Jas 1:16-18 “Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
We are assured by the language that James is not merely dispensing information. He has a genuine concern for his audience; so much so that he refers to them as “beloved brethren.” This is not a mere recognition of relation (either national or spiritual), but a profession of love and concern. Do we have sufficient love for the family of God to warn them, as James did, to “not err?”
We use a phrase today that carries with it the thought that James is setting forth here. When we are being particularly emphatic about a point we often say “Make no mistake about it!” This is the admonition here. Make no mistake about it; our heavenly Father is the giver of every good and perfect gift. All things that are beneficial (good) and complete (perfect) come from God.
God is not wishy-washy. He does not give good and perfect gifts one day and something less the next. He always gives good and perfect gifts. They originate with Him and come down to us. His gifts are above man’s ways and past man’s finding out. We recognize both the gifts and the Giver by revelation from the Holy Ghost.
Again, brethren, make no mistake about it; only by the will of God are we begotten (transformed) by the word of truth. We are His eternally by His will alone, and the same is true of our ability to walk in righteousness in His kingdom here. We did not just decide on our own that we would follow Jesus any more than we decided we would go to Heaven. This happened by the will and grace of God.
When Peter and Andrew left their fishing boat, it was not because they had observed Jesus and determined that He was a man worth following. He, by His own will, said to them “Follow me (Mat 4:19).” Jesus spoke those same simple words to Matthew (Mat 9:9). His methods with Paul were a little different, but the outcome was the same. Regardless of how we heard (or felt) His call in our life, we have this in common with all who truly follow Jesus; it is by His own will!
According to His holy will, we (spiritual Israel) are a kind of firstfruits (beginning of sacrifice). He has called us to follow the example of Jesus Christ according to His own will. We bear this testimony before His creatures (creation), that we might give honor and glory to God as one. Our testimony is that good and perfect gifts come from God and not man. Our walk is that we are born with the word of truth by His will and not ours.
We should be declaring emphatically to all those around us, “Make no mistake about it, beloved brethren; God is all in all!” He will always be all in all. There is no variableness in Him. He declared of Himself that He is the Lord and He does not change (Mal. 3:6). The proof of this is in the fact that the sons of Jacob (including the scattered Jews in James’ day, and we who are spiritual Israel today) are not consumed!
May we be blessed of God to, without error, give Him praise for the working of His holy will in our lives!
