James series – “The Litmus Test for life”

James 5:19-20

My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

After looking at the first product of test taking, results that show the need for remediation second we see:

2. Responsibilities for providing remediation 

In verse 19, James says, “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back” At some point we have all failed these tests. Now what does that mean? It can mean one of two things. Because the original word for “brought back” or as the KJV puts it, convert can have a couple of meanings. It can carry the idea of bringing someone back to the right path they were on to begin with. Or it can carry the idea of completely turning around to a new path. When we fail these tests, it can mean that we’re lost and need redeeming. Or it can mean that we’ve stumbled and need restoring. The point is that when one of us fails a test, the rest of us have a responsibility to provide remediation. Our responsibility is to convert each other, either through restoring or redeeming. When we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the pattern of our life will show it. We will strive, by the grace of God, to pass these tests. There will be times when we will fail and when we do, it is the responsibility of our brothers and sisters in Christ to restore us. As members of the Body of Christ, we should always be in the business of rounding up His strays. But we’re not sheepdogs of the Great Shepherd. We don’t restore each other by biting and barking. We restore each other by remembering that we’re sheep too. And the only power we have to restore each other to the flock is by pointing people to the Good Shepherd. He is the one who restores and gives us the grace to walk humbly with Him. So that we can be empty of self and filled with His Spirit. When we’re saved these tests remind us of how dependent we are on Jesus and the privilege of pointing other people back to the path Jesus wants us to be on. These tests should drive us to come alongside and serve those who are struggling not use them as a stage to show off. But restoring is just one meaning of the word “convert”. The other meaning concerns redemption. You see, there are some here who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. You might have grown up in church and even been baptized, but in your heart, after taking these tests, you know that you are not saved. There is a big difference between straying from the path and never having ever being on the path at all. And consistent, continual test failure with no sign of repentance is a sure sign that you’ve never been on the path at all. Contrary to what some people think, Jesus doesn’t just save you so you can go to heaven. Jesus saves you, so He can be your Lord and Master. And if He’s never been your Lord and Master, He’s probably never been your Savior. And if He’s never been your Savior, you’re not just lost and dying your heading to a Hell. That’s why there is a call to convert. As a church body, we are called to seek out the lost and share Jesus so they can be saved. Collectively the church is called to remediation, to restore the saved who have strayed and redeem sinners who are lost. Are you actively participating in remediation to see people saved and sinners redeemed?