Nearly 70% of America still identifies as Christian

• Not even half of them believe that the Bible is the Word of God
• Over a third believe that modern science disproves the Bible

---

3 in 4 Americans believe in the doctrine of the Trinity

• 60% believe the Holy Spirit is not a personal Being, but an impersonal force

---

QUESTION: WHO IS GOD?

John 17:3

---

RECAP: JAMES 1:12–15 ESTABLISHED THREE IMPORTANT TRUTHS

1. Sinful temptations do not come from God (v.13)
2. Sinful temptations come from my own desires (v.14)
3. Sinful temptations always lead to death (v.15)

---

James 1:16

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.”

• Imperative mood = command
• Middle voice = self-deception

---

James 1:17

“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.”

---

1. GOD IS CREATOR

“Father of lights” = genitive

a. God is the source of all light

• Genesis 1:3
• 1 John 1:5
• Revelation 22:5

b. God is the “father” of the stars

• Job 38:28

Observable Universe: 28.5 gigaparsecs
[Show: Universe]

---

2. GOD IS PROVIDER

• Proverbs 16:9
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Romans 8:28

Psalm 54:4

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.”

Philippians 4:19

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

• Colossians 3:23–24

---

3. GOD IS UNCHANGING

James 1:17

“The Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
(Lit. “in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”)

• Malachi 3:6
• Hebrews 6:17
• Hebrews 13:8

[Show: Carl Henry]

---

4. GOD IS REDEEMER

James 1:18

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth,
that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

• “Word,” Gk. λόγος (logos)
• “Truth,” Gk. ἀλήθεια (alētheia)
• John 14:6
• John 16:13
• John 17:17
• John 8:32

“Firstfruits,” Gk. ἀπαρχή (aparchē) = the first act of a sacrifice

• 1 Corinthians 15:20
• Romans 16:5 & 1 Corinthians 16:15 (“first convert”)

2 Thessalonians 2:13

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord,
because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved,
through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

---

APPLICATION

1. If God is Creator, I should worship Him

• Revelation 4:11

2. If God is Provider, I should thank Him
3. If God is Unchanging, I should trust Him
4. If God is Redeemer, I should obey Him

• John 14:15, 21

---

TRUTH

You can keep God’s commandments and not love Him,
but you cannot love God and not keep His commandments.