James 1:18 question
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the word of truth is the gospel Jesus came into the world to preach
“Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
John 18:37
The gospel says those who believe the word and didn’t reject him, like many of Israel had done , would be born of God as his children
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13 KJV
Peter again says it
“being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. …But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
1 Peter 1:23, 25 KJV
James is talking also about accepting the New Testament the gospel
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.( he’s speaking of the early church and apostles the first and original church of tbat generetion )
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
James 1:18, 21-22 KJV
James is talking about the new engrafted word that can save souls
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
The term “ born again “ comes from the gospel
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3, 5
everyone after that’s talking about being born again is talking about this matter. No one had heard of this terminology before jesus began to teach it his apostles and James in this case are always referring to the subject matter found in the gospel that’s the “ word of truth “ word of life “ engrafted word able to save souls “ they often reference it it’s always referencing the word of Christ that promises us remission of all our sins and rebirth as Gods children
Notice what mark wrote whoever believes the gospel and is baptized ect now look at what Paul’s talking about being born anew as Gods children
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:26-29 KJV
if we began to learn what Jesus and the gospel teaches the epistles make good clear sense
“Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
John 18:37
The gospel says those who believe the word and didn’t reject him, like many of Israel had done , would be born of God as his children
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13 KJV
Peter again says it
“being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. …But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
1 Peter 1:23, 25 KJV
James is talking also about accepting the New Testament the gospel
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.( he’s speaking of the early church and apostles the first and original church of tbat generetion )
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
James 1:18, 21-22 KJV
James is talking about the new engrafted word that can save souls
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
The term “ born again “ comes from the gospel
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3, 5
everyone after that’s talking about being born again is talking about this matter. No one had heard of this terminology before jesus began to teach it his apostles and James in this case are always referring to the subject matter found in the gospel that’s the “ word of truth “ word of life “ engrafted word able to save souls “ they often reference it it’s always referencing the word of Christ that promises us remission of all our sins and rebirth as Gods children
Notice what mark wrote whoever believes the gospel and is baptized ect now look at what Paul’s talking about being born anew as Gods children
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:26-29 KJV
if we began to learn what Jesus and the gospel teaches the epistles make good clear sense
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You will note in 1 Peter 1:23-25, that the Gospel is the basis of the New Birth. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.
When the Gospel is preached and obeyed, God not only justifies the sinner but He also gives that person the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit "regenerates" the sinner, who is then born again.
Those who become children of God through the New Birth are the first fruits of the "harvest" in which all creatures will eventually call Jesus Christ "Lord" to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10, 11) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Those who are already saved bow the knee to Christ in worship, and call Him Lord of their lives, thus becoming the "first fruits". . But "every creature" in all creation will do the same one day.
When the Gospel is preached and obeyed, God not only justifies the sinner but He also gives that person the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit "regenerates" the sinner, who is then born again.
Those who become children of God through the New Birth are the first fruits of the "harvest" in which all creatures will eventually call Jesus Christ "Lord" to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10, 11) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Those who are already saved bow the knee to Christ in worship, and call Him Lord of their lives, thus becoming the "first fruits". . But "every creature" in all creation will do the same one day.
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“When the Gospel is preached and obeyed, God not only justifies the sinner but He also gives that person the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit "regenerates" the sinner, who is then born again.”
