Title: You Begot Us
Contents
James 1:18 begot us
A boy lived in a village in the countryside. One day, he was making a boat by cutting wood while sweating profusely with a carving knife. It wasn't easy. Occasionally, my fingers were stabbed with a knife and bled. Finally, after a long time, the boy has completed a beautiful wooden boat. The boy ran to the creek. He floated his wooden boat on the water. The pretty wooden boat with its sails floated away so well that it was cute.
The problem, however, was that the current was faster than expected. At the moment of "Oops!", the ship drifted away. The boy hurriedly followed the boat, but the waves were much faster than his steps. The boat gradually moved away from him until it was completely out of sight. The heart of the boy who lost the wooden boat he had worked so hard to build was so empty.
Many days have passed. The boy was going out to the market when he happened to find a wooden boat he had built lying on the shelves of a shop. How fun would you have been? The boy explained what he was doing to the owner of the store. And then he asked to return the boat to him because he had made it himself. However, the owner of the store replied this as if it were pitiful. "Son, I'm well aware of your situation, but I paid for it and bought it. So I can't just give it to you! I can only give you money."
When the boy heard this, he quickly ran home. Then he broke the piggy bank on his desk. The boy ran back to the shop owner with all the coins in it. The boy gave it to the owner and said: "Mister, this is all I have."
Of course, it was a small amount of money, but the owner took it and gladly returned the wooden boat to the boy. The boy was so happy that he held his wooden boat, which he had lost and recovered, in his chest. "You've been mine twice! First, you were my ship because I made you, and secondly, because I bought you, you're mine again. So I'll never lose you!"
Everyone, it's the same. Twice we have become God's. First, we belong to God because God created us. Second, we truly belong to God because God bought us with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. So how much does God love us? Those who realize that I belong to God will not be afraid or discouraged no matter what the test may be. That is why the prophet Isaiah says this in Isaiah 43:1~3.
“Now the LORD who created you speaks, O Jacob, now speaks the one who made you, Israel. Do not be afraid, I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine; I will be with you as you pass through the waters. When you cross, the water will not sink you, and when you walk through the fire, it will not burn you, and the flame will not consume you; for I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior."
Everyone, regarding 'Who am I?' In today's text, the Apostle James says that God is our Father who begot us. In other words, we are the beloved children of God. So, why doesn't God give us good things, our beloved children? No matter what trials we face, there is God the Father's good will in them. A person who has such a correct view of God is not afraid of any kind of test. Because God loves me very much, I have the belief that he always gives me the best and always leads me in the best way.
Through today's text, I hope that all of us will have the same grace to establish the right faith in God. The text of the text is as follows: "He hath begotten us by the word of truth according to his own purpose, that we might be the firstfruits of his creation." It reminds me of three important things. Why did God create us? What is God's purpose in regenerating us and making us His children? Please see the beginning of this text.
"He is among the creatures"
Gentlemen, we are originally God's. Why? Because everything in this world is a creature created by God. But among them, God has specially chosen us and made us his own for a second time. That we might become the firstfruits. In the Old Testament, the Israelites gave their first fruits to God. Because the first-born of all things means especially God's. That is, God made us His own. So how much do you value us?
Isaiah 49:15 says: “How can a woman forget her suckling child, and will she not have pity on the son of her womb? Even if they forget, I will not forget you.” Folks, God never forgets us. Because he has made us God's. God said our names are engraved on the palms of God's hands. That is why He loves us, always protects us, and takes care of us like the pupils of our eyes. Because we are nothing but God's.
So, what motivated God to create us? Is it because I'm good? Is it because I am righteous? no. The text says:
"Follow your will"
In other words, the reason God created us is entirely because of God's sovereignty and grace. Gentlemen, why did God hate Esau and love Jacob? Is it because Jacob is better than Esau? no. It is entirely the sovereignty and grace of God. So are we. It is entirely by God's grace that God has made us His own.
Ladies and gentlemen, before the foundation of the world, God has chosen us in predestination. He made you the son of God. That is why God loves us. So we sing like this. "Oh, I don't know why God's grace redeems this useless person.♬" Everyone, why did God redeem a sinner like me and make him His child? It is God's grace. It is entirely under the sovereignty of God. So we can't help but be moved by that grace.
And what did God say we were born of? What is the way to be born again? The text says:
“By the Word of Truth”
Gentlemen, God created us with the word of truth. This is 1 Peter 1:23. "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of immortal seed, by the living and enduring word of God." It is also the words of Romans 10:17 that we know well. "Therefore faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Gentlemen, when we hear the word of God, faith is created in our hearts. The history of regeneration takes place. I know that I am a child of God. I definitely believe that God created me. Guys, keep that in mind. God created us. We belong to God. So why would God give us something bad? God always gives us good things. He always leads us to the best path. We must have this belief. Then we can not be shaken in the slightest no matter what test God allows us to try.
"God is leading me on the best path! God is giving me the best! God is trying to bless me even more!" And with joy, we can leave our steps to God's guidance. The apostle Paul records how much God loves me in Romans 8:31-39. Through these words, I hope that God's love for me will flow like a tide of grace.
“What then shall we say about this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how can he not with him also gift us all things? Who can bring charges against God's elect? It is God who justifies; who can condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died and was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who makes an intercession for us. Who has saved us from the love of Christ? Shall we cut it off, or tribulation, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? as it is written, For your sake we are put to death all day long, and we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. By this we are more than conquerors. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. lira."
Folks, God is our Father. We are God's beloved children. They are God's special people. God loves us and generously gave up his one and only begotten Son. Why would such a person lead us astray? You are always guiding me on the right path. We just don't realize it because we don't have faith and lack wisdom. If we persevere for a little while, we will come to understand and understand the good will of God clearly.
God is good. He will quickly turn away all our troubles. And He will grant us double the blessings than before. With this faith, no matter what difficulties we face, let us consider the good will of God. In addition, I hope that we will be able to overcome temptations by relying on God's love and to please God so that we can receive the full crown of life that God has promised.