God chose to give us life through the word of truth. God is the one who chose to give us the life in Christ we now have.
18 He chose to give us Life through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
James 1:18 NIV
There are the two perspectives that are addressed throughout the bible concerning our salvation.
Eternal: He chose to give us our life.
Chose: βούλομαι, boulomai: to will, to intend, desire wish, to plan with full resolve (determination) “resolutely plan”) is a strong term that underlines the predetermined (and determined) intention driving the planning (wishing, resolving).
Temporal: Through the word of Truth. The scriptures!
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Romans 10:8-11 NIV
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 NKJV
We have received life so that we would be a kind of first fruits of all he created. He put us at the head of all creation.
First fruits:
- Because we are his first fruits, we are to conduct ourselves as such. How?
- Listen, be slow to speak and be slow to become angry.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20 NIV
Avoid any semblance of immoral activity. Receive the Word in you.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James 1:21 NIV
Proactively go after the word of God and do what it says.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James 1:22-25 NIV
If you do not control what you say, do not be deceived what religion you have is worthless.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:26-27 NIV
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