amen
But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ( by abiding in Christs doctrine learning from him our thinking about God and ourselves and life changes over to what it’s supposed to be which allows us to change and be more like Jesus )
and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:20-24 KJV
Obedience things like what Paul’s teaching here is for those who already believe and are part of the church they’ve already received the spirit now he’s exhorting thier obedience more and more . we really don’t have to do anything to receive the spirit only hear and believe the truth about Christ which the gospel presents like this
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”
Acts 10:39-44
they haven’t done anything but heard peters preaching about the gospel about Jesus and his death and resurrection his authority of judgement. After they receive the spirit he begins teaching then doctrine the first thing he taught them was water baptism in Jesus name after they received the spirit
“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
Acts 10:46-48 KJV
any point is not an n any way to shift the conversation to baptism brother but to say first we receive the holy spirit because we believe the gospel , and then we are called to obedience more and more by the spirit already in us we become empowered as we grow in Christ and the gospel
Notice early in Paul’s letters
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14
But then notice late in the same letters to the same believers in the same church
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
Ephesians 5:1-7 KJV
The promised gift of the spirit comes first and then the fruit of that promise of we follow the truth and don’t reject it is repentance and obedience and everlasting life because of the process your talking about
abut we don’t earn the spirit we’re given new life by him the counselor who comes and begins to lift our own spirit and give us life it’s a free gift if we just believe the true gospel Jesus sent forth to all for salvation
awe mature and begin to be able to hear the latter parts of Paul’s letters for a time we really can’t hear them same with Jesus words for a time we can’t hear the warnings until we get mature through use and practice
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 5:13-14 KJV
We first receive the spirit and then we’re able to put the flesh to death by following the spirit
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his….
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Romans 8:9-10, 12-13 KJV
receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t the end of the process but the beginning of it is my point obedience will truly come after the gift
amen
But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ( by abiding in Christs doctrine learning from him our thinking about God and ourselves and life changes over to what it’s supposed to be which allows us to change and be more like Jesus )
and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:20-24 KJV
Obedience things like what Paul’s teaching here is for those who already believe and are part of the church they’ve already received the spirit now he’s exhorting thier obedience more and more . we really don’t have to do anything to receive the spirit only hear and believe the truth about Christ which the gospel presents like this
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”
Acts 10:39-44
they haven’t done anything but heard peters preaching about the gospel about Jesus and his death and resurrection his authority of judgement. After they receive the spirit he begins teaching then doctrine the first thing he taught them was water baptism in Jesus name after they received the spirit
“For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”
Acts 10:46-48 KJV
any point is not an n any way to shift the conversation to baptism brother but to say first we receive the holy spirit because we believe the gospel , and then we are called to obedience more and more by the spirit already in us we become empowered as we grow in Christ and the gospel
Notice early in Paul’s letters
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14
But then notice late in the same letters to the same believers in the same church
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
Ephesians 5:1-7 KJV
The promised gift of the spirit comes first and then the fruit of that promise of we follow the truth and don’t reject it is repentance and obedience and everlasting life because of the process your talking about
abut we don’t earn the spirit we’re given new life by him the counselor who comes and begins to lift our own spirit and give us life it’s a free gift if we just believe the true gospel Jesus sent forth to all for salvation
awe mature and begin to be able to hear the latter parts of Paul’s letters for a time we really can’t hear them same with Jesus words for a time we can’t hear the warnings until we get mature through use and practice
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 5:13-14 KJV
We first receive the spirit and then we’re able to put the flesh to death by following the spirit
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his….
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Romans 8:9-10, 12-13 KJV
receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t the end of the process but the beginning of it is my point obedience will truly come after the gift
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1
- Show all
"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." James 1:18
James is using agricultural language to describe the Christian life. The "word of truth" is the seed. Jesus, in His parables, described the word as a seed. In the Old Testament, firstfruits were the first fruit in a harvest to ripen and were offered to God. In the New Testament, "firstfruits" is used in a general sense to describe the first of something or someone. In this verse, the "firstfruits" are probably the first believers. He may have been referring to the Jewish converts who were the first Christians:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16
James is using agricultural language to describe the Christian life. The "word of truth" is the seed. Jesus, in His parables, described the word as a seed. In the Old Testament, firstfruits were the first fruit in a harvest to ripen and were offered to God. In the New Testament, "firstfruits" is used in a general sense to describe the first of something or someone. In this verse, the "firstfruits" are probably the first believers. He may have been referring to the Jewish converts who were the first Christians:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16
The “first fruits” are the earliest gathered fruits of the harvest. In the Old Testament they were to be given as an offering to God. See Deuteronomy 18:4 and Exodus 34:26.
The “first fruits” also is symbolic and used to refer to those (1) who first became Christian’s in a particular geographic area; see Roman’s 16:5 and 1Corinthians 16:15 and to (2) Jesus who was the first of many to be resurrected from the dead, 1Corinthians 15:20, 23.
