James 1:13-18 - "Every Good Gift"

James 1:13-18

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

James sets before us the sober reality that though we are the LORD’s children, we live in a fallen world and live with a fallen nature. The trials we face are not unique to us; they are the same difficulties and afflictions that the world faces. Yet in those trials, especially those that touch the Gospel, lines are drawn. When the LORD makes His Grace and sovereignty known, there is a target on your back, and the world watches and pursues you. But James teaches us to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations (James 1:2). We do not plan them. We fall into trials because the LORD directs our steps, and whatever comes has been ordained for our good.

James guards us from the natural reasoning that twists truth. If trials are ordained, someone may conclude that God must be the One Who puts sin in the heart. But the Spirit speaks plainly: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God” (v.13). There is a great difference between the trial that God ordains and the temptation to sin. “For God cannot be tempted with evil… neither tempteth he any man.” The evil lies not in Him, but in us. “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (v.14). Lust does not come from above; it rises from within. “When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (v.15). The Spirit says, "Do not err" (v.16).

Here, the goodness of God shines. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (v.17). The LORD Jesus Christ is that Good and Perfect Gift from above, Who came down from the Father of lights, from Whom all blessings flow (Ephesians 1:3-4). And from Him, even trials, though heavy, are good gifts. They reveal and strengthen faith. They produce patience. They wean us from the vanities of the world. When the LORD lays us low, the glitter of the world fades, and He makes us weigh Who and what is most important. But we are prone to complain, and in affliction, we may even doubt the Love of God. When the hand is heavy, the eyes get smoky, and we forget that He is Good. But James reminds us: no affliction, no trial, not even His heaviest chastening may be taken as evil in Him. He is Good. We are evil.

The Scriptures bear witness. David confessed, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). He owned his transgressions so “that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest” (Psalm 51:4). Paul likewise declared, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). He did not speak as an unconverted man but as one who had learned that how to perform that which is good, he found not. Nature has not changed. Only Grace restrains. Like a wild horse, if the Spirit ever took His hand off the reins, we would run the way our depraved flesh would have us to go.  If He turns us loose and leave us to ourselves, it will only lead to us falling further downward. We only live, are restored and are kept because He has redeemed us and keeps us by His Grace.

So we must not question His goodness, nor may we accuse God of sin. To attribute sin to Him is blasphemy. He is holy, just, unchangeable—“with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (v.17). If He has purposed us Good in Christ, that Good cannot change. And how did this Good come? “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” (v.18). Not our will, not our works, not our merit. Of His own will. Chosen, loved, redeemed, justified—all founded on the merits of Christ alone. Christ Himself is the Gift from above. His blood and righteousness are the perfect gift. Without Him, there is no good thing. With Him, the Father of lights receives all the glory.

In this passage of Scripture, then, we are confronted with a stark contrast: temptation and sin spring from within our own hearts, stirred by desire, yet every good and perfect gift—particularly in salvation—comes from our gracious Father above. We are reminded that while our hearts are prone to wander and fail, God’s mercy and steadfast love reach down to lift us, offering the living hope through Jesus Christ. Sin may cause us to fall, because we are fallen creatures in Adam, but salvation is always from the LORD, Who has chosen us, redeemed us, and calls and sustains us, working His Grace in our hearts as He is pleased.

Therefore, we turn not to our own strength, but to His unfailing Goodness, trusting in His Grace alone Who has bought us with His own precious blood, to His honor and glory alone! 1 Corinthians 6:20—“Ye are bought with a price.” Therefore, although temptation and sin rise from the depths of our own depraved hearts, we are reminded that the precious blood of Christ has redeemed us. Our failings reveal our need, and His Gift reveals His Grace. Sin springs from within, but salvation flows from the LORD, Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (I Peter 2:9). Therefore, we no longer live under the tyranny of the law, or the dominion of our desires, but in the freedom and gratitude of one who has been purchased by the ultimate Sacrifice, the LORD Jesus Christ, and salvation full, free, and unconditionally accomplished by Him at the cross.