Under the Cover of Love

When faced with a fellow Christian who backsliding in their faith, what should we do? Here are two steps to help us bring them under the cover of love.

I. Take the Challenge to Love (19)

A. Your Challenge

He says, "My brethren" This is everyone! You don't have to have a degree in theology or Christian counceling to this.

B. The Subject of Your Challenge

"if" is a something very probable in the future. If it was probable for the believers of James' day than it is a given in our day.

to stray from the truth means to stray away, go astray; be mistaken; be deceived or misled. What are they straying from? The truth, that is word of God. John 17:17. The written word of God is the representation of Jesus who is the Truth. John 14:6. So these Christians have stray not only from the written will of God but from the person of Jesus Himself. Colossians 2:8; 2 Timothy 2:26.

Have you ever seen this happen? When it does happen, how do you feel about it? Does it bother you? Would you like to be able to do something?

C. The Possibility of Your Challenge

"One" That is you. One who is mature in His faith and can recognize the danger that the one who has strayed is in. Romans 15:1; Galatians 6:1. This one will need to make sure that they aren't straying from the truth also, Matthew 7:3-5. What can this one do?

They can turn a straying brother back. The word turn means to turn around 180 degrees. This means that you can facilitate the repentance of another straying Christian.

Staying Christians can repent and restored by God and you can have a part in it happening. don't give up on people without even trying. Take up the challenge!

It will take courage though. To turn someone means that you have to confront them. It means that you will have to dissagree with them. It means that you will have to take a stand for the Lord Jesus. Are you willing?

II. Find the Confidence to Love (20)

Well maybe you need some encouragment or motivation. James gives us 3 certainties that we can count on to give us confidence in this most important ministry of love.

A. Certainty of Hope

"He must know" - This gives us a motivation to intervene in the lives of others. If we do help an erring brother, we know that his life wil not be cut short by the discipline of the Lord.

It is possible! A sinner can be turned and helped to get his life back into a dynamic relationship with Christ.

The sinner here is another brother in Christ.

The focus though is on the one who turns or helps the sinning brother. How does he help?

Galatians 6:1

Matthew 18:15-17

What does he turn him from or help him with? The error of his way. He is headed the wrong way on a one way street and rush hour is just about to begin. He is in an error that is putting he and the people around him in great danger.

What kind of error is he in? James has already listed and confronted a number of sins in this letter:

1. 1:6-8 Being doubtful & double-minded
2. 1:13-17 being deceived about tempta-tion and the nature of God
3. 1:22 being a hearer, but not a doer of God’s word.
4. 2:1-13 showing favoritism in the church
5. 2:14-26 professing to have faith, but showing no good works
6. 3:1-12 having an uncontrolled tongue
7. 3:16 evidencing earthly wisdom
8. 4:1-6 demonstrating friendship with the world
9. 4:11 judging one another
10. 4:13-17 planning without God
11. And 5:1-6 the misuse of riches

B. Certainty of a Longer Life

When you care enough to confront, the result is worth it. You will rescue his physical life from death. Remember the context here of the anointing service. You may not be an elder and therefore not able to adminster an anointing, but you can rescue a sinning brother so that an anointing is not necessary. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

C. Certainty of a Covering

to cover a multitude of sins is to have them forgiven.

1 Peter 4:8

Proverbs 10:12

Let us understand that the only way a sin can be covered is if it is confronted and repented of.

When we lovingly confront our fellow Christians we are giving opportunity for forgiveness and retoration through repentance. One thing we can be sure of is that if a backsliding Christian never sees that what he is doing is wrong, then he is condemed to suffer through the consequences of that sin along with the guilt and shame that come with it. Not to mention the multitude of sins that would likely follow. It is at that point not covered by the mercy of God. If we truly love someone, we cannot stand by and let that happen. Proverbs 27:6

God is faithful and He will cover us from the discipline of sin. It is a certainty. 1 John 1:9

When have you come closest to wandering from the faith? Who helped to bring you back? How would you help someone else return to the truth? If you need some motivation and encouragment, believe these two encouraging promises!

This brings us to the end of our study of James. His emphasis has been spiritual maturity. This would be a good time for us to examine our own hearts to see how mature we really are. Here are a few questions to assist you:

1. Am I becoming more and more patient in the testings of life?

2. Do I play with temptation or resist it from the start?

3. Do I find joy in obeying the Word of God, or do I merely study it and learn it?

4. Are there any prejudices that shackle me?

5. Am I able to control my tongue?

6. Am I a peacemaker rather than a troublemaker? Do people come to me for spiritual wisdom?

7. Am I a friend of God or a friend of the world?

8. Do I make plans without considering the will of God?

9. Am I selfish when it comes to money? Am I unfaithful in the paying of my bills?

10. Do I naturally depend on prayer when I find myself in some kind of trouble?

11. Am I the kind of person others seek for prayer support?

12. What is my attitude toward the wandering brother? Do I criticize and gossip, or do I seek to restore him in love?

Don’t just grow old—grow up!

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (Jas 5:19). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.