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.

When we engage in remediation James reminds us of the

3. Rewards for giving remediation

James reminds us of the serious of our calling. Sadly, we don’t see the seriousness of our calling, we have reduced church to something that’s here just to meet our needs. But church isn’t a place to just go and hang out. It isn’t just a place to go and get your batteries recharged. Or where your toes get stepped on. It is a place where life and death hang in the balance. It is a place where the Word of God is preached in order to see people saved and to motivate saved people to serve so that they share Jesus with a dying world. Either eternal life in the glorious presence of God, or eternal condemnation, forever separated from God in suffering. Its serious business, business with eternal consequences. And that is the business we’re about, as a church we are called to convert sinners from the error of their ways. Is that you this morning? The simple answer is yes, it is. 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” All—that’s you, that’s me, that’s all of us. If you’ve been honest with yourself these past few months, that’s what all these tests have shown you. They’ve shown you how far you fall short of the glory of God. The question is what have you done with that sin? Have you ignored it? Have you made excuses for it? Have you tried to hide it? Have you justified it by comparing it to the sin of your neighbor?  If so it’s time to face your sin. If the results of these tests have shown you that you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior today is the day to cry out to Jesus and ask Him to save you from your sin. But what if you know that Jesus has saved you? What have you done with your sin? Just because you’re saved doesn’t mean that you will no longer sin. It just means that you will hate the presence of sin in your life. You will hate the fact that you fail these tests, 

and what will that hatred cause you to do? It will cause you to seek the other kind of conversion James talks about. The kind that hides a multitude of sins. The kind that John talks about in 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior this morning, confess your failed tests to Him. Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. Confess your sins and shortcomings to Jesus and He will forgive you. Satan wants to see you wallowing in defeat and despair don’t let Him. Confess your sins and claim Christ’s victory.