"For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." (James 1:23-24, KJV) For "beholding his natural face" Concordant Literal N. T. has, "considering the face he inherited." This word rendered, "natural," or, "inherited," while it can refer to "birth," or, "lineage" in the Greek, it is genesis. It can be understood to refer to our "original" face. Because of Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 where he says, "first...the soulish, thereupon the spiritual," (v.46) and the first and the second man (v.47) as well as some versions of John 3 speaking of, "born again," many think of our identity as originating in our flesh birth. Our subsequent experience of the Holy Spirit in regenerating us defines the order for many. But that, "according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world" (Ephesians 1:4) indicates that we were in the Son of Man that descends out of heaven (John 3.) That is our original face and of "what kind" (James 1:24) we are. The New Covenant Melchizedek Priesthood is, "Having neither a beginning of days nor consummation of life..." (Hebrew 7:3) When we are "born anew," or, "born from above" we experience and become aware of our endless celestial identity being manifest. We are the flesh of God in the earth! (Ephesians 5:30)
So, Happy Birthday! from James.
