First Fruits?

Where does the bible say that we should our "first fruits" back to Lord?

I'm sorry, you won't find it. It's not in any New Testament teaching or doctrine and Jesus never implied it or taught it.

What you will find is an Old Testament Mosaic Law reference found in Ezekiel 44:28-30 which states, "The priests will not have any property or possession of land, for I alone am their special possession. Their food will come from the gifts and sacrifices brought to the Temple by the people—the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Whatever anyone sets apart for the Lord will belong to the priests. The first of the ripe fruits and all the gifts brought to the Lord will go to the priests. The first samples of each grain harvest and the first of your flour must also be given to the priests so the Lord will bless your homes (NLT)"

See that? Priests, food, grain, flour, Temple, offerings? That's Old Testament teaching!

Since we are not under the Mosaic Law, not Hebrew or an Israelite, then this reference was not meant for Gentiles in this age of grace and truth through Christ Jesus. We have a new High Priest, in Christ Jesus!

Hebrews 7:11-12, 18-19 "So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron? And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it." "Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God."

No offense intended, but you are obviously very ignorant of the origin of the tithe. The tithe was instituted for the Israelites in the Mosaic Law and it does not apply to New Testament Christian under faith in Christ.

You, like countless others, have been brainwashed for so many years about tithing that it has become truth to you. Adolph Hitler once stated that, "If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough, the people will begin to believe it."

There are multiple verses in the NT that say that we (Christians in this age of grace and truth, led by the Holy Spirit) should not place ourselves under the Mosaic Law.

*Acts 13:39 "Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the Law of Moses could never do."
*Romans 3:20 "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."
*Romans 3:21 "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago."
*Romans 3:28 "So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."
*Romans 4:13 "Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith."
*Romans 6:14 "Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace."
*Romans 9:31 "But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded."
*Romans 9:32 "Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path."
*Romans 10:3 "For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law."
*Romans 10:4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God."
*Romans 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.
*Galatians 2:16 "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
*Galatians 2:21 "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die."
*Galatians 3:10 "But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”
*Galatians 3:13 "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
*Galatians 3:21 "Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it."
*Galatians 3:24 "Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith."
*Galatians 5:4 "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."
*Galatians 5:18 "But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the Law of Moses."
*Hebrews 10:1 "The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship."
*Romans 13:8 "Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law."
*Romans 13:10 "Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law."
*Galatians 5:14 "For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Giving to God in Love

One thing we have to realize is the original purpose of the tithe. In other words, why was it important for God to include the tithe in the Mosaic Law? Well, we know the purpose of the Mosaic Law itself, "the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty (NLT, Romans 8:13)."

Teaching about the Law, Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved (NLT)."

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 10:4 "For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God (NLT)."

Therefore, since Jesus accomplished and achieved the Laws purpose, why would we need to continue following it? We do not. Besides, why would I want to follow anything in the law and be cursed?

Galatians 3:10 "But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law (NLT).” Well, can you follow the Law? No, I can't and haven’t, so am I condemned? No, "there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (NLT, Rom. 8:1)." I am made right with God by having faith in Jesus, not by obeying anything mentioned in the Mosaic Law.

Moreover, since the Law was not given to Gentiles, & I cannot follow the Law or the Ten Commandments, & desire not to condemn myself under it, and since Jesus accomplished its purpose, then why would I want to follow it?

However, this is what I really want to point out. I give because I have desire to give. I give because of God's love and giving is an expression of God's love (Jn. 3:16). Concerning generous giving, even Paul said, "I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches (NLT, 2 Cor. 8:7,8)."

Therefore, by what Paul suggests, it is our giving that is the measuring unit for expressing our love. It is not our love for Christ that is measured by our giving; but our love for Christ grows out of our relationship we have with Him. When we give out of love, especially to the poor & needy, then we give to God.

1 Jn. 3:16,17 "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion; how can God’s love be in that person?”

The Sledge-hammer of the Law

"The Law is a mirror to show a person what he is like, a sinner who is guilty of death, and worthy of everlasting punishment. What is this bruising and beating by the hand of the Law to accomplish? This, that we may find the way to grace. The Law is an usher to lead the way to grace. God is the God of the humble, the miserable, the afflicted. It is His nature to exalt the humble, to comfort the sorrowing, to heal the broken-hearted, to justify the sinners, and to save the condemned. The fatuous idea that a person can be holy by himself denies God the pleasure of saving sinners.

