Being Real about Restoring Wayward Believers

Text:

ETS: James emphasizes the importance of reclaiming wayward believers.

ESS: Christians should attempt to lead wayward believers to repent and return to the truth.

OSS: Christians will commit to reclaiming wayward believers.

PQ: What are we to do with fellow believers who go astray?

UW: truths

Title: “Being Real about Restoring Wayward Believers” or “Getting the Backslider to Slide Back"

James 5:19–20 NLT

19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Introduction:

Have you ever known someone who once served the Lord faithfully that chose a path of rebellion against the Lord? by now or almost as far away from him as they can possibly be? What does the word of God say about this issue?

I- It is possible for a believer to fall into error ().

James 5:19a NLT

19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back,

A- it is possible for a believer to fall into theological error.

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2 Peter 3:17 NLT

17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

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Proverbs 19:27 NLT

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.

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2 Timothy 2:17–19 NLT

17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. 19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

B- It is possible for a believer to fall into practical error.

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1 Timothy 1:19–20 NLT

19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

1- illustration:

The old hymn "come thou fount" was written by Robert Robinson when he was just 23 years old. The 3rd verse contains a phrase, "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." Unfortunately, this phrase was prophetic for Robinson: in his later life, he lapsed into sin. While riding a stagecoach, Robinson heard a woman humming his him. She later engaged him in conversation and actually thought of the human. Overcome with emotion, he said, "Mme. I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that him many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then." Since we are all "prone to wander" we need to hold each other up from the clutches of sin and the unhappiness of backsliding.

C- There is a process that is common in falling into error.

1- Choosing to hang with the wrong crowd.

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1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT

33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

2- Entertaining wayward thoughts too long.

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James 1:15 NLT

15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

3- Making a willful choice to stray from what you know is right.

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Psalm 119:118 NLT

118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.

4- Warping your beliefs to relieve the guilty conscience.

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1 Timothy 4:1–2 NLT

1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

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Titus 1:15 NLT

15 Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.

5- Adopting a changed worldview in which faith is rejected.

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Hebrews 3:12–13 NLT

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

II- It is possible to reclaim a wayward believer ().

James 5:19b–20a NLT

19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

There are several things that must be done in order to reclaim a wayward believer:

A- Pray earnestly for the wayward believer to be reclaimed.

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Philippians 4:6 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

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Ephesians 6:18 NLT

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

B- Personally prepare for possible use by God.

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2 Timothy 2:15 NLT

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

C- Lovingly confront the airing believer, attempting to bring them back to the truth.

illustration:

It is stated that, when the apostle John was once on a tour, visiting the Christian churches of that day, he observed a youth of a remarkably interesting countenance. He warmly recommended him to the care of a particular pastor. The young man was baptized and for a time lived as a Christian; but gradually was corrupted by bad company. He became idle and intemperate, and at length so dishonest that he became a captain of a band of robbers.

Sometime later, the apostle had occasion to inquire of the pastor concerning the young man. The pastor told him that he was now dead to God and that he inhabited a mountain over against his church. Because of his great concern for the young man, John went to the place where the young man and his partners in crime were known to be and surrendered himself to them. "Bring me to your captain," said the apostle.

The young robber Capt. saw him coming; and, as soon as he recognized the old apostle, he was so struck with shame that he fled. John followed him and cried, "my son why do you run from your father, unarmed and old Western Mark do not be afraid; there is still hope for your salvation. Believe me, Christ has sent me." Hearing this, the young man stood still and trembled, and went bitterly. John prayed and exhorted, and brought them back to the safety of the fellowship of believers. John did not leave until he was assured that he was fully restored to his Christian life.

D- Persistently hold to the truth, calling for repentance until it becomes evident that repentance is not going to occur.

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1 Timothy 4:16 NLT

16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

E- Leave the results to the Lord.

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1 Corinthians 3:6 NLT

6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

III- There are great benefits to reclaiming a wayward believer ().

James 5:20b NLT

20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

A- The reclaimed believer is brought back to the truth.

1- The word here refers to returning back to sound doctrine.

2- The word also refers to returning to walking in obedience to Christ.

B- the reclaimed believer is saved from God's advanced discipline.

1- God sends the word to wake us, tragedy to shake us, and ultimately death to take us.

a- God sends his word to get our attention.

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Hebrews 4:12 NLT

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

b- God sends adversity to shake us into looking up.

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Jonah 1:17–2:10 NLT

17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. 1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. 2 He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! 3 You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. 4 Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ 5 “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. 6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! 7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. 8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. 9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” 10 Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

c- God warns us that he will send death to take us if we fail to repent.

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1 John 5:16 NLT

16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.

C- The reclaimed believer is spared the guilt of continued sin.

1- because he will not be guilty of committing advanced rebellion.

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1 Samuel 15:23 NLT

23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Conclusion: