Final Exhortations

Introduction

Connection: Pilgrims in Exile need Life-Support on their Way Home. Those who are scattered away from their homeland need strength, food, water, fellowship, healing, community, and resilience if they are going to journey back home. Think of how much strength and perseverance the Israelites of old needed in order to journey for 40 years into the Promised Land; likewise, the church of Jesus Christ needs strength and perseverance as she is journeying toward the New Creation. Just as Israel of old was fed by heavenly manna; so too much the church in exile be fed by the heavenly manna of the Word, in the communion of the saints, as we travel together toward our promised possession and inheritance. James is writing to Christians in exile—and he is reminding them how to find such life and strength and how to live in it as they journey toward their eternal dwelling place. Thus, with the final passage from the Book of James, my sermon title is:

Theme: Final Exhortations

Need: We need to know where the springs of life flow as we make our pilgrim journey to the eternal kingdom of God; and we need to know how to live together on this pilgrim journey.

Purpose: To exhort the church toward faithfulness, loving care, spiritual humility; to comfort the saints in the assurance of pardon that is in Jesus with our confession of sin; to encourage the saints in the power of righteous prayer; and to remind the church to seek restoration for wandering sinners.

Read Text: James 5:12-20 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) The People of God Must Revere the Name of God - v.12

James 5:12 ESV

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

(1) The People of God Must Revere the Name of God - v.12

As is the custom of James, he reminds the church that he is writing to that they are his brothers in Christ Jesus. He says, “Above all, my brothers” (v. 12a).

James always grounds his exhortations in the fact that we have been adopted into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, if you are trusting in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, you have become an adopted child of God. This is the basis for our obedience. We don’t obey in order to be saved or in order to earn the status of being God’s child in his eternal family—no, God graciously bestows salvation upon us as he causes us to be born again, granting us faith and repentance and eternal life—and granting us the gift of adoption by which we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as a child of God for all eternity.

This is the Gospel, the good news: Because Jesus Christ lived for us, died for us, and rose again for us, He has accomplished our redemption, our salvation, our reconciliation with God, and best of all: our entrance into the family of God. And all of this becomes applied to our souls as we believe, as we trust in the free promise of the Gospel—and we cry out: “Abba, Father” with a new heart, a new status, a new Father, and a new love. Jeremy Walker says:

Men may mock and scorn the church of Jesus Christ. Devils may assault and despise the people of the living God. But our Father looks upon us and declares this to be our enduring and unshakable nature and status. He is not ashamed to call us children any more than Christ is ashamed to own us as His brothers”

As we trust in Jesus, we become children of God—God becomes our Father as we become his family. This is the goal and blessing of the gospel—being brought back into a lively relationship with the living God, and being able to approach God our Father as a little child, to love, adore, serve, and glorify Him.

James says: My brothers—do not forget who you are; do not forget what God has done for you; do not forget the new nature and status that God has given you—now, let me show you how to live for him with holiness and love. He continues in verse 12 and says:

“Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” (v. 12b).

James wants us to revere the name of God; and to not use it rashly or vainly or sinfully. As children of God, we have a love for God and a reverence for God as our Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Defender, Saviour, Redeemer, and Ruler. He is the living God who alone is worthy of supreme love and worship and adoration and service. We are his creatures; but more than that, his children now in Christ. James is saying: children of God, would any of you want to slander your Father’s name? Look at His glory and majesty and love and look at what He has done for you in the Gospel—He is doubly worth your honour and obedience and reverence. Would any of you want to slander His name by flippantly using it, or by sinfully abusing it with rash oaths and vows in the name of the Lord?

James isn’t talking about swearing in the sense of curse words—but swearing in the sense of taking an oath, vow, or swearing a promise.

In the OT God tells his people this in Deut. 23:21-23

Deuteronomy 23:21–23 ESV

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

But the Jews at the day of Jesus said this in Matthew 23:16

Matthew 23:16 ESV

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

The Jews were saying that you could swear by the temple and not have to fulfill your oath because it’s just the temple and not an oath in the name of the Lord.

But Jesus teaches us that all oaths, are and can, only be made in the name of the Lord (whether directly or indirectly), and therefore to flippantly swear is to break the third commandment: “Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex. 20:7). In such a case it’s better to not make an oath at all.

Likewise, James counters this tendency to swear flippantly or falsely by saying, well then! “Do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath” (v. 12b).

Do not make any oaths at all if you’re just going to swear falsely and rashly and abuse the purpose of a solemn oath which calls God as witness to judge you if you fail to keep your words. Do not use oaths in private ordinary life. An oath is needed to confirm your truthfulness—if you need to continually swear oaths, then it shows that you’re not trustworthy

James is saying: be so trustworthy and a man or women of your word that when you say yes I will do something, you do it. And when you say no, you don’t do it. God cares about integrity of the heart and actions (unless of course there is a justifiable reason to change your mind).

James says—don’t use oaths to confirm your truths and don’t use sinful oaths that take the name of God in vain.

However, this can’t mean that all oaths are forbidden—but that they should rarely be used. Why? Because in Scripture, in the OT and NT, God commands oaths to be taken (Deut. 10:20; 2 Cor. 1:23), God himself makes oaths (Gen. 15:18; Gen. 26:28-31;Heb. 6:13-20) , Jesus himself submits to an oath at his trial (Matt. 26:63-64), the Apostle Paul puts the church under oath to read the Word of God (1 Thess. 1:27), church-membership includes a solemn commitment/oath (Acts 2:42)… etc.

Thus it seems that the primary command here is against the false and flippant use of oaths, the false and sinful use of God’s name, and the lack of integrity and trustworthiness of our hearts and lips.

What does this mean for us today? How do we revere the name of God?

(1) Don’t use the name of God flippantly or as a swear word. Saying Oh my God, Oh my Lord, Jesus Christ, Holy Christ, or any other abuse of God.‘S name in a worldly sense is sin and must not touch the lips of God’s people.

(2) When you say you’re going to do something, and someone says: oh really? And you answer: I SWEAR! I’ll do it! I Swear! That is serious sin and is gross disobedience to this very command by Jesus and James. This is exactly what James is forbidding. The tendency in our hearts to say: I swear! I swear! It’s true. Such is sin and must be repented of. Only reserve swearing an oath for vital parts of worship, covenants, and courts of justice.

(3) When you say you’re going to do something, or not do something—follow through with your word unless providence hinders you or there is a just reason to change your mind. One author says that the day-to-day life of God’s people and “our truthfulness should be so consistent and dependable that we need no oath to support it—a simple “yes” or “no” should suffice. “Our mere word should be as utterly trustworthy as a signed document, legally correct and complete.”

But notice how James closes this verse: “So that you may not fall under condemnation” (V. 12c).

Here we see that James is repeating the end of the third commandment which says to not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, why? “For the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Ex 20:7). Thus James is saying: hey, you who are taking God’s name in vain, failing to show reverence and love to God—if you persist in this without repentance, you will find out on the last day that you were deceived, with a dead-faith, and no love for God, or reverence for God. If someone persistently takes the name of God in vain without godly sorrow, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ, then they are showing the fact that they are not born again and will come under the unswerving justice of God Almighty on the Day of Judgement.

So, run to Jesus who is the only one who can cancel our guilt, because he took it upon himself on the cross of Calvary so that all who repent and believe in Him could have their sins washed white as snow—through the blood of Jesus which satisfied the wrath of God against our guilt; and the life of Jesus which clothes us in his obedience and righteous perfection so that our legal standing before God is: Righteous, Forgiven, and a Child of God through faith alone.

Now—out of thankfulness, we need to live in this world on our pilgrimage to heaven with reverence for God’s name, so that the world cannot mock us for slandering the God whom we serve.

(1) The People of God Must Revere the Name of God - v.12

This leads us to our second point:

(2) The People of God Must be Cared for by the Church - v.13-15

James 5:13–15 ESV

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

(2) The People of God Must be Cared for by the Church - v.13-15

Here we see the centrality of the local church as the place where God’s people must dwell, commit to, and serve in. Here we see that the church is the gathered assembly of Christians who are committed together for the worship, ministry, and life of the Gospel. It is here that God’s people find growth and nourishment and strength as they make their way to glory.

The first thing James says is: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray”

Are you hard pressed? Are you in trials? Is there conflict in your family? Is there hostility toward you at work? Are you in great pain? Do you wrestle with depression and mental health? Do you find your soul is often feeling dry? Is your body often aching with pain? Are you battling against sin and temptation? Then pray. Run to the throne of grace. Run to the presence of God through Jesus Christ. Pour your soul out to God. Cry out to the Lord and ask for his help and strength and perseverance. Ask for his blessings. Ask for him to lavish you with what you need; run to the presence of your God, draw near to Him, and you will find that the Lord truly is “the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3-5).

