James 1:16-18 NIV

• Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. (17)

Every good and perfect gift is from

above, coming down from the Father of

the heavenly lights, who does not change

like shifting shadows. (18) He chose to

give us birth through the word of truth, that

we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he

created.

James addresses problems &

needs of the Christian life

• Writes in “how to” principles

• Some verses transition between themes

• James 1:16 NIV Don’t be deceived, my

dear brothers.

– Could belong with past section on temptation

– Could belong with section on God’s goodness

– Either way, subject of deception is appropriate

1. Everything that is bad

comes from the Devil

James 1:16 NIV Don’t be deceived, my

dear brothers.

Satan constantly tries to deceive us

• Eve was correct:

– Genesis 3:13 NIV Then the LORD God said to

the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived

me, and I ate.”

• Peter was right when he warned:

– 1 Peter 5:8 NIV Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a

roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

In contrast, God never deceives

• He always deals with truth

• Jesus came declaring:

– John 14:6 NIV “I am the way and the truth and

the life. No one comes to the Father except

through me.

– John 8:32 NIV “… you will know the truth, and

the truth will set you free.”

Jesus’ assessment of Satan

• John 8:44 NIV You belong to your father,

the devil, and you want to carry out your

father’s desire. He was a murderer from

the beginning, not holding to the truth, for

there is no truth in him. When he lies, he

speaks his native language, for he is a liar

and the father of lies.

James urges us not to be deceived

• First, about the source of evil – Satan

• Second, about the source of good –God

– He is the source of good

– He is the one who brings good out of bad• Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things

God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

• Romans 8:28 NASB And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

2. Everything that is good

comes from God

James 1:17 NIV Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who

does not change like shifting shadows.

James contrasts what Satan gives

and what God gives

• He uses such descriptive words as

good, gift, perfect, above, lights, and

firstfruits

• These are “life” words contra “death”

words he used in the preceding passage

God loves us and desires what is

best for us

• It is God’s nature to give

– He is good

– He delights in giving good gifts

• Bible contains

– Accounts of God blessing those obeying Him

– Innumerable promises of God’s blessing

• Every good gift comes from God

• And every perfect gift comes from Him

“Perfect” is teleios, the same word

James used earlier

• James 1:4 NIV Perseverance must finish

its work so that you may be mature and

complete, not lacking anything.

• God is perfect & all He does is perfect

– His gifts are not only good, they are perfect

– They come from above because that is

James’ concept of where God is

These gifts come down from “the

Father of lights”

• “Father of lights” is found only here in NT

• Reference to God of light is frequent

– Beginning with the creation account and

carrying through the Book of Revelation

– Revelation 22:5 NIV There will be no more

night. They will not need the light of a lamp or

the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give

them light. And they will reign for ever and

ever.

Jesus made that connection with

himself

• John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to

the people, he said, “I am the light of the

world. Whoever follows me will never walk

in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

God described as one “who does

not change like shifting shadows”

• Anchored in many promises of God

– Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and

courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because

of them, for the LORD your God goes with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

• Promised anew for us

– Hebrews 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the

love of money and be content with what you

have, because God has said, “Never will I leave

you; never will I forsake you.”

God is a dependable friend

• Proverbs 18:24 NIV A man of many

companions may come to ruin, but there is

a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

• Jesus is like that

– Hebrews 13:8 NIV Jesus Christ is the same

yesterday and today and forever.

He is the Rock on which we should

build our lives

• Matthew 7:24-25 NIV “Therefore everyone

who hears these words of mine and puts

them into practice is like a wise man who

built his house on the rock. (25) The rain

came down, the streams rose, and the

winds blew and beat against that house;

yet it did not fall, because it had its

foundation on the rock.

God is the One to be trusted; what

He promises, He will do

• 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV The one who

calls you is faithful and he will do it.

• He is not like the shifting shadows

• You can count on Him

3. God offers us the very best

of giftsJames 1:18 NIV He chose to give us birth

through the word of truth, that we might be a

kind of firstfruits of all he created.

God initiated our salvation by His

own will

• He is the aggressive lover

• He is the initiator

• He loved us when we treated Him with

contempt

– Romans 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his

own love for us in this: While we were still

sinners, Christ died for us.

“Gave us birth” is apokueo

• Literally to beget, to produce, to breed

• Refers to our new birth

• It was His will to bring us to spiritual birth

• As Jesus said

– John 1:13 NIV children born not of natural

descent, nor of human decision or a

husband’s will, but born of God.

Paul talks about this new birth

• Titus 3:3-7 NIV At one time we … were foolish,

disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of

passions and pleasures. … (4) But when the

kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, (5)

he saved us, not because of righteous things we

had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us

through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the

Holy Spirit, (6) whom he poured out on us

generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) so

that, having been justified by his grace, we might

become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

The result of this new birth is that

we are “firstfruits of all he created”

• Firstfruits was a requirement of Law

– Vital part of God’s covenant with them

– First & best of everything belonged to God

• James’ readers understood the concept of

firstfruits

• Christians are firstfruits of God’s creation

God is a generous giver

• He’s lavished us with many gifts:

– New birth through Jesus Christ

– Firstfruits of God’s kingdom

• He’s given us life that will never pass away

– Earth & the universe are temporary

– But we will never pass away

– Death has no more control over us

– We have eternal life!