"The Other Side of the Coin" (James 1:16-18)
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:1-11
Temptations/Good Gifts
Temptations/Good Gifts
James corrected our view of the temptations of this life (vv. 13-15).
Now he is encouraging a certain view of the good things of this life (vv. 16-18).
Deceived? (v. 16)
Deceived? (v. 16)
James know this is a potential problem.
So his readers should be recognize it as well. Are we deceived in any way?
What does it mean to be deceived?
What does it mean to be deceived?
Led astray. From wrong to right. From truth to error. 1 Co 15:33, Ga 6:7, 2 Timothy 3:13, 1 Jn 3:7, Mt 24:4, Mt 22:29
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.
But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
It’s primarily about thinking. From right thinking to wrong thinking.
But thinking leads to acting, so deception is a significant danger.
Deceived about what?
Deceived about what?
Being deceived in general is bad.
And it is of particular importance for “beloved brothers” (believers), because of the stark contrast between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom from above (James 3:15-17).
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
But what is James thinking of specifically? Check the context before and after.
This verse seems to be a transition between temptation not coming from God (vv. 13-15) and every good gift coming from God (vv. 17-18).
The thought in vv. 17-18 will help us with the thought in vv. 13-15.
So God does this...He doesn’t do this...
So don’t be led astray from thinking right things about God to thinking wrong things about God.
The Perspective (v. 17)
The Perspective (v. 17)
The Gifts
The Gifts
What gift is James thinking of?
Is it spiritual gifts? Or, physical/material/earthly gifts? Or both?
Wisdom from verse 5 is an example.
The time of these gifts must be in this life because...
They’re from above coming down - from heaven where God is to earth where we are.
They’re the flip side of the trials and temptations of this life.
We can know that the temptations of this life are not from God, but the good gifts of this life are from God.
What does God gives us in this life? He doesn’t specify here. He assumes his readers will “connect the dots.”
Just like we can perceive the temptations of this life, we can also perceive the gifts of God in this life.
So it is anything and everything in our life that is good and perfect.
What is good?
Pleasant or desirable, generous or beneficial
This in context would include what is perceived to be good by the recipient, because it is an encouragement to see good sourced in God.
But, good is not limited to the perception of the recipient.
So as we perceive things as good, we should acknowledge them as from God.
From the bite of food to the answered prayer to the forgiveness of sins.
We are acutely aware of what is unpleasant, but we will grow in being aware of what is truly pleasant. And as we do, we should and must see God in that.
What is perfect?
Complete and pure, sufficient, without flaw.
It is the BEST, nothing better. Perfect.
Whether it be the spiritual blessings we have now (Eph. 1:3).
Or the earthly possessions that we will receive from Him (Matt. 7:11, Phil. 4:19).
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
The Giver
The Giver
Who He is
Father of lights - God is the only One who can have this title as creator and controller/sustainer of the sun, moon, and stars, marvels of creation (Gen. 1:16, Ps. 136:7-9, Ps. 19:1, Rom. 1:20).
And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.
to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
So God is powerful and caring. The Father of lights is our Father.
What He is like
No variation - change, in Who He is and what He does.
Shadow - change in darkness and light. God is different than the lights of creation. In this lights of creation we have an illustration of what God is NOT like.
He is consistent in who He is and what He does. Just like Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:8).
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
What He is like is important in light of the next verse. That God is consistent is significant in light of what He has done.
This is the PERSPECTIVE that we can and should have. This perspective will be enhanced by a certain AWARENESS - ongoing remembering.
The Awareness (v. 18)
The Awareness (v. 18)
What did God do?
What did God do?
He “brought us forth.” What does that mean?
To give birth (John 3:3)
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
So this is spiritual, especially because of “by the word of truth.”
What is the “word of truth”? The message of truth.
It must be the truth about salvation in Christ (Romans 10:17).
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
So this is an important way of seeing salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone - as being born again (John 1:12–13, 1 Peter 1:23).
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
Why did God do it?
Why did God do it?
Because He wanted to, which is both mysterious and meaningful.
“That we should be...”
What does it mean to be the “firstfruits of his creatures”?
In the OT the firstfruits were some of what was gathered at the beginning of the harvest season to be offered as a sacrifice to God in recognition of that fact that God had given it to them (Deut. 26:1-11, specifically Deut. 26:10).
And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God.
This is symbolic of believers (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
So of all of God’s creatures, believers can and should be a testimony to God’s good gifts.
Take the good with the bad.
Take the good with the bad.
We should be proactive in SEEING the good.
We should see it as from God and be thankful.
Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Benediction: Num. 6:24-26