The “first fruits” also is symbolic and used to refer to those (1) who first became Christian’s in a particular geographic area; see Roman’s 16:5 and 1Corinthians 16:15 and to (2) Jesus who was the first of many to be resurrected from the dead, 1Corinthians 15:20, 23.
In James 1:18, James is saying that Christ saved us by His Word of Truth. Psalms 119:160 says that the ENTIRETY of your word is truth.” As often as you can, let the Bible define its words and meanings. So we are saved by God’s word, 1 Corinthians 2:16 says “…we have the MIND OF CHRIST.” (In His word—the Bible) We are saved, so that we may be “A Kind” of first fruits. Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead and we are a “kind” of that. We will also be resurrected from the dead.
Here are a few observations fromone of my favorite Greek guys who did a serious study of James.
James 1:18 (Faith, Love and Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James): How God Re-Creates Man
… begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
—James 1:18b
To have a will is to have the power of logical reasoning. Furthermore, the exercise of the will results in action. That is what the next word in our verse tells us: “Having willed it, he begat us.” The same Greek word is used here as the one used in the 15th verse in relation to sin bringing forth death. It is the word apokuéō, which means “to be or to become pregnant.” James spoke of the conception and the birth of death, and now he speaks of the birth of life. Sin is responsible for death, and God is responsible for life—spiritual, abundant life. We come again to the mystery of conception and pregnancy necessary for birth.
To make this possible there must be two persons involved. True, James through the first word of this verse spoke of the will of God, of the determination of God to make you a new creature, but for this new spiritual life to begin His will alone is not sufficient. Yours is necessary, too, whether you submit your will willingly or unwillingly. Dwight L. Moody said,
Many men fold their arms and say, “If I am one of the elect—in other words, one of those God willed to be saved—I shall be saved; and if I am not, I shall not. No use bothering about it.” I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men were going to stumble over this doctrine of election, so after He had been thirty or forty years in heaven, He came down and spoke to John. One Lord’s Day in Patmos He said to him: “Write these things to the churches.” John kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when it was nearly finished, said: “John, before you close the book, put in one more invitation. ‘The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ ”
Do not worry as to who are the elect and who are not. It was Henry Ward Beecher who used to say: “The elect are whosoever will; the non-elect are whosoever won’t.” What great truth there is in that. There is one thing which the omnipotent God does not choose to do, although He could do it, and that is to violate your will and come and dwell in your heart without being wanted. As He stoops down from heaven’s glory to reach you in your sin and trespasses, why do you not look up into His face and say, “I will receive Christ as my Savior. Come in today, come in to stay.” “But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
“Having willed it, he begat us.” James must surely refer here to all the believers, including himself. One hears a great deal today about the universal brotherhood of man. This is definitely against the teaching of the Scriptures. Only those are brothers who have been begotten by the will of God, those who have said yes to the Lord as He stretched forth His nail-pierced hands to save them. And what a brotherhood that is which is made up of the blood-bought children of God.
Before I go on, I should like to point out that this word “begat” is in the past tense, aorist, which would indicate the completeness and the permanence of this birth. I laughed one day when a good Christian woman said to me as she spoke of her brother, “He was born-again several times.” What a fallacy that is! In this physical world you can only be born once, and so it is in the spiritual world: you can be born-again only once. It is true there are degrees of spiritual growth, but life is given once by God and that life is complete in its makeup. Surely the One who gave it is able to maintain it. God gave us this birth from above, once and for all.
Now we come to that part of our verse which deals with the instrumentality of this birth. How are we born-again? The answer which James gives us is “through the word of truth.” There are any number of ways we can take this first word, lógō. It is the same word which John uses in his gospel, in the first chapter, to introduce Jesus Christ as being one with God and yet separate. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is true that the definite article is missing in connection with the word “God,” but rightly so; otherwise we would have a grammatical monstrosity, for the word “God” here is not the subject of the sentence, but the predicate. This Word was God, but at the same time He was a separate and distinct personality from God. He was the One who became flesh and dwelt among us.
