The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:17-18,
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."
In order to shore up a theology lacking coherence, some teach a bizarre doctrine that the new birth, being "born again" or what is known as "regeneration" is something God does to a select few that they will place their faith in him. Much like a date rape drug, a select few, apart from their own choice are manipulated into becoming Christians, and like robots obeying a command, now embrace God in faith. The concept is regeneration precedes repentance. All others, literally, will go to hell. No one has a choice and no one has the free opportunity to choose God's wonderful gift of the new birth. It all happens apart from any exercise of our will that we all thought God had gifted us with.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Salvation is by faith, not by appointment and in this wonderful passage James presents us with the beauty of the God who is so giving, the giver of "every good and perfect gift". As James tells us, salvation is for those who love God, verse 12, and who respond to the gospel message, "the word of truth". This is the gift of God, the offer of eternal life with him offered through the gospel message.
Paul speaks of this in Romans 10:17, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." That message contains a wonder offer of love with the gift of righteousness for any individual who will embrace him in faith. The offer is made to all men, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4.
What a love this is! Jesus Christ died on the cross for the whole world, paying the penalty for the sins of every person who has ever lived, and offers all mankind the opportunity to spend eternity with him if they but embrace him in faith, place their trust in him. The invitation is to all mankind and the offer contained within the gospel message provides a wonderful gift that no one could ever match, the gift of righteousness, the gift of salvation! "... in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God... " Ephesians 2:7-8.
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. How wonderful is our God, from whom "Every good and perfect gift" comes!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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