The book of God is full of things that to those who have the mind of Christ are so obvious, so clear, that they're utterly without controversy, matters about which there's no question, things that just don't need any proof, not to people who know God. There are some things that lie so deep within us being born of God and taught of God, that they are in the very foundation of our hope and of our faith. And when others call them into question, we're shocked by their presumption, or we laugh at their folly, or we're saddened by their ignorance. Let me call your attention to just a few things I'm talking about. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. That presents no problem to anybody who believes God. And anything other than that, anything contrary to that, is laughably silly. Laughably silly. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." What a wonder. What grace. What love. We know, we know. Every child of God knows. Every person taught of God knows. Everyone born of God knows. We know. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God. to them who are the called according to his purpose. These are things about which we have no question. We may not be able to explain them, but we really don't care. We may not be able to cause others to understand our confidence in them, but that really doesn't matter. We may not be able to defend them against the onslaughts of infidels, but that's insignificant. These are things that lie in the very depths of the foundation of our souls. We know these things. Without controversy, without controversy, there's no question about the matter. There's just no question about the matter. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. That's just basic, plain, biblical truth. And we know that. We know that. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. We know that He who is God manifest in the flesh, when He bore our sins in His body on the tree, died under the wrath of God, and bear our sins in His body under the curse of God, and when He was raised from the dead, He was justified from our sins by the Spirit of God and received up into glory. This is He whom we preach in all the world. Now turn to James chapter 1. I'll show you another one of these things. It's just obvious. It's just obvious. James chapter 1, verse 16. The title of my message tonight is Good Gifts, Perfect Gifts, and the Giver. Good Gifts, Perfect Gifts, and the Giver. James 1, verse 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Now James has been talking to us about evil things. lust, temptations, and sin. He's told us that those things come not from God, but from us. They come not down from God, but up from our corrupt and depraved hearts. He tells us that these things are not things that God does, but things that men do. Then in verses 16 and 17, he tells us that all good comes from God. only from God, and that only good comes from God. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." There's nothing but good in God. Nothing but good done by God. And there is nothing that comes from God except that which is good. There's no good in you, and no good in me, and no good in the world. No good comes from anything except God who is good. There's no good in fallen humanity. No good done by humanity. But James says more. Nothing but good comes from God. To make God the author of sin. or to suggest that God tempts us to evil is repugnant. It's an assault against the character and the holiness of God. It is one of those things, as John Gill put it, one of those damnable errors and heresies which bring upon men swift destruction. Wicked, unbelieving, self-righteous men will do everything they can to cover themselves. To find a cloak for their sin, to find an excuse for their ungodliness. Wicked, unbelieving, self-righteous, reprobate people do everything they can to find a covering for the evil that's in them and the evil they do. I mean by that while professing to confess their sin, they will find an excuse for it. If they can't find an excuse or a covering anywhere else, they will, like Adam, turn on God and say, the woman thou gavest me, it's your fault. It's your fault. I couldn't help it. This was predestined. I couldn't help it. This was God's purpose. I couldn't help it. God, this is your fault. It's not my fault. Believers, men and women born of God and taught of God, never seek to excuse themselves before God. and never seek to justify themselves to God. Rather, they confess their sin. They open their hearts and acknowledge what they are, like David. David said, when I kept silent, my bones were sore, and I ate, and my soul roared within me. When I confessed my sin, I found peace. And we confess our sins to God. Believers, men and women who know God, acknowledge what they are, knowing themselves evil, and make no effort to cover what they are. And all who confess their sins, all who confess their sins are born of God, taught of God, and forgiven of God. If we confess our sins, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to cleanse us of our sin. Forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Sometime back, Brother Todd Nyberg wrote a very brief article that's worth repeating and remembering. Listen carefully. He said, sin is a noun. It's what I am. Sin is a verb. It's what I do. Sin is an adjective. It describes me. Sin is an adverb. It describes what I do. That's a pretty broad, full definition, isn't it? Sin is a noun. It's what I am. Sin is a verb. It's what I do. Sin is an adjective. It describes me. Sin is an adverb. It describes what I do. But then Brother Nibert wrote, Thank God for the promise of the gospel. Thou shalt call his name Jesus. for he shall save his people from their sins. Oh, blessed good news. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am sheep. Now, let's look at verse 17, James 1, 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." First, James speaks of every good gift. He says, every good gift is from above. Every good gift comes down from God. Only good comes from God. All good comes from God. And all good comes only from God. Every gift of creation is the good gift of God and comes down from heaven. God created all things. Back in the office, Merle read the eighth psalm. When I consider the heavens, thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the work of thy fingers, After he finished reading, Brother Larry made a comment. I didn't get it for just a second. He said, he said, finger work, you can do while you're sitting down. Finger work doesn't require any effort. Finger work doesn't require any strain. The work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained. What is man? Oh, God. Creator. all things. What is man that thou art mindful of him? What are we that thou visitest him? God's mindful of us, eternally, relentlessly mindful of us, visiting us day by day with his grace, visiting us day by day with his mercy. Every gift of creation, all The vast creation, this is God's, and this is God's gift to us. I don't know any limit to this. I don't know any limit to this. God said to Adam, you see this world that I've made? It's all yours. It's all yours. God made it all for you, his people. All of it. Everything in the creation, God made it. God's good gift. Even that mar of sin upon creation will not destroy God's good gift. Brother Mahan and I were driving to a meeting one time, driving through the mountains just in the fall of the year. spectacular colors. We stopped, standing on the side of the road, smoking our pipes, chatting for a little bit. He said, he said, you know, there's not much wrong with this world except sin. There's not much wrong with this world except sin. That's exactly right. When God makes all things new, all his good creation, he gives to his people in Christ the Lord. More than that, all the gifts of God's providence, every gift of providence is the good gift of God and comes down from heaven. I've been praying for my children, my grandchildren, and yours, and yours. that God will be pleased to select for them and give them companions with whom to worship and serve Him and give them a heart to do so. Good wife, she's God's gift. She's God's gift. A good husband, oh, what a gift of God. What a gift of God. Children, family, what gifts, what treasures, what treasures. Years ago, Faith came in one day and she asked me, she said, Daddy, why does so-and-so act like she does? Why is she so mean? Why is she so contrary? She's just a little girl. It was a long time ago. I said, Honey, it's going to be hard for you to understand for a while, but you have absolutely no idea what that girl has to deal with every day when she goes home. She doesn't have a clue what she's going to run into. You don't know what it is walking in the house, not knowing if your mom or daddy are going to hit you or hug you, whether they're going to cuss you or feed you. Oh, the blessedness of a peaceful, happy home where God's honored. The ministry of the gospel, to have in our midst a gospel church, A church family. What a privilege. Our daily bread. These are good gifts of God's providence. The list could just go on and on. Every good thing comes from God, but that's not all. That's not all. This is the part that we have a little difficulty with. God makes everything good to his elect. God makes everything good to his elect. This is what the wise man said in Ecclesiastes 3. Everything is beautiful in his time. Everything. Everything. No, God doesn't tempt men to evil. God can't be tempted with evil. God doesn't cause men to commit sin. God doesn't entice men to evil. But God is God. That means God rules evil and God rules sin according to His absolute purpose, working all things after the counsel of His own will to do good to His elect for the glory of His name. Everything is beautiful in his time. God, perform your will on the earth just like you do in heaven. That's what our Lord taught us to pray. Blessed are those who pray in such a way. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. How blessed we are with good things of God in creation, in providence, this church family, your house, your family. Oh, how blessed is that family where the name, this honor above all names, is the name of Christ, where the name, this love above all names, is the name of our Redeemer, and how blessed we are in God's good providence in everyday affairs of life. Every good gift of grace comes from above as well, from God our Father. 1 Peter chapter 5, the apostle Peter says, he is the God of all grace. What a name for God. The God of all grace. Who can grasp this fact? All the riches of grace belong to our God. He stored up all the riches of His grace in Christ, our Mediator. And He gives all the riches of His grace to every sinner who trusts His side. He heaps upon us, Bill, all the riches of His grace. He's done so from everlasting, and He continually gives us all the riches of His grace in Christ. Eternal grace. electing grace, adopting grace, forgiving grace, redeeming grace, sanctifying grace, justifying grace, regenerating grace, preserving grace, restoring grace, everlasting grace, all hours in Christ Jesus. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in him. And the God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory by Christ Jesus, bids us come to Him, to His throne of grace, for mercy and grace every time we need it. It's so strange to me that we hear that, Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need. And when we most need His grace, we're most disinclined to seek His grace. When we most need His mercy, we're most disinclined to seek His mercy. He bids us come. That tells us the welcome mat is out. Come as often as you need mercy, as often as you need grace, mercy to uphold and sustain and strengthen you, grace to uphold, sustain and strengthen you, mercy to restore you, grace to restore you, mercy to revive, grace to revive. But the more we need it, the more disinclined we are to seek it. Oh God of all grace, turn us then and we shall be turned. Draw us and we shall run after thee. But look at the next line of our text. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. James speaks here by divine inspiration of good gifts and perfect gifts. Not so much that he's desirous that we should draw a line of distinction between that which is good and that which is perfect. But it clearly speaks of both good gifts and perfect gifts. Without question, Christ is the good and perfect gift of God that comes from above. He is himself all that is good and all that's perfect. Having Christ, we have all. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. Whenever we think of our Lord, all who know Him are compelled to employ the words of the Apostle when he said, Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. He is the gift of God, given to us in the covenant of grace before the world was. Given to us when he came into this world in our room instead in humanity Given to us when he died in our place at Calvary Given to us when he comes to us in saving grace in the new birth and in giving us Christ God gives us everything as the gift of God our glorious Savior is unspeakable Who can speak forth His praise? Who can describe His person or His work? Alan was talking before service about fellows that like to delve into what they consider deep, deep mysteries. And as I hear fellows and sometimes read the stuff they send and write, I'm reminded of an incident that happened when I was in college. Long time ago. We came back from chapel one day, and the fellow had blubbered on about something. I don't know what he was saying, just yakking. Nothing important, nothing significant, but he seemed so intellectual, so profound. And one of the classmates, one of the fellows walking across the street with me, he said, boy, that was deep, wasn't it? I said, it's obvious that you haven't spent much time in the country. He said, what do you mean? I said, every country boy knows there's a big difference between deep and muddy. Just because something's not clear doesn't mean it's deep. Oh no, just muddy the water with your brilliance. God's people worship the Savior and adore Him, recognizing that He is beyond comprehension, beyond explaining, beyond defending. He is God. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. The things Christ has done for us. What man can explain that? What man can explain that? God is Spirit without parts or members, without a body. But in order for us to get some idea of who He is, God speaks of His hands, and His hearts, and His eyes, and His ears, and His throat. In order for us to get some idea of who He is, He speaks of His power, His might, and His dominion. But God is infinite, infinite beyond us. Who can understand? Who can declare? Who can declare how God stepped into humanity. How God stepped into humanity. God, the Word, was made flesh. I don't merely mean God stepped into time. I mean, Merle Hart, God stepped into a body just like the one you're sitting in. God stepped into humanity. God became one of us. Never ceased to be God, but God became one of us. And this one who is God, this one who is God, the eternal God, fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf as a man, dying in our stead at Calvary when he was made sin for us who knew no sin. God, who cannot die, died. Oh no, I can't even enter into comprehending that in thought, let alone declaring it to you. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. God rose from the dead, took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and yonder He sits in a body of human flesh. God. Overall, blessed forever. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. But there are other gifts of perfection that God gives. The Scriptures speak of Christ, the unspeakable gift of God. But James says here, every good and every perfect gift, every perfect gift, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." Obviously then, there's more than one. God has given us His perfect Word. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. When that which is perfect is come, Paul described it in 1 Corinthians 13, then that which is in part shall be done away. You have in your hand The Word of God. I don't mean by that you have a book that contains the Word of God. I mean you have in your hand the Word of God. Perfect. The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul. Turn to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3. I want you to see this. The God of all grace has given us Perfection in His Son. He made us perfect. He put away our sin, made us perfectly righteous. Philippians chapter 3 verse 12. Paul says, I want to know Christ. I want to be like Christ. Then verse 12 he says, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ. Now look at verse 15. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect." Well, wait a minute, Paul. You just got through saying you hadn't got it yet. And now you say you've got it. Which is it? That's what it is. We continually seek after absolute perfection in our beings, knowing that we have absolute perfection in our Savior. And soon we shall drop this robe of flesh in the perfect likeness of Christ our Lord. Our beauty, our Lord tells us in Ezekiel 16, 14, our beauty is perfect through His comeliness that He's put upon us. Listen to this. Listen to how the Savior speaks of us. Thou art all fair, my love. There is no spot in thee. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck." And John tells us that the Lord God has given us His perfect love to cast out all fear. Perfect love casteth out all fear. Now, what can we know about that? Herein is our love made perfect. Actually, this is what John is saying. God's love is hereby, in the sweet experience of His grace, made perfect in us, brought to perfection. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end. I have loved thee with everlasting love, God said. Loved us from eternity and loved us to the completion, the perfect end of his love, giving us life and salvation in Christ his Son. causing Christ to live in us and us to live in Christ. Now, with that love made perfect in us, brought to perfection in us, there's no fear in love. But perfect love casteth out all fear. If God loves me, everything's all right. If God loves me, everything's all right. You see, God alone loves perfectly. That means God's love alone should be without suspicion or fear of any kind. If God's given me faith in Christ, if God's planted His grace in me, I have no reason ever to suspect that He will do me harm. Now just in case I may have missed something, hear this and rejoice. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. That means Thy mercy, O Lord, Endureth forever, forsake not the work of thine own hands. All right, turn back to James chapter 1. Let's look at the next line. We've seen the gifts, let's look at the giver. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights. James describes God. this great giver of every good and perfect gift as the father of lights. He who is our God is light, and he who is light is the father of lights. All light comes from God. All natural, physical light, sun, the moon, the stars, all rational, moral light, all understanding in your mind. comes from God. If you have light and understanding to comprehend things, God gives you that. God gives you that. He gives to each one as seems him good. He gives to each one as seems him good. God gives light, natural and mental, emotional, moral, rational light. God gives it. God gives it. If you have a sound mind, God gave it to you. God gave it to you. Only God. How we ought to recognize that and bow before God acknowledging that. If you have brilliance in any area of life, in any science, in any ability, God gave you that brilliance. God gave it to you. Most of you men have lots of talents, lots of abilities. You can build houses, you can do mechanic work, you can put things together, you understand the way things work. Those hands, I'm more and more convinced they weren't made for anything. I remember years ago, years ago, once in a while I'd go out and try to help Brother Hubert. You might remember this, Bobby, when he was in the hospital. out of consciousness for a while, and he'd come to every now and then. I went to see him one day, and Judy said to him, she said, Daddy, Brother Fortner's here. That day, he was putting up fences. He was in the bed, but he was setting fence posts. And he said, well, he ain't no help. And he was exactly right. I said, that's right, Brother Hubert. I can't do a thing. I can't do a thing. He ain't no help. I couldn't do a thing. God Almighty, gives you whatever abilities you have. Not your skill, not your talents, not your labor, not your industry. God gives it to you. The same is true of spiritual light. God says, ìLet there be light,î and there is light. God says, ìLet there be light,î and there is light. It doesnít matter whether itís a child or a teenager or an adult, young adult, older adult, or an old man. Nobody sees until God gives light. Nobody understands until God gives light. And when God gives light, people see. He who is the light of the world is our light, and He gives light as He will. One more thing, look at our text again. This one who is the giver of light, from whom every good and perfect gift comes, is that one with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Why does James say that here? Why did God the Holy Spirit inspire James to write that here? He who is our God, the great giver of every good and perfect gift, the Father of lights, is immutable. He doesn't change, and He can't be changed in His person, in His purpose, in His grace, in his will, in his works. He is that God with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The sun, the great light of the heavens, has great variableness. It rises and sets every day. It has its eclipses, and wherever the sun shines, you find shadow. a little darkness here and a little darkness there. Sometimes scary shadows, fearful shadows. The same can be said of the lesser lights, the moon and the stars, but not of Christ who is light and not of God who gives us light. He never changes. Therefore, you and I are safe in His hands, under His care, and we may safely trust in Him. I am the Lord. I change not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed. He who is God our Savior is Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. Oh, God teach us to trust You for Christ's sake. Amen. Number 275 in your hymn