He was none other than the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore in my interpretation of this important theological statement of the Apostle James, I wish to declare that I believe that the first and foremost meaning of this particular word lógō, ordinarily translated “through the Word,” is the Second Person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom alone God regenerates, re-creates the human heart and instills in it the divine nature. He, Jesus Christ, was the expression, the tangible, visible expression, of His will and His love. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). If you ever expect to be born again, it must be through Jesus Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
I have given you the biblical meaning of the word lógos, but I would like to mention also that the primary and probably the simplest meaning of the word is “expression, in the sense of a word,” the articulate sound which comes from the mouth of man to make known what is in his mind. It is the declaration of something; it is preaching. How are people saved? Simply through the preaching of the Word, the preaching of Christ. This is the age when people and churches are trying to change things. Instead of the simple preaching of the gospel they are trying to substitute religious motion pictures, religious drama, music, and a thousand and one other things. Let me, however, declare as emphatically as I can, on the authority of the Word of God, that there is no substitute for the preaching of the Word. “So then,” declares Paul, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God help us never to substitute anything for this God-given method of winning souls to Christ.
There is a lot of preaching today. There is oratory galore. There is very little of the Truth, however. Our verse declares that the instrumentality of the new birth is the “word of truth.” Now what is truth? I do not need to answer that. The Lord Jesus answered it Himself when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). People are born again through the preaching of the truth, the Christ. John Wesley used to ask the young men (whom he sent out on probation to preach) two questions: “Has anyone been converted?” and “Did anyone get mad?” If the answer was No, he told them he did not think the Lord had called them to preach the gospel, and he sent them about their business. When we preach the truth and the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, people either get converted or get mad. This is indeed a good test for many man-pleasing preachers of this generation.
What is the result of the new birth, of this re-creation by God? What are we, after we are born again by God through the preaching of Jesus Christ? We are “a kind of firstfruits of his creatures,” declares James. We have read that many times, but have we ever stopped to think about what it means? In the Old Testament the firstfruits of the harvest and of the first-born belonged to God, and the command was to offer them to God. These firstfruits, therefore, were the peculiar possession of God. Among His entire creation we are peculiarly His possession, for we were not only created by Him, but also re-created. A little boy who had lost his toy boat found it for sale in a store, and when he bought it, he took it in his hands and hugged it, saying, “My little precious boat, you are now twice mine; once I made you and once I bought you.” As God looks upon us who have tasted His grace and salvation, He says to us the same thing: “You are so precious to me, more precious than any other creature for once I made you and once I bought you with the blood of my Son.”
James 1:18 (Faith, Love and Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James): How God Re-Creates Man
… begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
—James 1:18b
To have a will is to have the power of logical reasoning. Furthermore, the exercise of the will results in action. That is what the next word in our verse tells us: “Having willed it, he begat us.” The same Greek word is used here as the one used in the 15th verse in relation to sin bringing forth death. It is the word apokuéō, which means “to be or to become pregnant.” James spoke of the conception and the birth of death, and now he speaks of the birth of life. Sin is responsible for death, and God is responsible for life—spiritual, abundant life. We come again to the mystery of conception and pregnancy necessary for birth.
To make this possible there must be two persons involved. True, James through the first word of this verse spoke of the will of God, of the determination of God to make you a new creature, but for this new spiritual life to begin His will alone is not sufficient. Yours is necessary, too, whether you submit your will willingly or unwillingly. Dwight L. Moody said,
Many men fold their arms and say, “If I am one of the elect—in other words, one of those God willed to be saved—I shall be saved; and if I am not, I shall not. No use bothering about it.” I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men were going to stumble over this doctrine of election, so after He had been thirty or forty years in heaven, He came down and spoke to John. One Lord’s Day in Patmos He said to him: “Write these things to the churches.” John kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when it was nearly finished, said: “John, before you close the book, put in one more invitation. ‘The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ ”
Do not worry as to who are the elect and who are not. It was Henry Ward Beecher who used to say: “The elect are whosoever will; the non-elect are whosoever won’t.” What great truth there is in that. There is one thing which the omnipotent God does not choose to do, although He could do it, and that is to violate your will and come and dwell in your heart without being wanted. As He stoops down from heaven’s glory to reach you in your sin and trespasses, why do you not look up into His face and say, “I will receive Christ as my Savior. Come in today, come in to stay.” “But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
“Having willed it, he begat us.” James must surely refer here to all the believers, including himself. One hears a great deal today about the universal brotherhood of man. This is definitely against the teaching of the Scriptures. Only those are brothers who have been begotten by the will of God, those who have said yes to the Lord as He stretched forth His nail-pierced hands to save them. And what a brotherhood that is which is made up of the blood-bought children of God.