The second thing James says is: “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.”

Are things going well? Are you seeking the Lord in earnest? Are you blessed beyond all measure? Are you walking in Step with the Spirit? Are you in a season of comfort and peace? Are you well-provided for? Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus? Are you hoping in Him for salvation and eternal life? Is your soul happy and content and seeking the glory of God? Then sing praise. Sound forth with song to the Lord your God. Sing the PsalmS, Sing your favourite hymns, Sing your favourite songs and give the glory to God. Praise Him for his wondrous grace and comfort and blessings. Thank him for lavishing you with his goodness. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord” (Ps. 150:6).

The third thing James says is: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven”

Here James isn’t speaking of the average cold—he is speaking of chronic, serious, possibly life-threatening sickness. The word for sick is literally translated: “weak”. This is someone who is very ill, whatever their sickness is, it is serious enough that they “call for the elders or pastors”, not just to pray generally, but to assembly and lay their hands on them, anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, and pray for divine intervention and healing.

Why does James say to do this? Because prayer is the means that God uses to bring blessing to growth and healing to God’s people. Thus, when a serious need of prayer arises, the elders, shepherds, and ministers who are set apart to the ministry of “The Word and Prayer” (Acts 6), must come together to especially seek God’s help in his gracious timing.

Why does James say to use oil? Because oil was commonly used for medicinal purposes in the ancient world, and still is today, and thus it stands as a sign and symbol for healing and restoration. It’s not so much the oil that matters, it’s that the oil is a sign of God’s healing power through the ministry of prayer.

I’ve mentioned to you all about my health challenges which are still ongoing and up and down—but they are nothing like they were about 2 years ago. During that time I was crumbling in my health, without any doctor able to figure out why. I was the healthiest person on medical record and on medical tests. I had 30 visits to the hospital with around 30 separate runs of blood work, consulting many, many, many doctors with no seeming cause or reason for my malady.

My whole body was experiencing neuropathy, numbness, tingling, and extreme weakness.

I had chronic fatigue, intense brain fog, circulation issues, constant chest pain, extreme pressure in my head, terrible gut health, and debilitating food reactions to almost everything I ate.

I had to drop out of school, wasn’t able to work, was practically bed-ridden, seemingly unable to be the strong leader and husband that I am called to be: my humanity and my manhood felt stolen from me.

But what changed? I never had a formal diagnosis. Doctors still remain clueless. I still have outgoing requisitions to specialists in many fieldS (which still haven’t gotten back to me!).

Before we moved to Kingston in September of 2022—I was still a member at the church I grew up at: Fairview Baptist Church in Lindsay. It was there that the Elders gathered around me one day after our morning service, they asked me if there was any unrepentant sin in my life (to which I responded: not that I know of). Then about 8 godly men who had seen me grow up in that church, saw me saved, saw me baptized and shepherded my soul for many years; these men all laid their hands on me and earnestly prayed to the Lord for healing, praying in faith, trusting that God would heal me somehow, in his timing, and in his ways—they prayed expectantly. They anointed me with oil on my head, as they pleaded with the living God to heal me and use me for ministry as I was studying to serve as a pastor one day. And a few short months after that moment—I gradually made a recovery to almost full health. I wasn’t recovered because of oil, or even ultimately because of prayer—but because of God’s gracious and sovereign power as He answered the prayers of the elders who held me up before the throne of grace. And now? Well, I’m here at Calvary and have been called to preach and pastor for the glory of Jesus Christ.

How can this be? James says: “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (15a)

The prayer of faith is not a mechanism or charismatic formula to guarantee a miracle—it’s trusting in God’s gracious character, promises, and power, to heal his children in his own timing, according to his own will. The prayer of faith trusts that God will heal in his gracious timing. Such a prayer will bring the Lord’s deliverance in the Lord’s Will. And sometimes that healing isn’t until they go to be with Jesus. You might ask? What happens to someone who has been prayed over by the elders, and anointed with oil, but wasn’T healed? To that the Scripture tells us: the Lord said no, not yet—my grace is sufficient for you in your weakness. Maybe they even died? Did God fulfill this promise to raise them up? Oh yes—for they are in heaven with Jesus and will be raised up in the resurrection of the dead on the last day. Thus, it’s not will God heal? It’s trusting Him that He is both able and willing to heal in His gracious timing, as we plead with him for deliverance.

