Men's Study (5)
Notes
Transcript
Is God always good?
Let’s question your answers:
What about when we lose a job?
What about when we lose a marriage?
What if someone we love dearly gets sick?
What if our closest loved one dies?
What if we can’t afford to feed our family?
What if we have been abused?
We could go on and on with these questions...
But in verse 16-17 this is where James was going.
God is not like every other created thing that changes regularly and sometimes on a whim.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Let’s look at God’s unique sovereignty in all things:
God’s Choice in Saving/Regeneration
God’s Choice in Saving/Regeneration
18 Of his own will he brought us forth...
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Let’s get to the heart of the matter.
Jesus has purpose in all He does: Do you agree?
Does He do anything by chance?
So what about when people are saved?
What about when people feel the sting of conviction?
What about when life seems difficult in order to get our attention in a specific moment?
God’s Way of Saving
God’s Way of Saving
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth...
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus described in John 1:1 & 14 as the Word became flesh also states He is Himself the only way to the Father.
23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
The Word of God is thematically a promise of connection with God according to faith in Who God is and what He has done.
God’s Purpose in Saving
God’s Purpose in Saving
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
There is an argument to be made, since Jesus is writing to Jewish converts to Messiah, that he is referring to the concept that salvation is first to the Jew and then the Greek.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Walking Away, But In...
Walking Away, But In...
His goodness never ends
Life now is a first fruit
His plan is perfect
