James 1:18, Giving Life of His Own Will
James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
“Of his own will begat he us.”
Of His own will, God begat all things. Read Genesis 1 and you will see that as God created all things that He said each was “good.” God created according to His perfect will. He gave purpose to each part of His creation according to His will. Colossians 1:16-17 teaches us of God’s will in creation: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” This verse tells us that not only were all things created by God but they were created “for Him” as well.
God records special attention regarding His will for mankind. Scripture gives a rare glimpse into what seems to be a conversation within the Trinity of God in Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” It was God’s will to create man set apart from the rest of creation, not separated in interaction but in purpose. It was the will of God that mankind bare the image and likeness of God. He did not create man to be God, but He created man to reflect God. God also willed that man should have dominion over the rest of creation. Verse 27 tells us that God carried out His will: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” After creating man, God set mankind to His will, as shown in verse 28 which reads, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…” He gave us life of His own will.
James 1:18 dives further into God’s will for us: God begat us spiritually of His own will. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought onto this world death, both physically and spiritually. Romans 5:12 teaches, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” We are born spiritually dead and separated from God, but God’s will for mankind is life. 2 Peter 3:9 gives us the heart of God regarding His creation, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God desires to give life to all so that not “any should perish,” but He maintains our free will in noting that His desire is that all “should come to repentance.” God’s love for mankind and His will to give spiritual life is so strong that “he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b) God gives spiritual life “of his own will” to “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord” for salvation (Romans 10:13). John 1:12-13 beautifully joins God’s will to give spiritual life with His maintaining of our free will when it states, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” God gives us eternal life of His own will.
“With the word of truth.”
By His spoken word, God created. Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” If I say, “let there be light,” I’ll probably hear the response, “Go turn it on yourself.” My word does not carry the authority that God’s word carries. Mankind has developed by God’s grace some pretty amazing advances, but every invention man produces pales to God’s design. There is much talk these days of AI (artificial intelligence), but God designed true AI (actual intelligence). The struggle and “advancements” that people are making in the field of artificial intelligence is just to try to copy what God did with His word.
Similarly, God begets us into spiritual life with the word of truth. God’s Word gives us life in Him, and we are born into the family of God as “joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) God does not save us because He is obligated or out of some kind of biproduct of another work, “of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.”
