What does it mean that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died?

The term 'first fruits' refers to the first portion of a harvest that is offered to God, signifying the whole harvest that will follow. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, it states Christ is the first fruits of those who have died, meaning He is the precedent for the resurrection that all believers in Him will experience. Just as the first fruits represent the assurance of a greater harvest, Christ's resurrection is the assurance that all believers will also be resurrected to eternal life, body and soul, in the new creation.