I Am My Brother's Keeper
James • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsJames' final exhortation to care for one another to address and resolve their differences.
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To Watch For Wanderers
To Watch For Wanderers
James 5:19 (NKJV)
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth,
A FITTING CONCLUSION TO THIS LETTER Brethren
James Has Addressed Many Issues Trials/Temptations
NOW: What’s Happening When Someone Slowly Drifts Away
v.16 Is Ignored, Self Will / Interest Is In Control
There’s Bitterness, Envy, Prayer Neglected, An Opportunity Has Arisen, Family
verb walk or move in a leisurely or aimless way.
▶ move slowly away from a fixed point or place.
▶ travel aimlessly through or over (an area).
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 31.67 πλανάομαι; ἀποπλανάομαι
to no longer believe what is true, but to start believing what is false—‘to stray from the truth, to wander from the truth, to go astray from.
Opening Up James The Problem Which James Addresses (v. 19)
What is it to wander from the truth? It means loosening our grip on the Word of God to the point that we do not hold as firmly as we once did to its teachings. And that always leads to the loosening of the Bible’s grip on how we live.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John Owen warns: sin deceives, entices, conceives, develops, and finishes with death.
Temptation masks the fact that sin is really a serial killer!
The old adage reflects James’s teaching: sin takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs you more than you want to pay.
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
John 6:67–69 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
BE AWARE OF THE DANGER OF LUKE WARMNESS! Rev 3:15
LEAFLET: How To Be A Successful Backslider - Do Nothing Suddenly
Bible Reading And Prayer Are Often Among The First Casualties 1:25
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Not A Christian - Jesus Call For Total Commitment - Follow ME - Rom 12:1,2
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Making Believers Into The Best Of Families, Workers, Citizens, People
To Work For Restoration
To Work For Restoration
James 5:19–20 (NKJV)
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way
A CHALLENGE FOR ALL - SOME ARE TOO READY, OTHERS, NEVER READY!
when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.
James Writes To Correct That Indifference That Just Doesn’t Care
James 2:8–9 (NKJV)
If you really fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Genesis 4:9 (NKJV)
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
When Someone Slowly Drifts Away, The Brethren Are Expected To Do All They Can To Restore Them.
The New Bible Commentary 5:19–20 Purpose Statement
If it happens to a believer, someone should bring them back, as the ‘spiritual’ are supposed to do in Gal. 6:1. Rather than condemnation, restoration is the goal. And that is what James hopes will happen.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
to cause a person to change belief, with focus upon that to which one turns—‘to cause to change belief, to cause to turn to.’
Jesus’ Half-Brothers Speak: James and Jude (Word and Phrase Study)
“turns” It is significant that the Greek word epistrephō is used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew term for “repentance” (shuv). Since Israel was considered the people of God, this “turning” was viewed as “turning back” to God or the renewing of a previous relationship.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
A Theology of James: Wisdom for God’s People (Humanity and Sin)
Sin is serious and brings consequences. For instance, the rich will pass away like a flower (1:10). Indeed, sin always leads to death (1:15; 5:20). Sin brings guilt before God, condemnation under his law (2:9–10), and appropriate judgment (2:12–13; 5:12). Sin produces disorder in the church (3:16–4:4), damage to the individual (4:1–3), enmity with God (4:4), opposition from God (4:6), moral filth (4:8), and destruction (4:12). For the wicked, it leads to a just final punishment depicted as miserable and painful (5:1–6).
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
James IV. Diligence in Reclaiming Backsliders (5:19, 20)
Much more is implied in the word than mere rescue from error. It suggests that the wanderer is healed of his backslidings and reinstated again in the enjoyment of God’s favor and fellowship
TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER MEANS TAKING TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER
Church Is A Community of People, Who Are Wonderfully Different
A Place Where People Care Enough For One Another To Reach Out, Not Criticize Mt 18:15
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
A Place Of Conflict In Modern Days If Legislation Is Passed [Rob’s grand daughter]
The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 34: James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude (How to Restore a Backslider)
I believe there are at least three steps we can take to be involved in the vital ministry of “restoring” backsliders.
First, we must take the initiative. I believe that the strong implication of the teaching of James is that we should not be passive about a brother or sister who is erring from the truth. We should take the initiative to do something about it.
Second, we should pray. In the preceding verses, James repeatedly instructs us to pray when we are in need. It is always appropriate to pray for those in spiritual need.
Third, we can love. The ministry of love is the primary calling of every Christian. Jesus said that the life of love was the distinguishable mark of the Christian (John 13:35). God has called us to prayerfully activate the ministry of the Holy Spirit to love and invite, to woo and draw sinners to repentance.
One Of The Many Benefits Of Believing Is That You Become Family
To Win Back For Christ
To Win Back For Christ
let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER - IT IS SO IMPORTANT
Contrary To Modern Thinking People Are In Mortal Danger While Separated From God 1:21
Life Is His Gift And Can Be Withdrawn At Will, Treat It With The Respect It Deserves
For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains (21.18 σῴζω; σωτηρία, ας)
To Save is - to rescue from danger and to restore to a former state of safety and well being—‘to deliver, to rescue, to make safe, deliverance.’
And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
The Distinguishing Mark Of A True Believer Is In Their Response To Such A Challenge
if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Such restoration has a wonderful result. A multitude of sins are covered over. Pr. 10:12, quoted in 1 Pet. 4:8, says that ‘love covers over all wrongs’ or ‘love covers a multitude of sins’.
By ‘cover’ these authors presumably mean ‘atone for’, a frequent OT image is that of the blood of an offering ‘covering’ sin.
Peter H. Davids, “James,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1367–1368.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
THE QUESTION IS: ‘DO I CARE?’, REVEALING WHETHER YOUR FAITH WORKS!
The Central Question Of The Book, Distinguishing Demonic Religion 2:14-20 From God Approved 1:27
The New Heart God Gives Is Compassionate, Like His, Not Willing Any Should Perish 2Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Psalm 103:12 (NKJV)
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
There Is Hope For Every Backslider Or Rebel, While There Is Life, Repent While It Is Yet Day