The Responsibility of our Calling.
“Today’s Church wants to be raptured from responsibility.”
– Leonard Ravenhill
Firstly we need to take responsibility to not wander from the Truth.
James 5:19-20 (NIV) – 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Our calling in the Christian life comes with a responsibility not only to Christ, but also to one another in the family of Faith
There are 59 “One another” statements in Scripture.
Ephesians 4:2 (LB) – 2 Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
We have the responsibility of helping to bring back any fellow believers who have wandered from God’s Truth.
Galatians 6:1-3 (LB) – Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly* should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. 2 Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command. 3 If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.
*Right there Paul is proclaiming a standard required from a proclaiming child of God
Many times the first reaction when we hear someone has fallen is to rush to our phone – “Did you hear”
Sadly we may be better known for our pointing fingers and gossiping rather than for our broken hearts and compassion to help those who wander
In our zeal to win the lost for Christ, we sometimes forget we also have a responsibility – in a sense to “win the saved”
James 5:20 (NIV) – 20 Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Jude: 22-23 (NIV) – 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
The call from God is to repentance.
Isn’t it good to know that we can come back to the Lord and start over again (God of another chance)
James was not talking to someone who sinned and was quick to repent and stay founded and grounded in the Truth. (Like David when confronted he repented)
When James spoke of turning back someone “from the error of his way” He spoke of someone who genuinely repents.
Same word Jesus used with Simon Peter –
Luke 22:32 (LB) – but I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail.[a] So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV) – Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Repentance opens the door of restoration with God.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV) – He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (When is Mercy activated?)
Luke 15:17a (NIV) – When he came to his senses… (He repented of the wrong he did)
God’s attitude to someone who will not repent:
Hebrews 10:38-39 (NIV) – 38”But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
When Christians fall out of the will of God (wander from the Truth) and refuse to repent, God often disciplines them.
Hebrews 12:4-6 (NIV) – 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood*. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addressed you as sons: “My sons, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
*How serious are you to change from a wandering sinful heart?
Keep in mind:
1 Samuel 16:7b (NIV) – …Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
James was clear when we are involved in the Ministry of Reconciliation and Restoration we “cover a multitude of sins” in the process.
King David said:
Psalm 32:1 (NIV) – Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Psalm 103:12 (NIV) – As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
James was saying what Paul said to the Church in Rome.
Romans 15:1 (NIV) – We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
If someone has wandered from the Truth:
Don’t give up on that person
Pray for them regularly – Bind the work of the enemy in that person’s life.
Ask God to open a door to speak to the person
Always keep a loving and humble attitude towards them
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) – But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness
Have you wandered from the Truth? → We are here for you…
