We come to the end of James and might find this a strange way to end a letter. After all, Paul often ends his letters with a blessing or benediction. But James does not end with a blessing. Instead, he ends with a practical word of restoration.
(A) Restoration means helping family members in practical godliness (Jas 5:19a)
James ends the letter by invoking a particular relationship. He calls them “my brothers” (Jas 5:19a). Throughout the book, James has been using this relationship as a basis for making his appeal. We see this relationship in James 1:1-2, 2:1-2, 14-15, 3:1, 4:11, 5:7, 12, 14. In these verses, James speaks of different topics and James is speaking about how these people are living together. They are not just individuals who do not know each other in some way. Hence, when they suffer, he talks about their corporate suffering. Their faith is also not only a matter of talk, but they also lived it out.
This is James’ way of corralling and speaking to people that regularly gather together.
How did these men and women become James’ brothers? They are family now because of James’ actual brother, Jesus. James was once an unbelieving brother of Jesus (c.f. Jn 8). But by James 1:1, he introduces himself as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”. It is a profound transformation and change that Jesus’ childhood playmate and brother now calls Him “Lord”.
At the end of James now, James is speaking to all those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. And there are some expectations and obligations that come with this relationship.
If we are not in Christ, we are not brothers. But if we are, our relationship is very different. If we are in Christ, we are not strangers to each other. Even when we travel to a different country and find ourselves in a Bible-preaching and believing church with those who are also in Christ.
(B) Restoration is necessary because we can wander away (Jas 5:19b-20)
James speaks of a wanderer, who is walking away and distracted (Jas 5:19-20). He is not lost to the community and is still connected to the people, yet James is speaking about his relationship to the truth. This person could be right there in the church but has wandered from the truth and no longer holds to the truth.
Are we still growing, walking in the truth or have we moved on?
The Christian life is not that complicated but it is critical what we do with these few things. We can learn many things and do many things but those are not the things that make us Christians. What matters is what we believe about the truth. (c.f. Jas 1:18) Earlier, James spoke of “the word of truth” — the essence and message of the Bible. It is the gospel that is declared. When we could not save ourselves, God sent into the world His only Son who lived, died, was buried and raised. Now, all who believe in Him are forgiven and reconciled to Him.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul speaks of the various ways that the Corinthians relate to the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-2). A summary of the gospel is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. We read of the agent, substance and necessity of the good news.
What does it mean to wander from this truth? Do you still believe in the sufficiency of His death? Or the hope of resurrection? Do you no longer trust His Scripture?
There are many ways that a Christian can wander from the truth. And some of us know this first hand, as we know of people that have done so.
Friends, it is possible to wander from the truth, especially when we take our eyes off Jesus and minimise our sin. It is so easy when we are less glad in His salvation and the gospel becomes something we used to get excited about but not anymore. If we following anything that is trending that is not Jesus and His cross, let us be careful and heed James’ warning here.
(C) Restoration means we pursue the sinner, bring them back and deal with their sin and spiritual death (jas 5:19-20)
In James 5:19, note that James does not say, “If someone wanders, someone, bring him back”. Rather, James assumes that someone will bring back the wanderer and James has a message for the one who brings the brother back. James is interested in a family culture where a brother wanders and those around brings him back.
James desires a culture where people embrace discipline and seek to bring back the lost. This is practical godliness in a community.
This is a rebuke to those of us that think that Christian life is only a series of instructions from God. We think it is like a turn-by-turn set of instructions from earth to heaven. We think that the Christian life is a series of good decisions made by us in obedience to please God.
But, notice how James is more interested in a people that are invested in relationships that when we stray, someone finds us. It is a people that understand their family obligations.
And we are often not interested in this at all. We may not care about the kind of people that God wants and the church. Friends, God has been interested in a people from Genesis to Revelation, not just us as individuals. God has consistently been interested in gathering a people that also go out to others. And they are to live in such a way that His glory, mercy, faithfulness will be displayed to the nations.
This is the same Jesus who said that He leaves behind the 99 to pursue the 1. By our living and community life, we bear witness to the truth of this statement.
What does the world see when people gather in worship? Do they see that these people have been brought together by supernatural love? Or is it worldly, natural means?
If your brother or sister was wandering from the truth, what would you do? What price would you pay? What risk would you take? What would you be willing to give up or take on to pursue them?
If you disappeared, who would come after you? Who would be at your door and why would they be there?
This individual is not just dealing with philosophy and ideas (Jas 5:20) or accuracy or theological proficiency. For James, the truth is not just about being correct. It is a matter of being saved and alive. If we do not have the truth, we will go towards a multitude of sins and death. This is what we are rescuing a sister or snatching a brother from when they wander.
The mind, heart and will are interconnected. What we believe is what we value; what we value is what we want; what we want, is what we do. Bringing people back to the truth of the gospel is not just about telling them what they already know, but it is telling them why it is good, better or the best and it is the only thing that can make us happy. This is the kind of work that we are called to. We are to help one another get back to loving Jesus. This keeps us from sin and death.
Is this what you do for your brother? Who would do that for you?
Perhaps that old gospel story looks a bit less bright and glorious in recent years. Why do you feel this way? Why is there this distance? Is there something else in your heart that you now want? Friends, turn back to the Lord.
And James ends on this note.
In doing so, James reminds us how central and necessary the work of restoration is in Christian community. This work is ongoing and we are never at that point that we can say that we do not need it. None of us can say that we do not need the work of restoration. All of us are capable of hypocrisy and double life that is worthy of the death of the Son of God.
This is good news and we need each other to keep going to one another. If you find yourself moving a little off base, come back to Him. There is life and health and peace with Him. In contrast, there is a multitude of sins away from Him, and even further out, death.
What kind of community do you have? What is the spiritual state of your heart? What is your relationship with the glorious truth of Christ?
Where are you in your walk with God?