You’ll also notice that James also says that “And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (v. 15b).

He doesn’t say that the sick person necessarily has committed sins. Not all suffering and sickness is due to personal sins. But here is something that isn’t spoken of as often: James says, some sickness is due to sin and rebellion in the lives of Christians. God loves us enough to afflict us and discipline us at times, with sickness, so that we would repent and draw near to him afresh through faith and repentance in Jesus Christ. One commentator says:

In Jesus’ day, people overspiritualized illness. Many assumed that all tragedy and disease were direct consequences of sin. Today, in the West, we despiritualize illness. We believe microbes and defective genes cause all illness. We deny a link between sin and illness except in obvious cases such as cirrhosis of the liver and sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, we need to respiritualize illness, for Scripture often links sin and illness. James urges us to consider the possibility that the sick person has sinned. “If he has sinned,” James says, he can be forgiven. Sin may or may not be the root of an illness, but our time in bed gives us an opportunity for self-examination. When sickness idles us, we should use our solitude to scan our lives. If sins come to mind, we should confess them, repent, and endeavor to reform.

It’s wrong to think that all suffering is caused by sin (for Job shows us that this isn’t the case—karma is a pagan myth), however, it isn’t wrong to ask if there is any unconfessed sin in our lives when we are suffering (for sometimes God sends sickness to humble us and lovingly discipline us). In any case—faith and repentance and confession and obedience and perseverance is the key—in health or in sickness.

Note: Confession of Sin is the divinely ordained means to restoration, lively fellowship with God, and assurance of pardon. Why do we confess our sins together in our service? Because we’re commanded to—and it is in this humble heart posture that God draws near to us with saving grace, spiritual healing, and sometimes, physical healing.

It is in the church that God’s people must be spiritually cared for and guided by faithful elders, and it is here that we find restoration, strength, and perseverance. It is here that the Gospel get’s into our ears, it is here that the Spirit of God transforms the soul, it is here that God blesses with physical healing according to his sovereign will. It is here that the saints find physical and spiritual care on their pilgrimage to glory. We need each other, in covenanted membership in a healthy local church—or else we are staring ourselves of God’s promised means of grace and sustenance in our pilgrimage.

(2) The People of God Must be Cared for by the Church - v.13-15

This leads us to our third point:

(3) The People of God Must live in Repentance and Prayer - v.16-18

James 5:16–18 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

(3) The People of God Must live in Repentance and Prayer - v.16-18

Not only is it the responsible of church members to call for their elders and to confess their sins to the elders—and for the elders to pray for the sick in the church; but it’s also the responsibility of every church member to confess our sins to one another and to pray for one another that we might be blessed with spiritual healing, restoration, and strength.

James says: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (v. 16a).

James tells us that spiritual healing is dependent upon confession of sin, and church-prayer. We are all one body in Christ, and we are all called to live in repentance together, as we journey to glory with the Lord Jesus Christ. The call of the Christian life is not to sign a card and then live in our own way—the call of the Christian is continual faith, repentance, confession, assurance, holiness, obedience, and perseverance. We need each-other’s help in this journey. And we need each-other’s encouragement in this journey. The reason why we confess our sins to one another is not to scold one another—but to encourage one another in what Jesus Christ has done to forgive us of our sins, and to encourage us in the continual presence and power of the Holy Spirit to help us to fight against sin and to walk in holiness.

You might wonder why we have a public time of confession and assurance in our service. Here’s the reason: We’re commanded to confess our sins in order to be forgiven and to be restored in the assurance of pardon that is found in Jesus Christ. Hear from Psalm 32:1-6

Psalm 32:1–6 ESV

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

Here David shows us that when we keep silent, failing to confess our sins and to repent of them, we are under the fatherly discipline of God—his heavy hand is upon us and our strength is dried up—but when we acknowledge our sin to the Lord, and uncover before his sight—when we confess our transgressions, he forgives the iniquity of our sin and restores us into lively fellowship with him.

