Verse 17: The Biblical God is the source of every good and perfect gift. Therefore His people serve as spiritual gifts (light) to a dark world as a beacon that will lead God seekers to Him. This is brought out in Matthew 5:38-48 where Jesus tells His disciples and all who would follow Him that as His saints we must treat everyone, including those who hate us, as He did–as if they were our friends. He goes on in verse 45 to remind them that the gracious God sends sunshine and rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous, the justified (forgiven) and the unjust who reject His offer of forgiveness and life. Sunshine and rain are essential for food production and therefore necessary for sustaining human life in this pre-advent era. Treating others, especially our enemies, well is one of the prerequisites for eternal life. Recall that both Jesus and Stephen asked God to forgive their murderers as they prepared to die. Can we do anything less? James, writing under the leadership of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16) goes on to say that God does not waver. He does not produce even a shadow of turning. A shadow is a reflection of the real. God does not vary in His way and will; neither does He do anything that makes it appear that He does so. Accordingly, His firstfruits are commanded to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thes. 5:22).

Verse 18: Because it pleased Him to do so, God begat (converted) us with the WORD OF HIS MOUTH. This involves every Word He has arranged to be recorded from Genesis to Revelation. In order to live with Him in His Kingdom, we must live like Him in this life (Mat. 4:4). The Holy Bible presents to us God Himself, His will and Way in written form. Jesus reflects the Father’s Word in human form. Jesus calls His Word “the Truth” by which we are sanctified (Jn. 19:19). Sanctification unto God by obeying His Word is one of the first steps on the path to salvation that will be rewarded upon the return of Jesus Christ. See Hope And Salvation. Those who are truly converted and sanctified (set aside for holy use) are called God’s “firstfruits.” In the Middle East some types of fruit trees produce a tiny crop of fruit long before the main harvest time arrives. This fruit is very scarce, extremely sweet and extremely expensive. As with their namesakes, God’s true firstfruits are tiny in number (Mat. 7:13,14), very sweet (to Him), and, through obedience to His Word, are justifying the price His Son paid for them. Firstfruits are “bought with a price” (1 Cor. 7:23). We must show ourselves worthy of that price.

Verse 21: In order to be worthy of the price Christ paid for us we must put aside all manner of sin by receiving the Word of God into our hearts (minds) where it must remain so as to be “engrafted,” like a limb on a tree , where it becomes one with the heart. Note the last part of verse 21: “the engrafted WORD which is ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.” This is one of the most important verses in the Bible. Note two things: The Word of God must be learned, believed and obeyed in order for it to be ABLE to SAVE THE SOUL. Many people know God’s Word. Many believe it. Many both know and believe it. However, according to God (Mat. 7:13,14), “few” are they that “find” its meaning, believe and obey it while walking the narrow path leading to salvation. They are constantly being “washed by the water of the Word” (Eph. 5:26). Continuous study of God’s Scriptures is necessary to be cleansed by it. Just knowing and believing it are not enough. The “Water/Word” must be embraced and obeyed. Remember, Satan and his demons know and believe God’s Word–they have tremendous faith. However, they deceive their Catholic/ Protestant parishioners into rejecting it. As a result they own and rule the whole of professing Christendom. See the Prologue to this website. Only God’s true saints (those converted before Christ’s return) are not ruled by Satan. These He calls His “firstfruits,” His “little flock,” “His “remnant.” L.J.