On A Rescue Mission
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Introduction
On January 13th, we began to embark on the journey of studying the letter of James. We have spent almost 2-3 months on the 1st chapter.
We took a break from James going back July to September. In total, we have covered 25 lessons. Today is the 26th lesson on the letter of James.
This is the 26th lesson on the letter of James.
Whether if you’ve been through for every lesson of James, or most or some parts, or you came later on in our study, the most important thing you need to know is the importance of studying the Bible even if it’s just one book. I hope that after going through James, you would have a better idea of what this letter teaches.
There is one person who has been to every single lesson of James, EXCEPT one. (Dillon). (Award Chips/Snacks)
Let’s turn to one last time in 2019, Lord willing. READ.
ILLUSTRATION
Let me begin by asking you a question: do you know someone who’s been reported missing?
When a family member goes missing, it is always an anxious moment. Lately, I have been seeing a lot of news regarding that on FB. Family members can’t do much to find the missing person besides waiting upon the rescue team and the police force to find that person. It is a time of great joy when that person is found, but it is a great sorrow and sadness when that person is found deceased.
Can you imagine being lost in the woods, but no one came looking for you? After many days of being lost, you may start to wonder, “Why is no one looking for me?”
If you are a Christian, then you are a member of God’s rescue mission.
Can you imagine
Let’s turn to one last time in 2019, Lord willing. READ.
EXPOSITION
He begins by saying, “My brothers.” Again, if you remember, James has been using this phrase many times in this letter. Test: What does he mean? Answer: He’s talking to Christians - including brothers and sisters.
This is important because it affects the way you read and interpret the Bible. As I mentioned way back in probably the 1st or 2nd lesson of James, James is talking primarily to Christians. He mentions “brothers”, “my brothers” or “my beloved brothers” in a total of 15 times through this letter. James is primarily to Christians who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
He begins by saying, “My brothers.” Again, if you remember, James has been using this phrase many times in this letter. Test: What does he mean? Answer: He’s talking to Christians - including brothers and sisters.
It does not mean that non-Christians can’t learn anything from this letter. There are good principles for non-Christians to learn and apply in their own daily lives. However, don’t misunderstand in thinking that obeying James’ instructions would earn you access to heaven.
But, since James wrote these instructions for believers, Christians are to obey out of their love and gratitude towards Jesus. He challenges them to demonstrate their faith in Christ by their obedience.
Just like an apple tree, rooted in the ground, is supposed to produce apples, true Christians, rooted in their relationship with Jesus, are supposed to produce fruit of works. Fruit of the Spirit, obedience and love for the Lord are evidence that you are a truly born-again Christian.
This instruction is in a conditional statement: “IF.”
If this happens, then logically, this should consequently happen. In James’ case, if this situation happens, then the Christians are to do something about it.
BIG IDEA: Christians are in on a rescue mission to restore those who wander from the truth.
James’ concluding letter gives a weighty instruction to believers. It is perhaps an instruction that we may not even think of doing. And I got to admit, this teaching is difficult to do and sometimes scary to do.
I have been a Christian for at least 10 years. Over at least those 10 years, I have seen many people who once called themselves Christians turned their backs on God and walk away from the Christian faith. I’m not only talking about those outside of OBC, I’m talking about those who once called OBC their home church.
I knew those people. For some of them, they suddenly left the church. For some of them, they slowly stopped coming. Why did they leave?
For one of them, this person told me that he stops believing in God because of all the suffering that he went through. For this person, it was an intellectual reason.
For another person, this person told me continuously that she’s busy with extracurricular activities on Sunday and she became busy with school. Eventually, this person dated a non-Christian, and that’s sometimes the ticket out of the church.
What does it mean to wander from the truth?
Going back to the text, James tells us in the beginning of the conditional statement: “if anyone among you wanders from the truth...”
Who is this person wandering from the truth?
