Title: “I’ve Got This!” - God

Text: James 1:16-18

FCF: We often struggle holding fast the tension that God is both good and Sovereign when we are tested.

Prop: Because God is absolutely good and absolutely sovereign, we must not deny this when tested.

Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to James chapter 1.

Last week we continued a topic that James opened up in verse 9. As a response to God using trials to perfect us, James has begun addressing areas that we might be lacking. Areas of our life that God might be working to perfect us. Or even areas in our life that are keeping us from considering our tests pure joy.

He began with wisdom, and stated there that God gives good gifts to His children and they need only to ask and they will receive it.

Then he moved to perspective. He taught that if we don’t seek the kingdom first and instead focus on what we have or don’t have in this life – then we might miss the joy in financial trial.

Then he moved to last week where even in testings that have us grappling with temptation, we ought not think God is tempting us but rather that we are being tempted by our own desires. It is our fault, not God’s, when we are led away and enticed. If we get this wrong, then it will be impossible to count testings that include temptation as pure joy.

Today we will look at what is a sister point of last week’s message. There is just a LOT for us to cover here – mainly because I will have to defend a doctrine and teaching that may be a bit difficult for some of you to swallow.

So let’s turn to James 1. I’ll begin reading in verse 16 from the NASB. You can follow along in the pew bible on page 1360 or in whatever version you have in front of you.

Transition:

This sermon is on the longer side. But if we are intently listening, I know it will be a blessing to your hearts. It will allow us all to conclude that even temptation can be used by our God to grow us into what He would have us to be. And in the midst of trial where we are tempted – that is truly a comforting thought. But to get there – we have to get what James says right. So let’s endeavor to do just that.

I.) God is the only unchanging source of good giving and perfect gifts, so we must not deny this when tested.

a. [Slide 2] 16 – Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

i. James again begins with a negative command.

ii. It is possible that this command connects with the previous thought. That we ought not be deceived about how temptation comes to us.

iii. In fact, I think the command does exactly that.

iv. But it also reaches forward to what he will say.

v. This command is regarding the nature of God and the nature of man.

vi. Both man and God are compared to each other in this text. And God is very clearly one way while all His creation is quite another.

vii. This passage speaks to the “otherness” or “uniqueness” of God. Or as we call it in theology – His Holiness.

viii. As we are comparing God to His creation, James’ desire is that we are not deceived.

ix. This is the essence of all heresy, false teaching, and even heterodoxy.

x. From where do these come if not from being led astray by a false view of the nature of God.

xi. And if we cannot understand, at least what God has revealed about Himself, then we will form a deceived misunderstanding of who we are as humans.

xii. If we are led astray on who God is and who we are, we cannot possibly form right understandings or conclusions about anything – much less about our trials, the future kingdom, or even salvation.

xiii. Although this is a negative command, to put it positively James commands his audience to give heed to sound doctrine. To hold fast to what they have been taught. To not be lazy in your pursuit of doctrine.

xiv. For we must possess a childlike faith – this is true… but not a childish faith.

xv. Meaning we must receive what God says with humble belief, but we must also not remain purposefully shallow in our understanding, lest we be swept away with every wind of doctrine.

b. [Slide 3] 17 – Every good thing given and every perfect gift

i. Now James wishes to give his audience some proper teaching on the nature of God.

ii. The opening item is actually focusing on the giving itself. Every giving of good things.

iii. James has been discussing how God is not evil. And we spoke last week about how God is good. It is an attribute of His. Meaning of course, that He defines what the word good actually means.

iv. But not just in every instance of giving but even the gifts themselves.

v. Every perfect or complete gift. The last time we saw this word “perfect” was in verse 4 when James said that the endurance of our faith when it has its “perfect” work, will “perfect” us.

vi. So, every gift that comes to us that is perfect and every giving of godly good gifts comes from where?

c. [Slide 4] Is from above,

i. This is metonymy. Metonymy is a figure of speech whereby we use something that is related in name or concept to what we mean.

ii. When we say the white house gave a statement today – we don’t mean that the building gave a statement.

iii. And here, when James says that every giving of godly good things and every perfect gift comes from above… he very obviously doesn’t mean the sky, or space, or the universe, or heaven, or angels.

iv. He means from God. Only God can give perfect gifts. Only God is the one who gives godly good things.

v. And just in case that wasn’t clear, James continues…

d. [Slide 5] Coming down from the Father of lights

i. We’ve talked a bit about cosmology. In ancient cosmology the throne of heaven is above the firmament. And under the firmament is where God hung the sun, moon, and stars. Which would include the other planets in our solar system.

ii. Now we know that these are actually beyond our atmosphere – but they didn’t know what an atmosphere was back then. All they knew is they looked up and saw lights suspended in the heavens.

iii. Those are the lights that James is speaking of here.

iv. Where do perfect gifts come from? Who gives godly good things?

v. The wonders that we can behold with our eyes yet cannot reach – He made them.

e. [Slide 6] With whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

i. Unlike the hanging lights though – there is no shifting shadow with Him.

ii. Unlike us, there is no variation or hint of change with God.

iii. If God is the only giver of godly good things and no other source ever gives perfect gifts…

iv. But God was like the sun whose light could be covered by a passing cloud. If God was like the moon that hides its full glory during most nights of the month.

