James 5-19 Strait and Narrow

Wandering from the Strait and Narrow

James 5:19-20

We have been to the mountain with Jesus and sat at his feet listening to him teach us the principles of kingdom living. Toward the end of his Sermon on the Mount he left us with warnings. He warned us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a narrow gate and a narrow road, and there are few who can enter that gate and walk that road. The narrow road is the road of Jesus and the destination is eternal life. The broad gate and road is the way of the world and its destination is death and destruction. We enter the narrow gate through the gospel of salvation by God’s grace and our faith, alone. And we have been warned to stay on the narrow road where Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We cannot reach our destination of eternal life without Jesus. Jesus is the only way

Out text for today is the final text in the Epistle (Letter) of James. James has admonished us to be people of faith and truth, to be people who are obedient to God, and loving to others. James has encouraged us to be people who accept the truth that kingdom teaching, requires kingdom living, which requires kingdom loving. James would agree that kingdom living is walking the narrow road of faith, truth, and love.

But what happens when fellow travelers on the narrow road of Christian living wander off of the road? This is our text for today and the final text in the Epistle of James. James 5:19-20

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

What James called wandering from the truth, Jesus would call wandering off of the narrow road.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the road to eternal life. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

As the way, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. If we put our trust in the person and work of Jesus, we have entered the narrow gate to salvation and eternal life. Jesus is the way.

As the truth, Jesus is God in human flesh. As truth, Jesus is all that is true about God. Spiritual truth is discovered in personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. No one can come to God except through Jesus, who is the truth.

As the life, Jesus is the source of all spiritual life. To have Jesus is to have eternal and abundant life. And, we are awaiting the return of Jesus to experience this eternal life in all of its fullness.

To wander from the truth is to wander from Jesus as the way, the truth, and the source of spiritual life. All wandering from the truth involves wandering from Jesus. I want to look at wandering from the truth in terms of three temptations or “wanderings” that draw people off of the narrow road of salvation and life in Jesus.

Wandering 1 - There is more than one way to be saved. All religions have equal value and will ultimately lead to God. – The truth is that Jesus is the way and no one can come into a relationship with God except through Jesus. God’s message that salvation is through Christ alone is seen by our culture as a message of narrow mindedness and exclusion. I believe that our message of salvation in Christ alone is narrow minded. We are the people of the narrow road and on this matter we are narrow minded.

Wandering 2 -There is no absolute truth. There is only what is true for you and what is true for me. All truth is relative. - The vast majority of Americans believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. And many Christians, especially the young, would agree. Relativism, the abandonment of absolute truth, is an accepted part of our cultural worldview. But, our church and many churches around the world are taking a stand against relativism because we believe that absolute truth is found in the Bible and in our personal relationship with Jesus, who is the truth. God’s word is inspired (breathed out by God) and it is completely dependable for our knowledge of God, salvation, and holy living. I firmly believe that the Bible contains the absolute truth of God.

However, here is my caution. What we humans say and think about the truth of the Bible is not the absolute truth. In fact, I believe that absolute truth is like sinless perfection. They are to be pursued diligently and approached more closely on a daily basis. But we will not arrive at absolute truth or sinless perfection this side of heaven. The truth of God is a pursuit. We are to grow in grace and knowledge of God and the things of God.

Here is what I know. Absolute truth is available to us. Jesus is the truth. The Bible is the truth. Truth is available to every believer through the Holy Spirit who guides us into more truth. Truth is a humble pursuit empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Wandering 3 - The real source of life is derived from life’s pleasures. There are no absolute standards of morality. So, just do whatever feels good to you, because life is short. – The Bible, which is the source of truth, tells us that to have Jesus, the Son of God is to have eternal and abundant life. It also teaches that whoever does not have the Son of God does not have eternal and abundant life.

When we believe life is short we live for today. When we believe that eternal life is found in Jesus, we live of Him and then he gives us in return a life of love, joy, peace, etc. To wander from the narrow road of truth is a move away from Jesus who is the source of spiritual, eternal, and abundant life. Wandering can bring death.

Not only must we be warned against wandering from the truth, we must realize that we have responsibility to others who are wandering from the truth. James 5:19-20

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Believers can wander from the truth. But, believers can help those who are wandering from the truth to come back from the error of their way. Turning wanderers back to the truth will save them from death and bring them forgiveness for all of their sins.

Pray for the wanderer. Helping someone return from their wandering away from the truth is done in the context of prayer. We need to pray about anyone we know who is wandering in our church, family, and friends. Then we need to take action to bring that person back from their wandering. The motivating factor to take action to return people back from their wandering, is that the wanderer is facing death and destruction. Our love for others requires that we take action to return wandering believers back to the narrow road. The first step is prayer.

Lovingly and gently confront the wanderer. Many times the person has spoken to you about their hurt, problems, sin, and wandering. You need to listen carefully. Then ask them why they think they are experiencing this wandering. Often it involves lies about themselves, others, or God.

Speak the truth in love to the wanderer. This truth is about Jesus. The truth to the wanderer has two parts. First, the consequences of wandering are death and destruction. The dying and destruction is a slow process of being separated from Jesus the source of life. This separation from Jesus brings sin, depression, hurt, anger, and a feeling of hopelessness. Second, the return to Jesus brings life, joy, peace, and hope in this life and the life to come. The return to the road of truth is motivated by the fact that Jesus loves them and wants them to return.

Walk with the wanderer back to Jesus. Let the wanderer know that they are not alone in their return to Jesus. Tell them you will walk with them each step of the way.

This process of bringing a wanderer back is a process of getting them headed back in the right direction. Helping wanderers to return is the responsibility of every believer and not just pastors. It is the responsibility of believers to see who is wandering in the church. Often it is someone who confides in you or a friend or family member you know well.

We are not held responsible for the spiritual wandering of others. We are not even held responsible for bringing them back to the narrow road of Jesus, who is the way the truth and the life. But we are responsible to identify, confront, love, and speak truth to the wanderer. But, the ultimate choices and decisions will be theirs.

There is truth to be lived and death to be avoided. We have responsibility for each other to stay on the straight and narrow.

Wanderers need the help of those who will love them enough to rescue them from death and sin. God is calling us to be that quality of church.