Today’s sermon audio can be found on Castbox at 160 “If Any among You Wanders” James 5:19-20.

Our primary text for May 3 was James 5:19-20. For our first reading we read Galatians 6:1-5. We read the passage from Galatians because Paul addresses restoration there just as James does in 5:19-20.

We began with a review of the Doctrine of Perseverance because some folks use this paragraph to argue against Perseverance. However, James neither confirms nor denies Perseverance in 5:19-20. Then we looked at two questions: 1. How can we identify the wanderers? 2. How do we bring back the wanders? We concluded our series on James by looking back at some of the paragraphs that could help us to bring back a sinner from his wandering.

Perseverance

We used the Second London Confession, Chapter 17, as a reasonable definition of what we mean by Perseverance. Below I have included Chapter 17 of the Second London Confession. To see the same chapter with “proof texts” in context see, for instance, Second London Confession, Chapter 17 or here.

We discussed this doctrine because some folks use James 5:19-20 to deny it. But James neither confirms or denies either position in these two verses. We noted that our membership application requires agreement with the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. We discussed three terms used as near synonyms for this concept: eternal security, perseverance, and preservation. We read from John 6:35-40 and John 10:28-29 but we could have looked at many more passages. Jesus is emphatic: “whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (from John 6:37) and “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (from John 10:29).

How can we identify the wanderers?

First, we ought to note that James must expect his readers to be able to determine that someone has wandered from the truth. Otherwise, why would he discuss it. That does not mean that his readers could infallibly determine who had wandered. But sometimes it must have been possible. We can see a few characteristics of these wanderers in James 5:19-20.

The wanderers were or had been among them. Maybe they were members or adherents. But there was some kind of proximity to the readers.

The wanderers had wandered from the truth. They had veered from the standard (the truth). James uses this word three times in his letter. In James 1:18 the truth means the Gospel or perhaps the Law and the Gospel. In James 3:14 the truth means behavior consistent with the Gospel. So here in 5:19 James probably means that the wanderers had deviated from sound doctrine and/or sound behavior. We have to admit that true believers can also deviate from sound doctrine and/or sound behavior. But here James probably has in mind serious, ongoing sin that the wanderers will not repent of.

The verb translated in the ESV as brings back suggests “turning back” or “returning”. So James is writing about people who had been unrepentant but had then been brought back. They would be brought back to faith and repentance. Note that since we hold to perseverance we think this is the first time these people have truly believed and repented. As we often discuss, these folks would believe in the old Protestant sense of Knowledge, Agreement, and Trust (KAT).

How do we bring back the wanderers?

We considered both how James might answer this question (based on James 5:20) and how Paul might answer it (based on Galatians 6:1).

James 5:20 contains two phrases that are much debated as to meaning. The phrase will save his soul from death and the phrase will cover a multitude of sins are sometimes associated with the restorer rather than the wanderer. This doesn’t make sense of the sentence to me. What we see from these two phrases is that the wanderer is in need of salvation. So logically we infer that bringing back the wanderers involves proclaiming the Law and the Gospel.

Paul, in Galatians 6:1 gives us other insights into this endeavor. He writes that you who are spiritual should restore the transgressor. The adjective spiritual indicates one who is spiritually mature, walking in the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit. Paul is not saying the restorer has to be perfect. Paul also writes that we must restore him in a spirit of gentleness. We’ve got to exhibit humility, kindness, gentleness. And Paul warns us to Keep watch on ourselves, lest we too be tempted.

Note that God ultimately saves anyone who is saved. But God uses means. He uses even us. He puts us into the causal chain of causes. In a way the letter from James ends on a very Gospel-oriented note.

Let steadfastness have its full effect

We concluded our series on James by reviewing five passages that all can certainly help us to be more mature. Or to put it in the words of James, to help us let steadfastness have its full effect (James 1:4). We again briefly looked at the following five paragraphs from this letter:

  1. 1:1-4 Let steadfastness have its full effect (v4)
    The “trials of various kinds” in v2 give us opportunities to grow. The “testing of your faith produces steadfastness” in v3 is about true faith which includes (and only includes) Knowledge, Agreement, and Trust, KAT. We need to “let steadfastness have its full effect” (v4). This growth in “steadfastness” is available only to true believers.

  2. 1:16-18 Of His own will He [God the Father] brought us forth by the word of truth (v18)
    In 1:18 James tells us how we are born again so that we can become true believers by faith. We are regenerated (born again) or as James puts it “brought forth by the word of truth”. We hear the Law and the Gospel proclaimed. The Holy Spirit regenerates us. This beginning point is essential to growing in grace.

  3. 1:21-25 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only (v22)
    We need to “receive this implanted word with meekness” (v21). We also need to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (22). So the Word of God is also essential to growing in grace.

  4. 4:1-10 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (v6)
    In James 4:6 James gives us the spiritual posture needed for receiving divine favor. We define grace as unmerited favor shown to us by God. Some would use the word demerited instead because not only do we not earn this favor but we actively sin against God to demerit it. Surely, we need this posture of humility to grow in grace.

  5. 5:13-28 The prayer of a righteous person has great power (v16)
    Last week we looked at the powerful prayers of the righteous. Fortunately we are righteous by God’s grace because of the imputed righteousness of Christ who died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, was buried, was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and appeared to many. Certainly there are many other statements in Scripture about prayer that we should take very seriously. Prayer is essential to growing in grace and in bringing the wanderer back.

James invites us to let steadfastness have its full effect in our own lives. Growing in grace will enable us to faithfully attempt to bring the wanderers home.

Sermon Outline

"If Any among You Wanders" James 5:19-20

  1. Perseverance
  2. Wanders from the Truth (5:19)
  3. Save His Soul from Death (5:20)
  4. Let Steadfastness Have Its Full Effect

Scripture References: Galatians 6:1-5; James 5:19-20; John 6:35-40; John 10:28-29; James 1:16-18; James 3:13-18; James 1:2-4; James 1:21-25; James 4:1-10; James 5:13-18;

Second London Confession (1677/1689)

Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints

Section 1: Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which source he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them, yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.

Section 2: This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ and union with him, the oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.

Section 3: And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God’s displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.