James 1:18
AMP - 18 And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].
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I agree. The redemption plan begins with the salvation of all human beings whom God has chosen. All believers will be resurrected to eternal life with glorified new bodies (Jesus was the firstfruits of this resurrection). Then Christ will establish his kingdom upon the earth. Then all evil will be expulsed from the earth. Then Jesus will recreate the heavens and earth. Finally, God, the Father, will come and live with all believers upon this new earth forever.
We belivers are indeed the firstfruits of an amazing salvation story as God redeems and restores all of his creation.