In this verse, James brings out a very important point. True believers in Christ know that works cannot save anyone, as Paul says in Gal. 2:16: “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Every one that is saved has been made a new creature in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). As a result, the old way of life should be disappearing more and more and we should be becoming more and more like our Savior.

When an earthbound caterpillar is changed into a butterfly, there ought to be some evidence of change. Things it could not do before, it can do now. An obvious example is that it now has a set of wings that enable it to fly. It is also more beautiful than it was before.

As a Christian, you have also been given a set of spiritual wings, as it were, to be able to escape the constant downward pull of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Romans 6:14 confirms this: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

God has given in His Word many promises that can help us live a new life – with new power over sin, Satan, and self. II Peter 1:4 tells us: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

When the believer uses those promises and gets victory over sin and the world, God is pleased. He sees the image of His Son in you and it is a beautiful sight to Him and He can bless you for it.

What are the things that God wants to see in you? First, He wants to see the fruit of the Spirit in you Galatians 5:22, 23). Second, He wants to see the “fruit of righteousness” in you (James 3:18). Third, God has “chosen” and “ordained” each believer to bring forth the fruit of souls to Him (John 15:16).

Now that you are a “new creature” – is God pleased with your new fruit and works? Or, are you claiming “faith” but have no works to prove it?

Many believers are confused about the topic of predestination. It has many wondering about whether they are “chosen” or not. The doubt has led many to live in unnecessary fear of their eternal destination.

Today’s verses reveal much about this topic. The choosing that God made before the earth was created is that those that will believe are to be made “holy and without blame.” This happens as a result of our being made righteous through the blood of Christ. God sees believers as having these characteristics – without them we could never enter Heaven.

Another aspect of predestination is that God has chosen that those who believe are to be made His children. Although born in sin as children of darkness (I Peter 2:9) – God has translated us into the kingdom of light and made us His children (John 1:12). Once born into God’s family – you can never become unborn.

A third thing that is revealed in this text is that God did it solely because He wanted to. It was His pleasure to do so. No one coerced him into it and no one deserved it. We are “accepted in the beloved” (Christ) Who died for us and took upon Himself our sins that we might be made the righteousness of God through faith: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:22).

Have you turned from sin in your heart and believed on Christ? If not – you can be saved today! If you are saved, why not take a few minutes and thank God for His mercy, salvation – and predestination – through Christ?

After God gave His promise in the Garden of Eden that He would one day bring forth a Savior that would undo the curse, He also said that a sign would be given when the child would be born. Yesterday, we saw that He was prophesied to be born of a virgin. Later, God revealed where His Son would be born – in Bethlehem of Judea.

Bethlehem was a small town (“though thou be little”) that was not far from Jerusalem. The town was known as the birthplace of David. Many years before Joseph and Mary, God had told David that the Savior would come through his descendants. The people of Jesus’ day knew it and some of them said: “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” (John 7:42).

That Christ would be born of the descendants of David was promised several times in the Bible. One of the Scriptures that had promised this centuries before Christ’s birth (and centuries after David) was Jeremiah 23:5,6: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Even though both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David, neither of them lived in Bethlehem. When the time came, God had to bring them to this little town so that Jesus could be born there.

God moved in Caesar’s heart at the right time to create a taxing of the people. When the taxing was declared, he demanded that everyone go to the birthplace of their ancestors – which brought them to Bethlehem right on time – and has God had said.

In addition to the promise that the One born in Bethlehem would be a King, note also the phrase that follows: “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” This verse, as do many others, reveals that Christ was not just a human, but that He was also God – only God has lived forever past – and He will live forever in the future, too!

God also works all things out for those who will serve Him. He knows how to direct and keep each one of His children that will obey Him. He has always kept His word and will continue to do so. To His children that are saved by faith and serving Him, He says: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Christian, are you following the Lord today? Can you trust Him enough to do His will for you? Why not recommit to serve Him better this Christmas season – and beyond?