”Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” | James 1: 18
The Word of truth is that by which believers are born which Peter says is “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1: 23)
When a gardener has a crop of tomatoes which are cursed with blight, the gardener does not reserve the seed of those tomatoes for next year’s planting. He knows the seed is corrupt. It will only produce more corrupt fruit.
Yet, false preachers who take to themselves the honor of husbandry which belongs to God alone, sow the blight-ridden-seeds of man’s free-will, in order that they might glory in their own green-thumbs, when in fact, all they produce are fields of weeds.
What a rare privilege to hear Christ and him crucified preached as the full, effectual, redeeming, God-pleasing sacrifice whereby all God’s elect shall be saved from their sins.
This is the Word of truth.
This is the incorruptible seed sown into the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit.
It is the Seed of God, Christ Jesus the Life, which results in the new birth within the tilled soil of these old dead carcasses.
This Seed is the germinating Life whereby the believer no longer lives in the great sin of unbelief but continually lives and abides in Christ by faith, as John declares, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3: 9)
One plants the Word of truth. Others water with the Word of truth. But God gives the increase.
We are God’s husbandry “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3: 6,7)
Every gardener anticipates with great joy the first fruits of his labor.
Even so our God who gave us life by the Word of truth rejoices over every believer as a kind of first fruits of His creation.
~ Pastor Clay Curtis
Click here to listen to the message “Looking To Our King”
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Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey