Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from James 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Our gardens, our trees, flowers, and bushes are virtually dead right now – at least this is how it looks. This is no surprise to us – it is wintertime, it is supposed to be this way.
- And now we can also begin looking toward the spring time – it’s just over a month away, the beginning of spring. Soon enough things will begin to bud and leaf out. We know, from the many times of seasonal change we have already gone through, that this is the way it is supposed to be.
- In our text we read that “sin, when it is fully grown brings forth death.” We know that God created all things, and that they were very good. He did not intend sin to come into the world, or death. The fall of mankind into sin was very much like an immediate onset of “winter.” Spiritually, everything withered and died in humanity.
- This, however, was an unnatural “winter” and death. Further, it was not what God intended. And neither does He intend for it to persist forever. Through the Gospel, and the gift of Jesus our Savior, God is bringing about a new spring, new life, new fruit, eternal life.
- Christians, especially the early Christians that James was writing to, are “first-fruits of His creatures,” the beginning of His “new creation.” And we are included in this plan.
- We usually look at our lives as declining – from life toward death. Actually, just the opposite is occurring spiritually – we are moving from the winter and death of sin to a new springtime of life, eternal life. God wants us to understand these things. First, that:
I. God’s Creation Is Now Infected With Sin
A. This Means That We Also Have Desires That Are Evil, Luring And Enticing Us To Actual Sin
Text: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by ‘God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”
B. These Evil Desires Can Mature In Us, Leading To Outbreaks Of Sin
Text: “Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
Statement: I suppose that we could look at this as the process of “spiritual winter” – the process by which spiritual disease and death comes about. It is not God’s fault, but our own – the temptation’s origin may be in our sinful nature, but our acquiescence to it surely makes us culpable.
Application: We may think and assume that this is “normal,” simply because it is present in all human beings. It is rather unnatural and abnormal – in view of God’s creative intent! And God is eager to change things – not by His almighty and coercive power, but rather through the renewing power of His love – which human beings can and often do reject.
So it is sure and certain, and clear from our text, that God does not will a perpetual spiritual wintertime for humanity, but rather new birth and new life and new fruitfulness. Rather than being in a decline toward death, God wills for each of us to be growing toward abundant new life. And the world itself could be viewed similarly – life, new life in Christ, is actually dawning and spreading through the world. And the apostle makes this clear in our text, that:
II. Good Things Are Coming Down From God
Text: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
A. The Greatest Good Thing He Has Given Is His Gift Of Salvation In Christ
John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
B. That We May Benefit From The Gift Of Jesus, He Has Given Us The Word Of Truth, By Which He Has Given Us New Birth To Faith In Jesus
Text: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
1 Pet. 1:23 “You were born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible seed, by the Word of God that lives and abides forever.”
Statement: Just as we rejoice in the good things that are coming with the springtime – food and beauty, so also we rejoice in the “good and perfect gifts” that God has given us in Christ Jesus – which bring about a new spiritual springtime in our hearts and through the world! We are the fruits of these good gifts, the fruits of His new creation!
Application: So while it is lamentable that we have the death of sin in our hearts – evil inclinations and desires, and evil actions, it is incredibly wonderful that God is bringing this death to an end, with the good gifts of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. In Him there is no condemnation; we have passed from death to life. In Him we are a new creation, and His image is being restored in us! Thanks and praise be to God!
Transition: But this process of passing from winter to spring – spiritually – involves some difficulties. James makes clear that:
III. This Life Is One Of Testing For Those Who Love God
Text: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”
A. So We Can Remain Steadfast – as we continue to repent of our sin and remain firm in faith in His gracious love, forgiveness, and salvation
B. So We Can Stand In The Various Tests In Life That Come Our Way – overcoming temptations to sin, overcoming temptations to despair when we have sinned, and rejecting all temptations to false belief, but clinging to Jesus alone for life and salvation, and reconciliation with God
C. So We Are Headed For A Crown Of Life, As We Continue To Love And Remain Loyal And Faithful To Him
Statement: As we plant and water and grow our gardens this spring and summer, there will also be times of trial and testing. Weeds will grow, rain may be slim, insects and other pests may molest our garden plants. It is no different for us in our spiritual lives here in this fallen world. We will have temptations – from the devil, from the world around us, and from within our own sinful hearts. But through God’s good and perfect gifts we will continue to grow and flourish in repentance and faith even in this life, and in the end we are headed for a crown of life!
Application: So let us rejoice that we are also heading into the springtime of our existence as God’s dearly loved children. Let us continue to confess our sin, and to rejoice in God’s wondrous gift of Jesus, and of our life and salvation in Him! We are the fruits He Himself is growing in this His world, His creation!
Conclusion: The world itself is on an upward trajectory – even though the “form of this present world is passing away.” It is the “wintry” aspects of this present world that are passing away – sin, evil, and death. But it is being replaced – by the life and salvation God has given us in Jesus, His good and perfect gifts!
So as our weather improves, and we see the natural world around us coming back to life, let us remember the eternal life that God is also bringing into the world in Jesus, in His kingdom, in the church! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.