The firstfruits of God's plan are those who are called now, in this age, and are having their minds and attitudes changed to become like Jesus Christ through God's Spirit working within them.
The apostle James noted that God has "brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [i.e., of those He's created]" (James 1:18).
Paul well understood that those called and converted in this age between man's creation and Christ's second coming are the firstfruits of God's plan for the salvation of humanity. He referred to several first-century Christians as the firstfruits of God's calling in specific locations (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15). Looking ahead to the resurrection of those who remain faithful to their calling, he said, "We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [that is, full rights of sonship], the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:23).
However, the firstfruits of God's plan, those who are called now, find themselves in a vastly different situation from that of those who will follow in the later spiritual harvest period.
Jesus said that those who are His followers in this age are not to be "of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:16). They are called out of the world and are expected to develop the character of Christ, while the rest of mankind is deceived (Revelation 12:9) and following values abhorrent to Christ (1 John 2:15-17 ).
The present evil age
The firstfruits—God's people—are called and strive to obey God while living in "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4), of which Satan is the actual ruler (2 Corinthians 4:4). The harvest of firstfruits is small, for at this time relatively few will accept God's calling, repent, be converted and remain faithful to His way of life. That is why Jesus said, "Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14).
After Christ's return, which will usher in a new age, the world—society as a whole—will learn to live by the laws and values of God. In that age, God will bind Satan and no longer allow him to deceive the nations (Revelation 20:2-3 ). Without Satan's influence, the world will at last come to know peace. Everyone will know the Lord (Hebrews 8:11).
Those who have not conformed to the world (Romans 12:2) will be those who assist Christ in bringing all nations to His truth (Revelation 20:4). They will have overcome the world just as Jesus overcame the world, and Christ will use them in bringing all other people to serve Him (Revelation 2:26; Revelation 3:21).
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