The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:18,
"He [God] chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."
James tells us God decided to give us new birth through "the word of truth", the gospel. He tell us here it was God's choice, out of his own will, his decision, that is, his "election", to confront us with "the word of truth" to the end that all who embrace Jesus Christ through the gospel message will be given the new birth Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about in John 3:3. This is why the Scriptures speak of those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith as the "chosen ones" or the "elect". God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith. Romans 8:33; Romans 11:7. In Ephesians 1:11-14 Paul tells us we were included with those who have been "chosen", verse 11, "when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."
The Scriptures clearly teach us that the new birth, being "born again", "regeneration" comes as a result of our faith through the gospel message, not the other way around. On this point, Paul puts it this way, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.
God makes his own choices. As Creator, as the God of all that exists, it is his prerogative. Paul makes this point in Romans 9:10-12, "Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.'" God makes his own choices and doesn't consult with me for my good ideas on anything - what a startling discovery that is for me!
God's prerogative in making is own choices, his election, couldn't be any clearer than what Paul says in Romans 9:21, "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" From the human race that God, the "Potter" created, all who will embrace him in faith will be adopted into his family. All others will enter into his judgment at the end of the age. This is the choice, or the "election" God has made.
I like to think God thinks my way. I have a propensity to assume I know how things are. What a struggle it is to leave my own thoughts behind as I enter into the Scriptures. Oh, just ask me, I'll tell you what I think God has done or is doing, what his will is, what he has decided. How often I have had to hang my head and confess, "well, I guess I was wrong about that!"
If nothing else, from what James has to say, that God has chosen to give us new birth through the "word of truth", I note James doesn't tell me God will take the matter under the advisement of Trevor Fisk. God's choices are his prerogative, and a prerogative I note in many places in the Scriptures he exercises, all on his own, without any help from me.
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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