Charles Spurgeon Commentary James 1:18

"Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." — James 1:18 (ASV)

Of His own will He begot us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

The best and noblest part of His creation, the twice begotten, the immortals that shall be the bodyguard of His Son, that shall stand about His bed, which is Solomon's, each man with his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night. What a privilege it is to be begotten of God, to be the "firstfruits" of His creatures!

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

It is a very delightful idea that we are presented to God as "a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." There is a whole harvest behind us, as Paul also reminds us in Romans 8:19-21: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

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

We are his creatures, but we are better than his other creatures; for he has made us twice over. We are his twice-born creatures; and we are the first ripe fruit of his creation, dedicated to his praise, gathered to his glory, a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Oh, that God would help us to honour him, and to live truly consecrated to him!

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

True believers have been twice created, and the second time we were begotten again by the Word of God that became the living seed within our spirits, out of which the new life grew, and now we are a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Just as the first ears of ripe corn were brought into the sanctuary, and dedicated to God, so are all true believers consecrated persons, the firstfruits of his creatures.