Page 27 - Gods Plan of the Ages

resurrection "there resulted justification of life to ALL MEN." Who are included in the
words "all men"? The same group described in the preceding clause, "through one
transgression there resulted condemnation to ALL MEN." Christ died to reconcile ALL
MEN to the Father. This reconciliation is already accomplished in the sense that Christ's
sacrifice has been made for all men. Yet, the reconciliation also remains to be completed as
we do not yet see "all things put under His feet."
Observe how Paul ends the passage above, "even so through the obedience of the One
the many WILL BE MADE righteous." This speaks of a future fulfillment. Why it should be
offensive to some Christians to hear that Christ will eventually reconcile all men to the
Father is hard to comprehend. Many Christians are like the elder brother to the prodigal
son. Rather than rejoicing that the lost has been found, and the dead has been brought back
to life, there is anger that the Father should treat the offender with such love and mercy.
Returning to Peter's words we find that Christ "died for sins, once for all." The reason
is "so that He might bring us to God." This is reconciliation. Peter then tells the church that
Christ went and "preached even to those who are dead." Peter is not speaking merely of
those who are spiritually dead. He is speaking of those who physically perished in past ages.
Peter specifically mentions Christ preaching to "the spirits now kept in prison, who were
once disobedient." Peter says Christ preached to those who perished "in the days of Noah."
What is remarkable about this passage is that it reveals that Christ's work of
reconciliation goes beyond the grave. Though men may die in disobedience, estranged from
the Father, Christ will reach out to them beyond the grave. Yahshua's work will not be
complete until He has reconciled all things back to the Father.
When we understand the Scriptures aright, we discover that the reconciliation of all
things will happen in stages. There is a definite order to the redemptive work of Christ. At
this time we find that a firstfruits group of men are being reconciled to the Father. This
firstfruits company are identifiable as disciples of Christ. These are ones who are accepting
Christ's invitation to "Come, take up your cross, and follow Me."
James, the brother of Christ and an elder of the early church, used the term
"firstfruits" when speaking of Christ's disciples.

James 1:18
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be
a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Firstfruits are exactly what the name implies. They are not all the fruit. They are the
first fruit. They are the first to come to maturity, the first to be harvested. In this age we are
seeing some who are firstfruits being reconciled to God the Father through Christ.
Eventually all men will be made alive in Christ, but there is a determined order for this
restoration.

I Corinthians 15:22-28
For as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own
order: Anointed first fruits, after that those who are the Christ's at His coming, then
comes the end (the remainder), when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father,
when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He
has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For
he has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, "All things are put