Sermon on James 1:16-21, for the 5th Sunday of Easter (1 YR lectionary), "The Implanted Word"

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father of lights, Jesus, His Word of Truth, and the Holy Spirit whom He makes to dwell in us. Amen. We’ll take today’s reading from James 1:16-21 verse by verse. James writes pithy, punchy statements that pack a lot of weight without rambling. To get the full depth of his letter, like any other book of the Bible, let the Bible be its own interpreter—connect the dots between James and the rest of the Bible—his rich theology draws heavily on the words of Jesus and other scripture. Some call his letter the Proverbs of the NT, or see parallels between James and the Sermon on the Mount.

Our reading begins abruptly “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.” The “do not be deceived” part comes right after explaining that temptation is not from God, but originates in our own sinful nature. So do not be deceived—God is not the author of temptation—but on the other hand, He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. At first glance, this simply reminds us of God’s goodness and generosity. All things in creation that are good, come from Him.

But probing deeper, what is the “good and perfect gift from above?” Yes, we count every blessing as from the hand of God—from our daily bread to His spiritual gifts. But the gift par excellence that comes down from above, is Jesus Christ, His Son, whom He gave for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Jesus came down from above. He also once reminded a man that “no one is good, but God alone”. Check the box that Jesus is a “good gift”—and not only good, but perfect. Double check. His life was perfected with a closing word (one word in Greek) tetelesthai—in English: “it is finished” or “it is perfected” or “it is fulfilled.” His goal had been reached in the perfect finish of His suffering and death on the cross. And Jesus is the gift that illuminates all other gifts. In Jesus we see all the other gifts of God  in their richest expression. We gain new appreciation for life. We join the Psalmist (73:25) “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”

“Coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” This line fascinates. Nowhere else in the Bible is God called the “Father of lights.” Light, in singular, is used of Jesus, of salvation, of the truth and God’s revelation. But “lights” plural seems to suggest something different. One proposal is the stars, the seemingly fixed, immovable heavenly bodies that show no variation or shadow due to change. When I hear the description that there is no shadow due to change—I think of the light of a fire or a candle, that makes shifting, dancing shadows. Those lights are flickering and inconstant. But this passage says God is unchanging, and eternally constant.

What comfort to know that God is unchanging? All the world around us is in constant change. Life can exhaust us with how quickly things move and change. But God is our Rock and our constant. He is eternal and unchanging. Also, His constancy means that we are not left guessing who God is, or about our relationship to Him. God is not fickle and constantly changing His mind; He is not capricious—changing His promises randomly and unsuspectingly. Rather, God commits Himself to His written Word. We hear it twice in this reading, about His Word of Truth, and the implanted Word. Earlier in Bible class on the book of Habakkuk, we heard how God commanded the prophet to “write down the vision, make it plain on tablets”. God does not renege on His Word, but keeps His promises, and wants us to study and trust them.

Our reading continues: ^“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” This is saying we are God’s children. How? By His own will and by the word of truth. These words are echoed in John 1:12–13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” James and John agree that you don’t become a child of God naturally, by human birth, or by a man’s will or desire, but God wills and makes it happen by His word of truth. Romans 10:17 says much the same: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” God’s Word goes from His mouth to your ears, to your heart. His Spirit makes His way into our soul, making you a child of God by faith. Born from above—the place where every good and perfect gift comes from.

Born, as the verse says, to be a “kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” Firstfruits in the Old Testament means bringing the best of your harvest or animals, or possessions to the Lord, as an offering. Firstfruits expresses the idea that we don’t give to God from our leftovers or our second best—but that giving back to God is from our first and best, as Abel did when he offered his best in faith. But firstfruits is also the idea that what is given to God is dedicated to His service, as in the book of Revelation 14, those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) are firstfruits for God, and they follow the Lamb wherever He goes. As one author puts it, we are the firstfruits of God’s creatures as we’re signs and agents of His restoration working itself out in the world. He birthed us by His Word of Truth to be lights in the darkness, reflecting the light and the salvation of Christ to all of creation—proof of God’s redeeming work.

The reading continues: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” You’ve probably heard the expression that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. That advice fits well with this verse, and also several Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes, which warns: “To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools…be not rash with your mouth…therefore let your words be few...” etc (5:1-2). Often our mouth runs against this advice, and we run our mouths off, completely failing to listen. And what does this produce? Anger. Slow to speak, slow to anger. Why are those two so connected? When we speak without thinking or without listening, we often jump to conclusions, jump to accuse and stir up anger unnecessarily as a result. Listening is an art that takes a lifetime of practice. I’ve not mastered it; have you? But if you know the frustration of no one listening to you, then you know how essential and worthwhile it is to practice this skill, of being quick to hear. You know the value of being listened to—so return the favor.

“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” First, we might ask what does produce the righteousness of God, if not anger? Paul says several times in Romans, that it’s the power of the Gospel, and not the Law that brings about and reveals the righteousness of God. Anger is the wrong tool—it doesn’t do the job. Actually it’s counterproductive. Man’s anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Maybe you’ve heard the expression—“When the only tool you’ve got is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail?” How often have we let our anger get the best of us, and every time we’re frustrated with someone or something, we just want to “club them” with our anger—whether physically or verbally? In countless situations we impulsively grab for that “tool” of anger, but it doesn’t fix the problem. And, just like swinging a hammer indiscriminately, it actually makes things worse.

 James returns to the topic of anger several times in his short letter, about how anger is a deadly thing, and it’s an evil within us that needs restraining. The opposite of anger is self-control, patience, and kindness. These are some of the productive tools. Also note that Jesus brings a resolution to God’s anger against sin at the cross. Jesus did not allow anger to boil over and consume His enemies at the cross. Rather, the just anger against sin was subsumed in His self-sacrifice, His propitiation for our sin. Likewise, we need to find the resolution of our anger through the Gospel of Jesus’ forgiveness. Our anger needs to be subsumed in the overwhelming flood of God’s mercy, pouring out from the cross, extinguishing the flames of anger and resentment. The Gospel is the right and effective tool to accomplish the righteousness of God.

Closing the passage, James writes: 1:21 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Setting aside all evil, like we are stripping away sin-dirty clothes, we are to receive with meekness the implanted word. Meekness is the humility and receptivity to God’s Word and Spirit. It’s the opposite of pride and arrogance. Meekness is openness God’s Word, which is already implanted in us! We read earlier that we were brought forth by the word of truth. Whether God’s Word spoken first over you in baptism as a baby, or God’s Word received in your ears and heart—we’re reminded here that we are to pay closer attention to the Word that we already have received. For this Implanted Word is able to save our souls.

God’s Word is like a seed stuck in our ears and in our heart. If we do not hinder it, if we will receive it, that implanted word will blossom forth and bear fruit and growth in us like we never thought possible. Like those who know us, never thought possible! God’s implanted word is able to do a mighty work in us, because God’s Word operates by His power. The implanted word is never an empty or powerless thing. Powerful, life-changing. This seed sprouts, sending down roots so that we are rooted in Christ and sends up growth, so that we are blessed and nurtured by the Light that comes down from the Father of lights. The Word, that saves our souls, is none other than Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. To receive the implanted word is really to receive Jesus Christ. Hearing and believing Him, we become children of God. He is the perfect gift sent down from the Father of lights to save our souls. Rooted and growing in Him, we rejoice in His life and salvation, day by day. In Him, we are His beloved brothers, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sermon Talking Points

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1. Our reading is James 1:16-21, which begins abruptly in v. 16 with “Do not be deceived…”. What “deception” is he referring to? James 1:13ff.
2. What is the ultimate “good and perfect gift” that God has given to us? James 1:14; cf. John 3:16; Matthew 19:17; John 19:30; 3:31. What does the title “Father of lights” tell us about God? 1 John 1:5; John 1:4-9. What does it mean that God never changes, and how is that a reassurance for us? Malachi 3:6; Psalm 102:26-27; Numbers 23:19; Lamentations 3:22-23.
3. What does it mean that we are “brought forth” or born of God’s will? James 1:18; John 1:12-13. What does it mean that we were brought forth “by the word of truth?” Romans 10:17.
4. What does it mean that we are the “firstfruits” of God’s creatures? 1:18. Jeremiah 2:3; Revelation 14:4. We are redeemed for what purpose?
5. Read 1:19. How are our relationships and daily activities filled with conflict when we fail to listen, or rush to speak? Why is anger such a trouble, and fails to produce the righteousness of God? (1:20). What attitude(s) should replace hasty anger? Proverbs 14:29; 16:32; 19:11. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. How is the righteousness of God revealed? Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-22; 10:3.
6. James 1:21 ends by exhorting us to “receive with meekness the implanted word.” We can find meaningful relationships to this phrase in passages like Romans 10:17, Luke 8:8, but also in Luke 1:31, 35, 48. How did Mary “humbly receive” the Word implanted in her? Who is the Word that is able to save our souls? Ephesians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:2.
7. Receiving the Word of Christ, receiving the good gifts from our Father of lights, what kind of children does this cause us to become? Whose work will this be?