God must therefore first take the sledge-hammer of the Law in His fists and smash the beast of self-righteousness and its brood of self-confidence, self-wisdom, self-righteousness, and self-help. When the conscience has been thoroughly frightened by the Law it welcomes the Gospel of grace with its message of a Savior who came into the world, not to break the bruised reed, nor to quench the smoking flax, but to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, and to grant forgiveness of sins to all the captives."

"As long as a person thinks he is right he is going to be incomprehensibly proud and presumptuous. He is going to hate God, despise His grace and mercy, and ignore the promises in Christ. The Gospel of the free forgiveness of sins through Christ will never appeal to the self-righteous."

"Man's folly, however, is so prodigious that instead of embracing the message of grace with its guarantee of the forgiveness of sin for Christ's sake, man finds himself more laws to satisfy his conscience. "If I live," says he, "I will mend my life. I will do this, I will do that." Man, if you don't do the very opposite, if you don't send Moses with the Law back to Mount Sinai and take the hand of Christ, pierced for your sins, you will never be saved."

"When the Law drives you to the point of despair, let it drive you a little farther, let it drive you straight into the arms of Jesus who says: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." ~ Martin Luther

Debate or not to Debate?

I believe that "debate" is the incorrect term that is being used here. As Christians we should "rebuke," not debate. What's the difference? Why?

To "debate" is worldly. Strong’s Lexicon says that "debate" is "strife, debate, contention:
1) contention, strife, wrangling. To "debate" is listed among the things of a reprobate mind (Romans 1:29). To “debate” comes from the Latin word “battere”, which means “to fight.“ It would wrong to “fight” and argue over a topic for a prolonged period of time for the sake of argument.

To "rebuke" is biblically correct.

Strong’s Lexicon says that to "rebuke" means to "convict, refute, confute:
1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted
1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose
2) to find fault with, correct
2a) by word
2a1) to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove
2a2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation
2b) by deed
2b1) to chasten, to punish

1. The bible says that a rebuke (or reproof) is "better than secret love (Proverbs 27:5)."
2. It is said to be "better than the praise of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5)."
3. It is more profitable to saints, than stripes to a fool (Proverbs 17:10).
4. We know that when a rebuke is from God is because it is for correction (Psalm 39:11) and should be accompanied by exhortation to repentance (1 Sam 12:20-25).

Examples of biblical rebuke.
1. Paul rebuked Peter at Antioch (Gal. 2:11).
2. Paul rebuked the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 1:10-13; 5:1-5; 6:1-8; 11:17-22.
3. Peter rebuked Simon in Acts 8:20.
4. Stephen rebuked the council (Acts 7:51).
5. John the Baptists rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3:7 and Luke 3:19.

Therefore, I do believe that it is important to rebuke and reprove of others who are in error about what the bible teaches. This must be done with the proper perspective, discernment and context. It is important that when rebuking others, it must be done in Christian love; not because you hate them, but because you love them and want them to see the truths of Scripture.

My Disclaimer

Disclaimer: It is most certainly not my intention to offend, hurt somebody's feelings, upset, insult, be rude to, cause offense or rub anyone the wrong way with this theologically based note. It is not my intention to convert, win over, convince, talk into, induce, persuade, talk round or bring around anyone’s mind about my beliefs or teachings. On the other hand, it is my clear intention to share, communicate, let somebody in on, impart, reveal and disclose my principles, opinions, views, theories and philosophy. It is because of my love for people, teaching the truth taught in the Holy Scriptures and discovering the endless and unfolding knowledge of God that I am compelled to write these things. I personally believe that I am moved and motivated by the Spirit of God to share the great and wonderful news of Christ with those whom I know and have known in the past. It is my heart‘s desire to share the passion I have for the love of Christ, the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the heart of God with freedom and liberty. If you are offended or have hurt feelings, have resentment towards me, or irritation, anger, or displeasure by this note; then I humbly and sincerely apologize from the heart with all gentleness and hope that you are able to forgive me beforehand. However, if you find yourself convicted or possibly swayed, or not in anyway offended and have the courage and humility to become different than the way you were before after reading and engaging in this note; then I most certainly commend you. Furthermore, I am delighted to know that because of this, we are able to share in this unique endeavor and great adventure that we call “life.”

1 Corinthians 13:3 - "If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing (New Living Translation)."