This thread is not eternal security But it is his truth ..........John 10:28.
So James was incorrect? God does deviate and shifts from the Gifts He Gives?
I went back and reread the OP because I thought that I must have missed something. No, I don't think that I did.
To the first point, eternal security, I believe John 6:33-40 NIV.
However, your comment about James confused me.
You quoted James 1:17
KJV "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."
NASB "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."
Here is the commentary on James 1:17 by A.R. Fausset:
17. gift. . . gift--not the same words in
Greek: the first,
the act of giving, or the gift in its
initiatory stage; the second,
the thing given, the boon, when perfected. As the "good gift" stands in contrast to "sin" in its initiatory stage ( Jam 1:15 ), so the "perfect boon" is in contrast to "sin when it is finished," bringing forth
death ( 2Pe 1:3 ).
from above--(Compare Jam 3:15 ).
Father of lights--Creator
of the lights in heaven (compare Job 38:28[ALFORD]; Gen 4:20, 21 Hbr 12:9 ). This accords with the reference to the changes in the light of the heavenly bodies alluded to in the end of the verse. Also, Father of the spiritual lights in the kingdom of grace and glory [BENGEL]. These were typified by the supernatural lights on the breastplate of the high priest, the Urim. As "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" ( 1Jo 1:5 ), He cannot in any way be the Author of sin ( Jam 1:13 ), which is darkness ( Jhn 3:19 ).
no variableness. . . shadow of turning-- ( Mal 3:6 ). None of the alternations of light and shadow which the physical "lights" undergo, and which even the spiritual lights are liable to, as compared with God. "Shadow of turning," literally, the dark "shadow-mark" cast
from one of the heavenly bodies, arising from its "turning" or revolution, for example, when the moon is eclipsed by the shadow of the earth, and the sun by the body of the moon. BENGEL makes a climax, "no variation--not even the shadow of a turning"; the former denoting a change in the
understanding; the latter, in the
will.
Fausset merely confirmed my own reading of the verse and what it was saying. It makes no claim that God can or cannot, will or will not, does or does not bestow and withdraw a gift or blessing. All of James 1 is making the point about where good and evil in man comes from. Our temptation does not come from God, our temptation comes from our sin (James 1:13-16). In contrast to that, every good thing and every perfect gift is from God (James 1:17). It is about the source, not the surety of the gift.
The second part of James 1:17 speaks to God's unchanging nature. God has never been the source of temptation, God is not currently the source of temptation, God will never be the source of temptation, God has always been the source of every good and perfect gift, God is presently the source of every good and perfect gift, God will always be the source of every good and perfect gift. God's nature and character does not change.
However, that does not mean that God cannot choose to bestow a gift for a season, and then withdraw that gift. You have been given multiple examples where God has done exactly that, most often in direct response to human actions (typically disobedience). Just a few quick samples:
- God gave Adam the garden of Eden and the Tree of Life (Gen 2:15-17), then expelled him from the garden (Gen 3:22-24).
- God gave Samson strength (Judges 14:5-6) and removed it (Judges 16:18-20).
- God placed his anointing on King Saul (1 Samuel 11:6) then removed it (1 Samuel 16:14) and later sent an evil spirit to torment him (1 Samuel 18:10).
- While slightly more conjectural, in the New Testament, many scholars believe that Saul (the future Apostle) probably had a wife. Scripture is silent on what happened to her if she did exist. Paul, the Christian Apostle, clearly had the gift of celibacy. Since both a wife and celibacy are gifts from God (and mutually exclusive), then God appears to have given Saul one gift for one period in his life and a VERY different gift for a very different period in his life. There is no "God changing his mind", but there is the unfolding of the plan of God with all things in their due season.
Proof that God has the right to do this innately within his Holy character can be found in Romans:
Romans 9:14-18 NASB
14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “
I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” 16 So then it
does not
depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.