Before I go on, I should like to point out that this word “begat” is in the past tense, aorist, which would indicate the completeness and the permanence of this birth. I laughed one day when a good Christian woman said to me as she spoke of her brother, “He was born-again several times.” What a fallacy that is! In this physical world you can only be born once, and so it is in the spiritual world: you can be born-again only once. It is true there are degrees of spiritual growth, but life is given once by God and that life is complete in its makeup. Surely the One who gave it is able to maintain it. God gave us this birth from above, once and for all.
Now we come to that part of our verse which deals with the instrumentality of this birth. How are we born-again? The answer which James gives us is “through the word of truth.” There are any number of ways we can take this first word, lógō. It is the same word which John uses in his gospel, in the first chapter, to introduce Jesus Christ as being one with God and yet separate. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is true that the definite article is missing in connection with the word “God,” but rightly so; otherwise we would have a grammatical monstrosity, for the word “God” here is not the subject of the sentence, but the predicate. This Word was God, but at the same time He was a separate and distinct personality from God. He was the One who became flesh and dwelt among us.
He was none other than the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore in my interpretation of this important theological statement of the Apostle James, I wish to declare that I believe that the first and foremost meaning of this particular word lógō, ordinarily translated “through the Word,” is the Second Person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom alone God regenerates, re-creates the human heart and instills in it the divine nature. He, Jesus Christ, was the expression, the tangible, visible expression, of His will and His love. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). If you ever expect to be born again, it must be through Jesus Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
I have given you the biblical meaning of the word lógos, but I would like to mention also that the primary and probably the simplest meaning of the word is “expression, in the sense of a word,” the articulate sound which comes from the mouth of man to make known what is in his mind. It is the declaration of something; it is preaching. How are people saved? Simply through the preaching of the Word, the preaching of Christ. This is the age when people and churches are trying to change things. Instead of the simple preaching of the gospel they are trying to substitute religious motion pictures, religious drama, music, and a thousand and one other things. Let me, however, declare as emphatically as I can, on the authority of the Word of God, that there is no substitute for the preaching of the Word. “So then,” declares Paul, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God help us never to substitute anything for this God-given method of winning souls to Christ.
There is a lot of preaching today. There is oratory galore. There is very little of the Truth, however. Our verse declares that the instrumentality of the new birth is the “word of truth.” Now what is truth? I do not need to answer that. The Lord Jesus answered it Himself when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). People are born again through the preaching of the truth, the Christ. John Wesley used to ask the young men (whom he sent out on probation to preach) two questions: “Has anyone been converted?” and “Did anyone get mad?” If the answer was No, he told them he did not think the Lord had called them to preach the gospel, and he sent them about their business. When we preach the truth and the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, people either get converted or get mad. This is indeed a good test for many man-pleasing preachers of this generation.
What is the result of the new birth, of this re-creation by God? What are we, after we are born again by God through the preaching of Jesus Christ? We are “a kind of firstfruits of his creatures,” declares James. We have read that many times, but have we ever stopped to think about what it means? In the Old Testament the firstfruits of the harvest and of the first-born belonged to God, and the command was to offer them to God. These firstfruits, therefore, were the peculiar possession of God. Among His entire creation we are peculiarly His possession, for we were not only created by Him, but also re-created. A little boy who had lost his toy boat found it for sale in a store, and when he bought it, he took it in his hands and hugged it, saying, “My little precious boat, you are now twice mine; once I made you and once I bought you.” As God looks upon us who have tasted His grace and salvation, He says to us the same thing: “You are so precious to me, more precious than any other creature for once I made you and once I bought you with the blood of my Son.”