James 1:16-18

God Is The Source Of Good

Do not make the mistake of believing that God tempts us to do evil. He would not give man two such unwanted offspring. Instead, God is the source of everything that is good (James 1:16-17). "So Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God'" (Mark 10:19). He is also the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). God is light (1 John 1:5) and is the source of every light (Genesis 1:1-5; Genesis 1:14-18). Unlike the lights which he created, which vary in intensity of brightness and cast varying lights and shadows due to the earth's turning, God is unchanging. "For I am the Lord, I do not change" (Malachi 3:6).

Our own lust yields temptation which gives birth to sin and death. God causes men to be born of the truth (James 1:18). Rather than being the source of temptation, God is the one who has begotten us unto a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). The new birth is spoken of repeatedly in the New Testament (John 1:12-13; John 3:1-8; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 4:7-8; 1 John 5:1; 1 John 5:4). It does not come about because of good works we do to merit an entrance into heaven. Instead, it is produced by the washing of the new birth, as Paul told Titus.

James describes Christians as being brought forth, like a baby being born, by the word of truth, or the gospel. "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5-6). The very fact that these first century brethren were born to be "firstfruits" indicates that God expected many more to follow (Leviticus 23:10; Deuteronomy 26:2). The sacrifice of the firstfruits was made in expectation of a good harvest to follow. It was a means of consecrating all of the harvest (Romans 11:16).