1. Professing Christians can wander away from the truth:
Who is the
It seems that James is talking about someone who is among the Christians. James does not specifically state if this person is a Christian. It could be anyone who is a part of the Christian community. In verse 20, James refers this person as a sinner. Remember, James is writing to a community of Christians. Within a community, there are definitely Christians, but there are also non-Christians roaming in their midsts.
This person MIGHT be a Christian depending on the outcome of verse 20, which we will talk about later.
In verse 20, James refers this person as a sinner.
What does it mean to “wander?” I’m not talking about wandering where you leave the classroom and wander in the hallway. To wander means “to no longer believe what is true, but to start believing what is false.” It means to “stray.”
Sometimes this wandering is sudden and sometimes it is subtle. People who wander away from the faith is not something new. It’s common throughout the Bible.
You can consider the Old Testament when the Israelites failed to trust God and His promises, and began backsliding and trusted in Egypt and all the satisfying things that Egypt had to offer. You can consider Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. You can consider some of Paul’s companions who left the faith and loved the pleasures of this world.
You can consider the Old Testament when the Israelites failed to trust God and His promises, and began backsliding and trusted in Egypt and all the satisfying things that Egypt had to offer. You can consider Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. You can consider some of Paul’s companions who left the faith and loved the pleasures of this world.
To wander means “to no longer believe what is true, but to start believing what is false.” It means to “stray.”
One of the notable stories that Jesus told about those who wander is the Parable of the Sower.
1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Later on in the text, Jesus explains the meaning behind this parable:
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
Three of the soils represent those who are not truly believers. One of the soils, which is the fourth one, represent those who are truly believers.
Some people do leave the faith. And I’ll say this to you: Some of you in this room may leave the faith. Some of you may represent one of those three soils, but some of you may represent the good soil. Some of you may experience the joy of heaven with Jesus Christ for eternity, but some of you may experience the torment of hell for eternity.
You can consider Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
You can consider some of Paul’s companions who left the faith and loved the pleasures of this world.
: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons...”
In this case, we are told that this person wanders from the truth.
What is this truth that they are wandering from?
We could answer “Jesus” because He said he’s the truth. We could answer “God’s Word” because Jesus said the Bible is the truth. We could answer “the Gospel” because it is the word of truth that saves (Look at ).
Note: a person wandering from the truth may not always wander from the church community. This person could remain in the church, but still wander from the truth. James doesn’t say this person wanders from the church, but it could happen as a result of wandering from the truth.
If this person does not wander from the church, but from the truth, then how does one wander from the truth?
James doesn’t say this person wanders from the church, but it could happen as a result of wandering from the truth.
While answering that question, it is also equally important to answer this question: What is this truth that the professing Christian is wandering from that is serious enough to lead his/her soul to death?
There could be two ways for a professing Christian to wander from the truth:
a. By believing in falsehood.
This has to do with beliefs and the intellect. In other words, this has to do with believing in teachings that contradict the whole Bible.
To what extend does this person need to astray from doctrine that would damn him/her to hell?
The church throughout history has contemplated and wrestled with this question for hundreds of years. Church history teaches us that if you deny these fundamental doctrines, then you are not saved:
The Trinity - God the Father, Son and Spirit
The Gospel - Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus
etc.
b. By living and behaving in falsehood.
Truth is not only about the mind and beliefs, but it is also about our conduct and lifestyle.
14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
You can say you believe in the right things about the Bible, but your life may not be aligned to it. This is exactly James’ teaching throughout this letter. This is why I titled this series: Practical Christianity. Christianity is to be lived out in this world.
James challenges the Christians not only to be a hearer of the word, but also to be a doer of the word. He challenges the Christians not simply to say you have faith and not have works.
So, it is possible that you can believe in false teachings and live a false life while still remaining in the church community. These people are wandering and are lost. Therefore...
2. Christians have the responsibility to restore wanderers back to the truth.
READ: “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.”
What a weighty responsibility we have as Christians to restore wanderers back to the truth. Why should we take this seriously? I think the main reason is because...
a. God Is On A Rescue Mission.
God is on a rescue mission to save His people through Jesus Christ.