Thus, he says, let everyone who is godly offer such a prayer to Yahweh at a time when He may be found. And this Psalm was inspired by the Holy Spirit to be a part of the public worship of God’s people in the OT and NT.

James has already told us to repent of our sins, to cleanse our hearts, to purify our hearts, and to humble ourselves before the Lord. And as we do this we are drawing near to God and he is drawing near to us.

Therefore, we have a time to publicly do this on the Lord’s Day—which should help form your daily life and prayers of confessing your sin and finding assurance and strength in Jesus Christ. As we live in the liturgy of confession and assurance, we are living out the Lord’s Prayer which commands us to pray: forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. But should we confess all our sins publicly? One writer says there are four areas of confession:

1. The offender confesses [his sin] to the one offended, whether to a human or to God. 2. We confess secret sins to God, since sins such as anger, envy, or lust offend him, even if they never lead to action. It is highly unlikely that we will accomplish anything constructive by telling someone, “I envied you,” or “I lusted after you.” 3. We confess private sins privately to the one or the few we offended.

[4]. We confess public sins (which offend many) publicly.

And what is the fruit of such a public, and private confession of sin; both together, and to one another—spiritual healing, restoration, strength, and blessing from God our Father, through Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit.

And, James says, sometimes if our sin is causing our physical ailments, God might bless us with physical healing too. Confess your sins, beloved, that you might be healed and forgiven.

When we confess our sin publicly, let your heart truly be engaged—don’t let it become a stale formula. And here’s a question: when was the last time you confessed your sins to another brother or sister in Christ here at Calvary? If we neglect this, a culture of repentance and confession, we are disobeying our Gracious King, and starving ourselves of spiritual healing and revival.

But How Does this work? Why does this happen? James says:

Because “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (16b).

James reminds us of the power of God that flows through the divine pipe and organ of prayer. Prayer is the connecting ordinance of heaven to earth—of God’s blessings to God’s people. Prayer is one of the means of grace instituted so that we could receive grace and mercy and help in time of need. We have not, because we ask not, as James has already told us. But oh, he says, what power is there in the prayer of the righteous saints of God—those who are walking in step with the Holy Spirit, full of the Word of God, with their hearts intoxicated with the love of Jesus, and living their lives for the glory of God their Father. Those who are righteous in Christ, and living righteously in the Spirit—their prayers, James says, have great power and efficacy. Why?

Not because prayer itself is powerful—but because God has promised to bless us by his power through the means of prayer.

How often do we wonder why we feel cold? And we’re neglecting prayer.

How often do we wonder why our hearts are not delighted in the Triune God? And we’re neglecting prayer.

How often do we wonder why our spiritual strength is so low? And we’re neglecting prayer.

How often do we wonder why our sin is abounding with restraint? And we’re neglecting prayer.

How often do we wonder why we have so little of the power of God in our lives? And we’re neglecting prayer (Public and Private).

Thankfully James leads us in a pastoral way to encourage us in prayer—not to leave us condemned and guilty in our lack of prayer—after all, he has just reminded us that there is grace upon grace in Jesus and that in confession there is assurance of pardon. So he encourages us with the prophet Elijah! He says:

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit” (v. 17-18)

Notice that James does not highlight Elijah and his special office as prophet and his special walk with God in the Spirit—not he says: Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.

We are the same as Elijah—we are human beings.

We are saved in the same way as Elijah—through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are given a new-nature just like Elijah—by being born again of the Spirit.

If God worked so powerfully through Elijah, James says, He can and will work powerfully through you as well! Just as Elijah prayed fervently for God’s miraculous intervention—so too can we pray for God’s miraculous intervention. We read in our Scripture reading earlier that Elijah prayed for the heaven to keep back the rain, and then he prayed later for the heaven to give forth rain—and the Lord answered his prayer with great power and blessing.

But notice that it says that he prayed “fervently”. Fervent prayer. What is that?

Fervent prayer is prayer without ceasing, continuing in God’s presence, continually coming to God with requests and petitions—like Jesus would go and pray for hours, being alone with the Father, so to is fervent prayer devoted periods of time alone with God, and continual requests made to God throughout daily activities. And when we ask in faith, if it is God’s will, He will answer and bless us with great power through prayer.

How often do we devote time to just be in the Word and in Prayer—alone with our Father? Herein lies great power in the Christian life: fervent prayer and fervent receiving of the Word of God. Publicly, and Privately. Oh God help us! He helped Elijah—and He will do the same in and through us if we draw near to Him in faith.

Repentance and Prayer must never be divorced from one another—for what God has joined together let no man separate.

(3) The People of God Must live in Repentance and Prayer - v.16-18

This leads us to our Conclusion:

(4) The People of God Must seek Restoration for Prodigals - v. 19-20

James 5:19–20 ESV

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

(4) The People of God Must seek Restoration for Prodigals - v. 19-20

Closing off his letter, James gives one final exhortation. He wants the church, and church members, to care for one another so much—that when someone wanders from Christ, we run after them with steadfast love and devotion. Why?

Because to totally fall away from Christ is to prove that you never had him. For a true faith is a persevering faith which does not shrink back says the book of Hebrews.

Therefore, we must exhort each other to seek restoration like the prodigal so, like Peter after denying Christ, like David after his heinous sin, like the disciples after scattering at the cross. God’s people repent and return, by the power of the Holy Spirit—and he uses our brotherly love and exhortations to bring a child of God back home to his Father and his Father’s household, the church.

This earnest love must mark all of us here at Calvary. One writer says:

“Christian, you have the task of being a brother or sister in the most precious living organism on earth. That is your calling, to live out the family identity that God has given you. Search and rescue is your calling when it’s needed, every single time, because that’s how much we’re worth to each other. You cannot wander away from the truth into error and sin without me coming after you, and I shouldn’t be able to do so either without you coming to find me”.

When we see our brothers or sisters straying from the path of life—we go and seek to win him back, by the love of Christ, through fervent prayer, why? James says:

“Whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (v. 20).

When a child of God returns from wandering, his soul is saved from death, from being snatched away by the devil, from being quenched by the desires of the world, from being crushed from harships—and it returns to his God and Father who loves him with an everlasting love, to God the Son who died for him and his redemption, and to God the Spirit who has sealed him for the day of eternity.

When the sinner returns from wandering—he shows that his soul is vouchsafed in the blood of Jesus Christ—and that his faith is genuine, his love is real—and that He belongs to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as one for whom the eternal kingdom awaits, by grace alone.

Calvary—let’s not neglect our brotherly duties to run after lost sheep and to bring them back to Jesus. For when they return—the Father greets them with his royal robes, with his loving embrace, and a new ring; reminding them of their Gospel identity as a child of God in union with Jesus Christ their Saviour—proving themselves to be born again by the Spirit of God.

(4) The People of God Must seek Restoration for Prodigals - v. 19-20

This leads us to our Conclusion:

(C) True Religion is Marked by Life in a Healthy Church that is Gathered around the Name, Gospel, and Power of Jesus Christ.

In the book of James we learned that:

We are servants of God in Exile (1:1)

We are to Suffer with Joy (1:2-4)

We are to ask and receive from God in faith (1:5-8)

We must have godly pursuits, resting in God’s promises, and fleeing from wicked perils (1:9-15)

We are born again into God’s new creation (1:16-18)

We must pursue righteousness, flee wickedness, and foster meekness (1:19-21).

We must become doers of the Word (1:22-27).

We must deny the sin of partiality (2:1-9)

We must live in, and remember that, mercy triumphs over judgment (2:10-13).

We must show our faith by our works (2:14-19)

We must let our faith be justified or vindicated by our love (2:20-26)

We must tame our wicked tongues (3:1-12)

We must live in the wisdom from above (3:13-18)

We must reject pride and enmity, rest in God’s abundant grace, and live in humility (4:1-10)

We must remember that there is only one lawgiver and judge (4:11-12)

We must trust our future to the Lord’s Sovereign Will (4:13-17)

We must deny sin in these last days (5:1-6)

We must be patient in our suffering as we wait for the 2nd coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ (5:7-12)

And we must find refuge in a health church of Jesus Christ (5:13-20)

What a great book. I trust the Holy Spirit has blessed you through these sermons. And I pray that you would continue to meditate on God’s Word and be both hearers and doers of the Book of James, living out your faith, with true love, in pure religion—as we wait for our eternal home in the age to come.

(C) True Religion is Marked by Life in a Healthy Church that is Gathered around the Name, Gospel, and Power of Jesus Christ.

Amen, let’s pray.