Before we get into our verses for today, I want to go back to the last verse of our previous lesson:

In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. (James 1:18 NASB95)

This is a very strong statement declaring the sovereignty of God… In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth! Some of you may not be familiar with the term sovereignty when it is used to describe God. The dictionary gives this description: One who is in complete control; autonomous; free from external influence. Only the Creator of the Universe, God the Almighty, could be so described. What about "free will"? Don’t humans have a choice? Yes, they do, but their choices are always limited by the sovereignty of God and cannot thwart His will.

If you struggle with that concept, let me ask you this question: Why, if you have personal sovereignty that can oppose God’s will, did you choose to be born a sinner?

What the notes from our last lesson don’t show is what I told those in class at the conclusion when I "came out of the closet" theologically and stated my conviction that at the end of this age, everything and everyone will be reconciled to God. I realize this directly contradicts the traditional teaching of most churches, including Hoffmantown, and I don’t take this stand lightly…if I was not sure that this eschatological scenario was solidly Biblical, I would not feel this strong conviction. Could my theology be wrong? Of course! Conviction does not make a belief true.

As with some other church doctrines, like the Trinity, reconciliation is not explicitly taught anywhere in the Bible. No scripture, standing alone, is conclusive on this point, but the evidence of several when taken together is extremely strong. I might point out that there is no contextual evidence in the Bible that forces a person to believe in eternal torment, either.

Some of the clearest support for reconciliation is found in Colossians: For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16 NASB95) For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:19-20 NASB95) Sounds pretty inclusive and comprehensive to me! If he didn’t mean "all" why did he say "all"?

Paul’s statement in Corinthians brings us back to our verse in James: For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:22-24 NASB95)

Notice the phrase But each in his own order. You see, not everyone is reconciled at the same time, but everyone is reconciled! Paul says Christ is the first fruits; James says that Jewish believers are the first fruits among the other creatures. Both statements imply that others will follow.

The idea of reconciliation makes several difficult passages of Scripture easier to understand. Here’s an example:

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NASB95)

I believe it involves the timing of reconciliation…those whose works are approved (the works that come from allowing Jesus to be Jesus in and through us) will be reconciled earlier…those whose works burn up in the fire of testing (the works done in the flesh for God) will have their reconciliation delayed, thereby suffering loss, but they will be saved after the fires of purification have done their work.

Here’s another:

And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, " Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. " Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘ Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘ I do not know where you are from.’ " Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets ’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ " In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. "And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. "And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last." (Luke 13:23-30 NASB95)

Now, let’s look at our verses for today:

In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:18-21 NASB95)

Human flesh is charged with selfishness and pride. These show up not only in immorality (the use, rather than the valuing of others), but also in anger and antagonism. James says that the quick, hostile reactions of men to one another are changed by faith. Patience and meekness replace anger and pride. But in our verses for today, I believe we can see evidence of the Holy Spirit’s conveying truth that even James did not fully understand, at least when he wrote his Epistle.

As we’ve said before, James takes an Old Covenant approach …his focus is on what the believer does rather than what Jesus does in and through the believer. In verse 21, however, James makes a statement that supports the truth of the Christ life… in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

The word humility comes from the Greek word prautes (prah· oo ·tace) and is most often translated meekness. A meek person is one who wholly relies on God rather than their own strength in every situation. It is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest and the result is not a product of human will, but the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23).

The English word is the Greek logos (log ·os) and although it can refer to a simple word, or saying or account or speech, it is the exact same word found in John 1:1 used to describe Jesus. The word implanted is the Greek emphutos (em ·foo·tos) and is only used once in the Bible. It means to engraft or spring up.

According to the REM Version, this verse reads: Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to take away all that defiles and all depravity, trusting completely in God to allow Jesus to spring up inside, so that you may experience the abundance of eternal life here and now.

The important issue is not what Jesus will do at the end of the age, but what He has done (Calvary) and what He wants to do in and through every believer in the "everydayness" of life. Whatever He does in the end, it will be exactly right and we’ll all agree with Him then…in the mean time, let’s grant each other the liberty of being led by the Holy Spirit.

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