James 1:18

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.—The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Christ . . . loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.

By the grace of God I am what I am.—Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.—It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.—Where is boasting then? It is excluded.—Christ Jesus, . . . is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: . . . He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord.

You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.—Ye are washed, . . . ye are sanctified, . . . ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Understanding what the will of the Lord is.

It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.—A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.—No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.—And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever.

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. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.