:5). He arose to go back to the Father from whom He had come. We too are God’s possession, both by creative right and by re demptive right. “Ye are not your own . . . For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Cor. 6:19, 20). When the Church is caught up to be with her Lord (I Thess. 4:16, 17), the full and final phase of our redemption will be real ized, even “ the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). “ Afterward they that are Christ’s at His com ing.” But the lesson on stewardship taught us in the Feast o f First- fruits dare not be sidestepped un til the rapture. Even now we are “quickened” (made alive), for Christ “hath raised us up togeth er, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:1, 6). More than our Lord wants a dead body at the Rapture, He wants a living body now. “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a liv ing sacrifice, holy, acceptable un to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Firstfruits means that He has first claim on the whole man and all o f his possessions. This is true Chris tian stewardship, without which our worship is not acceptable be fore God. This is the true appli cation to the Christian o f the Feast of Firstfruits. “ If ye then be r isen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand o f God” (Col. 3 :1 ). B b ]
You can give them the Gospel and a personal message of the Love of Christ, in their own language. J. Edward Sm ith, International D irector Alfred A. Kunz, International Director Em eritus togivi! tkeRa t a l of Jota? HOW MANY GOSPELS WILL YOU GIVE? 49 Honeck Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631 Canada: 16 Spadina Rd., Toronto 4, Ontario
Pocket Testament League, 49 Honeck St., Englewood, N .J. 07631 Dear Mr. Smith: I want to give a Gospel-Message to: 10 Persons ..................$ 1.00 □
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100 Persons ..................
10.00 □
A ddress__________________________________
250 Persons ..................
25.00 □
500 Persons ..................
50.00
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City, State, Z ip _ ’
1000 Persons .................. 100.00 Q
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NOVEMBER, 1968
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