v. if God was like us… like fickle humans who are hot one minute and cold the next. Full one minute and hungry the next. Asleep one minute and awake the next. Refreshed then tired. Strong then weak. Happy then sad. Satisfied then unsatisfied. Kind then mean. Comfortable then uncomfortable.

vi. Can you imagine… if God was the only giver of godly good things and perfect gifts… but he was like us?

vii. If God was the only source for gifts like grace, hope, love, faith, repentance, regeneration, adoption, justification, glorification, propitiation, expiation…

viii. But the next day he would take them away. When we sin He would remove them. What hell we would live in.

ix. But my friends… God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

x. Not only is He the only source for giving good things and perfect gifts, but He is the CONSTANT source for giving good things and perfect gifts.

f. [Slide 7] Passage Truth: James teaches us here that our God, our Father, is the unchanging source of all blessings and goodness and every perfect gift that comes down to His dear children.

g. Passage Application: Therefore, they must not be deceived to believe that He is guilty of doing any evil to them or sending any test to them with malicious intent.

h. [Slide 8] Broader Biblical Truth: But is this true? Does the bible teach this concept, that God is the unchanging source for all good giving and perfect gifts? Psalm 85:12 says that the Lord will give what is good. Romans 8:28 says that for those who love God and are called according to His purpose, all things are for our good. The Old Testament is a long story of God’s lovingkindness and covenant faithfulness to Israel despite their continued spiritual adultery. From cover to cover, the Word of God reveals that God is the giver of good and perfect gifts. He is the only source for all these gifts. And He is unchanging. He is constant.

i. Broader Biblical Application: So CBC, no matter what you face. No matter what trial. No matter what test. Even in the gravest of temptations. Even in the greatest of hardships. Do not be led astray. Do not think for one instant that God is toying with you. That God is playing with you. That God is giving evil to you. Oh my friends. God gives good gifts to those He loves. But they are good by His definitions – which may differ sharply from ours… nevertheless, they are good, and intended to prove, progress and perfect our faith. Do not be deceived. God is Good.

Transition:

[Slide 9(blank)] But what good is it to have a good God who gives good things when He is powerless to stop the bad things? Is God truly able to plan all things for our good?

II.) God is Absolutely Sovereign over our eternal destiny, so we must not deny this when tested.

a. [Slide 10] 18 – In the exercise of His will

i. This next verse opens with a passive participle and it is not easy to translate.

ii. The evidence for this is in the various translations that we trust.

1. 2 say – He chose

2. 4 others say – Of His own will

3. 1 says – By His own choice

4. NET – By His sovereign plan

iii. God is a God who wills these godly good things and perfect gifts to be.

iv. And James is going to give an example of those good gifts, and how God gives them.

v. This is an exercise of His will. He is choosing. He is planning this out. And since He is the only one who can do this and does it without changing – the NET’s translation is actually spot on if we are going for meaning. It isn’t very “word for word” but if we want to drive to the heart of what James actually means…

vi. It is “By His Sovereign plan”

vii. It is something God wishes or wants – and He is the only being capable of doing it. For He is the only source for Godly good things and perfect gifts – of which what follows is one… and perhaps is the chief among them.

viii. So, what is the greatest perfect gift? What is the best godly good thing we can be given?

b. [Slide 11] He brought us forth

i. There is a comparison happening here that we may not see if we don’t pause to consider something.

ii. This word “to bring forth” is used in the NASB at the end of verse 15 when it says that sin brings forth death.

iii. Last week we looked at that in the CSB which translated the word “gives birth.” Which it does again here in verse 18.

iv. But what I didn’t show you last week is that this word used for giving birth to sin is not the same word for giving birth to death.

v. You see our evil lusts give birth to sin – which is a Greek word putting emphasis on the actual action of giving birth. Labor we could say.

vi. But when sin is fully grown it gives birth to death. The Greek word for “gives birth” here puts emphasis on the completion of pregnancy – ie having the baby.

vii. These are subtle differences in meaning but the NASB actually reflects those differences by translating this bring forth. Which emphasizes the end.

viii. However, we might miss the obvious reference to our spiritual new birth here if we neglect the birth analogy.

ix. Our sin ends in our spiritual death… but only the will of the never changing Father who is the only giver of godly good and perfect gifts can bring us new birth.

x. And not just the process of that birth – but all the way to completion. He brings us life.

xi. And how does He bring us to life?

c. [Slide 12] By the word of truth

i. Literally by the true message.

ii. By the gospel of Jesus Christ.

iii. I don’t want to go too deep into theology, but I do want to point out places where the bible speaks about certain deep subjects.

iv. For the last 400 years there has been a question that has plagued Christianity.

v. How does the sovereignty of God and His command to believe on Christ for salvation fit together?

vi. If God is truly in control of all things but commands us to do something and we will be saved – then how do these fit together?

vii. We could take the answer – well I don’t understand but I just believe it. That’s ok.

viii. We could say – this is just a paradox that we need to accept both sides. Which is also fine.

ix. But I don’t want to pass up the opportunity that it is here to try to harmonize these two teachings.

x. Every couple years we post a survey that tests our knowledge of key doctrinal beliefs. And every year there is one question that our answers turn up very mixed. The question is “The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual new birth or new life before a person has faith in Jesus Christ.” The questions are true/false and we are given 5 options between strongly agree and strongly disagree.

xi. Several state that they strongly disagree to this. Implying that they think belief precedes or comes before new birth. Several others strongly affirm the statement. And some brave souls said they were not sure