From the Father of Lights - Part 1

James 1:16-18
February 7, 2021
Abraham Hong

Sermon Script

Dear Highland, God loves you. You are beloved by him. And God does not want you to be deceived. He does not want you to be deceived about who he is. And he does not want you to be deceived about what he has done.

This is important. As we go through trials of various kinds and as our faith is put to the test, we might believe in certain things about God that are actually not true. Lies about what he is doing in our lives. False narratives about his relationship with us. Misconceptions about his character and his love. We can be deceived.

But don’t be. Don’t be deceived. Listen to the following three truths.

Truth #1. You are receiving good and perfect gifts. This is 100% true. God says so in the opening verses of the book of James. You are being given the gift of steadfastness (For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness). You are being given the gift of wisdom (If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him). You are being given the gifts of exaltation and humiliation (Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation and the rich in his humiliation). You are being given the gift of promises (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). Steadfastness, wisdom, exaltation, humiliation, promises. That is a lot of gifts. That is a lot of wrapping paper. And what are these gifts for? These gifts are being given to you for your salvation - for your sanctification. This is amazing. Highland, you are receiving good and perfect gifts.

Remember that as you go through trials and tests in your life. It hurts when some things are being taken away from you. But it is good to know that other things are being given to you. This is wisdom. Think about all of this. And think about Jesus. You are receiving good and perfect gifts because of him. You are blessed with every spiritual blessing because of his good and perfect work - his obedient life and his sacrificial death - for you. Do you believe this? I hope so. Highland, do not think negatively about the trials and tests in your life. Do not be foolish and forget this. This is the way of Christ. Remember this as you go through trials and tests in life. Remember this as you wait for Jesus’ return. Do not be deceived. You are beloved.

Truth #2. Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above; they comes down from God the Father. This is 100% true. Your gift of steadfastness does not come from your grandmother. Your gift of wisdom does not come from that YouTube video or that TED talk. Your gift of exaltation and humiliation does not come from some vertically integrated factory in California. Your gift of promises does not come from winning a fantasy league. In other words, such gifts do not come from this world here. And they most certainly do not come from yourself. Such gifts come from heaven above. And they most certainly come from God the Father. So who should get all the glory? God our Father should get all the glory for our salvation - for our sanctification. Glory to God alone. Highland, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from God the Father.

Remember that as you go through trials and tests in your life. It is a bad idea to keep your focus on things that are on earth and depend on them. But it is a good idea to keep your focus on things that are above and depend on your heavenly Father. This is wisdom. Think about all of this. And think about Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate gift from above. The Son is the ultimate gift sent down to you from the Father. Jesus is your Good Shepherd. Jesus is your perfect Great High Priest. He has done nothing but good for you. He has been nothing but perfect for you. Do you believe this? I hope so. Highland, look up, lift up your eyes, and be more heavenly-minded. Do not be foolish and forget this. This is the way of Christ. Remember this as you go through trials and tests in life. Remember this as you wait for Jesus’ return. Do not be deceived. You are beloved.

Truth #3. God the Father is the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. This is 100% true. In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, he made lights. He made the sun, the moon, and all the stars. These lights were meant to separate the day from the night. And they were meant to be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. In other words, these lights came with variation and shadow due to change. Think of the stars and how they traverse through each night sky and change formations in every season. And think of a sundial and how the light from the sun makes the reading of the sundial change throughout the day. These lights come with variation and shadow due to change. But God the Father, God the Father of lights, does not change. When James describes the Father as the Father of lights, he is making a meaningful distinction between God and everything else in all of creation. The sun and the moon and the stars are all created things. God is not created. God is eternal. God is unchanging. God is immutable. What does this mean for us? There is no uncertainty when it comes to your salvation - to your sanctification. You can have assurance. Highland, God the Father is the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Remember that as you go through trials and tests in your life. It can be extremely discouraging to know how inconsistent and volatile we are when it comes to our love for God. But it is deeply encouraging to know that God is steadfast and unchanging when it comes to his love for us. This is wisdom. Think about all of this. And think about Jesus. Jesus’ death for you that paid for your sins is not subject to variation or shadow due to change. Jesus’ righteousness that has been credited to you and that covers you is immutable. You cannot lose your salvation. You cannot lose your salvation because Jesus cannot break the covenant of grace. You cannot lose your salvation because salvation does not belong to you. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Do you believe this? I hope so. Highland, have assurance as you go through trials and tests in your life. Do not be foolish and forget this. This is the way of Christ. Remember this as you go through trials and tests in life. Remember this as you wait for Jesus’ return. Do not be deceived. You are beloved.

In closing, I hope that today’s passage helps you if you might believe in certain things about God that are actually not true. Lies about what he is doing in our lives. False narratives about his relationship with us. Misconceptions about his character and his love. Thanks be to our Father for his word today.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.

Soli Deo Gloria