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
L
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Another reason is because...
b. Christians Are To Love Others.
We are a church family. In Jesus Christ, we are part of God’s family. The youth group is not a social club.
Now, maybe for some of you, you may not feel like this is a church family. But, my hope and prayer for this youth ministry is that we would treat each other as family, even though we have different personalities and we come from different upbringings.
As a church family, we are commanded by the Lord to love one another. The way we love one another is expressed in many ways in the Bible, such as serving one another. For James, the way we love each other is to go and rescue the professing Christian from wandering away from the truth.
Think about this. Do you love each other enough not to see each other perish and wander away? If someone in this youth group were to walk away, then would one of you contact that person?
If we don’t go and bring back that sinner, then maybe…we don’t love that person. Maybe…we don’t care that person enough. Maybe…we don’t care if that person goes through spiritual death.
May the Lord have mercy on us and expand our love for each other.
3. How To Bring A Sinner Back:
a. Encouragement
b. Warning
a. The Sinners
c. The Gospel
You may recall in the beginning of the lesson that this person MIGHT be a Christian depending on the outcome of verse 20.
You may recall in the beginning of the lesson that this person MIGHT be a Christian depending on the outcome of verse 20.
3. A Genuine Christian Would Respond Positively To The Truth.
If the professing Christian responds positively - repents of his/her sins and turns back to the truth, then this person will be saved from spiritual death (eternal damnation) and will have his sins forgiven (having multitude of sins covered). This person shows that he/she is genuinely a believer because a Christian is teachable and loves the truth.
4. A False Christian Would Respond Negatively To The Truth.
If the professing Christian responds negatively and walks away from the truth and refuses to listen, then we should not treat this person as a genuine Christian.
Can a Christian lose his/her salvation? This question is hotly debated in history, but the answer is No.
Can a Christian lose his/her salvation?
True Christians cannot lose their salvation because it did not belong to them in the first place. Salvation is a gift of God.
True Christians cannot lose their salvation because God does not lose His sheep.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
If the so-called Christian continuously and insistently wanders from the truth, then this person is not a Christian.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Conclusion
If you are a follower of Jesus, then you are a part of God’s rescue mission. The question is “How?” Knowing that this is an important instruction, how are we to proceed this?
a. Encouragement
b. Warning
c. The Gospel
If one of your family member, your most loved one, wanders and gets lost,
5. How To Bring A Sinner Back:
a. Encouragement (Hebrews 3:12-13)
b. Warning (Hebrews 10:26-27)
We are to be brother’s keeper.
c. The Gospel (Romans 1:16-17)
d. Pray (Ephesians 6:18)
e. Make sure that love for God and love for others are the motivations. ()
f. Be gentle and humble, not proud and judgmental
Being confrontational is not fun and comfortable, but those feelings should not invalidate the importance of restoring others back to the truth.
If you know a Christian firsthand who is wandering, then you should be the 1st point of contact.
This is important because it affects the way you read and interpret the Bible. As I mentioned way back in probably the 1st or 2nd lesson of James, James is talking primarily to Christians. He mentions “brothers”, “my brothers” or “my beloved brothers” in a total of 15 times through this letter. James is primarily to Christians who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
It does not mean that non-Christians can’t learn anything from this letter. There are good principles for non-Christians to learn and apply in their own daily lives. However, don’t misunderstand in thinking that obeying James’ instructions would earn you access to heaven.
If you read this letter as a non-Christian, and you try to apply
But, since James wrote these instructions for believers, Christians are to obey out of their love and gratitude towards Jesus. He challenges them to demonstrate their faith in Christ by their obedience.
Just like an apple tree, rooted in the ground, is supposed to produce apples, true Christians, rooted in their relationship with Jesus, are supposed to produce fruit of works. Fruit of the Spirit, obedience and love for the Lord are evidence that you are a truly born-again Christian.
If this happens, then logically, this should consequently happen. In James’ case, if this situation happens, then the Christians are to do something about it.