Of His Own Will Begot He Us

                                                               James 1:18

            Of his own will begot he us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

            Of his own will; God’s will: always was and always is and always shall be the motivating factor in the regeneration of the elect. There was nothing in the elect either negative or positive that moved God in the choice of this or that particular person; for it is “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9). Again; “For we ourselves (that is the regenerated elect) were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hatful, and hating one another. But after the kindness and love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost,” (Titus 3:3-5). Also, in another verse of the inerrant word it is written,  “Who (that is God) hath saved us and called us, with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (II Timothy 1:9); verses could be multiplied as blades of grass, but one more will exemplify the truth, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth), It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” (Romans 9:11-13).

            Of his own will; God’s will: alone, and apart from the works of his creatures, was the first cause of his election of any to salvation. (Election itself is not salvation but is unto salvation by Jesus Christ.) All earthly distinctions disappear in the presence of the Living God, for; “Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?” (Romans 9:21). Does God accept any person because of his or her achievements or status, either socially, financially, politically, morally, or in any earthly way that may favorably affect God’s choice? No; for it is “not of works, but of him that calleth” (Romans 9:11). Nay: “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come also a poor man in vile raiment, And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my foot stool, Are ye not partial in yourselves, and became judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called? If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well; But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced (convicted) of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all.” (James 2:1-10)

            Of his own will; God’s will; “By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”(Hebrews 10:10) God’s will brings about the effectual call of the elect; “ for ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things that are not, to bring to naught the things which are, That no flesh should glory in  his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus (that is, the regenerated elect or the saints of God) who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 1:26-31).

            Of his own will; God’s will; is the first cause in any, and all of them; “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) “So then it is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”(Romans 9:16)

            But some will wickedly say; Oh no; man must make his own decision by an act of his own free will. This is the doctrine of antichrist: for first of all it is not true; for how can that be called free which is taken captive by the devil at his will? (II Timothy 2:26) Secondly the Holy Ghost teaches in multiplied scriptures that man in his natural state will never come to God by something that is in him at natural birth; but will always resist unto death if not overcome by a power greater than himself. For “every imagination (the Hebrew word signifies not only imagination but also purposes and desires) of the thoughts of his (man’) heart only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5). The following is a list of scriptures that proves that natural men and women will not, of their own will seek after the Lord. Jeremiah 6:16,17;  Jer.13:11,27;  Jer.18:12; Isaiah 1:4-6; Isa. 48:4-8; Psalm 51:5; Ps. 58:3,5 John 5:40; Romans 3:11, the list could be extended but this list has set forth the truth. “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9

A.J. Ison