A STUDY THROUGH

THE BOOK OF JAMES

Faith - Works =

Faith 🡪 Works =

Faith + Works =

Genuine Faith

NO Faith

FALSE Faith

Search and Rescue

• “It was really cold and stormy.”
• “There was a good show on TV. So I just prayed for you to be okay.”
• “I wanted to be sensitive to your feelings. I thought you might be embarrassed if we came looking.”
• “I wasn’t sure you were really lost.”
• “It would be judgmental to imply that you actually were lost. Besides, it would be arrogant of me to say that I’m not lost. After all, we all have our own paths on the journey.”

James 5:19-20

¹⁹ My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,²⁰ let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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No formal conclusion…Why?

A sense of personal urgency!

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You are on Jesus’ Search and Rescue TEAM!

�YOU are an Everyday Missionary who lives with GenerousRelationship!

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Big Idea: As James finishes his letter, he wants us to recognize the critical role of the community of faith in our spiritual vitality.

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1. We realize anyone of us could wander from the truth.

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• We never presume that all who profess Jesus are saved.

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• We appreciate that God uses us as instruments of His grace in one another’s lives.

James 5:19-20

¹⁹ My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth

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Moral wandering--“double-minded man”

Apathetic or complacent wandering

Theological or doctrinal wandering -- verge of embracing some heresy or denying essential truth.

1. We realize anyone of us could wander from the truth.

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• We never presume that all who profess Jesus are saved.

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James 5:19-20

¹⁹ My brothers, if ANYONE among YOU wanders from the truth and someone brings HIM back,²⁰ let him know that whoever brings back a SINNER from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.

Philippians 1:6

 ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.
• We must persevere in Faith if we are to be finally saved.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.�

Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.
• We must persevere in Faith if we are to be finally saved.
• The WORKS that come from FAITH are necessary for Salvation!

1 John 2:3-6

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.
• We must persevere in Faith if we are to be finally saved.
• The WORKS that come from FAITH are necessary for Salvation!
• Those whom God has justified will be kept by God for Salvation.

Romans 8:28-32

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.
• We must persevere in Faith if we are to be finally saved.
• The WORKS that come from FAITH are necessary for Salvation!
• Those whom God has justified will be kept by God for Salvation.
• God produces the faith and the obedience and perseverance we need to endure to the end and be saved.

1 Peter 5:8-10

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

�

Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.
• We must persevere in Faith if we are to be finally saved.
• The WORKS that come from FAITH are necessary for Salvation!
• Those whom God has justified will be kept by God for Salvation.
• God produces the faith and the obedience and perseverance we need to endure to the end and be saved.
• Falling away from FAITH and WORKS shows that we never belonged to Christ.

1 John 2:19

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us”�

Perseverance of the Saints/“once saved, always saved”

• Our security is in God.
• We must persevere in Faith if we are to be finally saved.
• The WORKS that come from FAITH are necessary for Salvation!
• Those whom God has justified will be kept by God for Salvation.
• God produces the faith and the obedience and perseverance we need to endure to the end and be saved.
• Falling away from FAITH and WORKS shows that we never belonged to Christ.
• God uses means to keep us secure. You are on Jesus’ Search and Rescue TEAM!

Hebrews 3:12-14

¹² Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. ¹³ But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 

James 5:19-20

¹⁹ My brothers, if ANYONE among YOU wanders from the truth and someone brings HIM back,²⁰ let him know that whoever brings back a SINNER from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

�

1. We realize anyone of us could wander from the truth.

​

• We never presume that all who profess Jesus are saved.

​

• We appreciate that God uses us as instruments of His grace in one another’s lives.

James 5:19-20

¹⁹ My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,²⁰ let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

�

What are the Results of Persevering together?

• First, you will be instrumental in saving his/her soul from death. 

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“death” James 1:15 “when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

unchecked sin ends in spiritual separation from God.

“save” in James 1:21; 2:14; 4:12 =spiritual salvation.

“save” in James 5:15 = physical healing.

What are the Results of Persevering together?

• First, you will be instrumental in saving his/her soul from death. 

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• Second, you will have been used of God in covering a multitude of sins. 

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Proverbs 10:12 “but love covers all offenses.”

1 Peter 4:8 “love covers a multitude of sins”

NOT broadcasting sins of others but forgiving one another.�

Perseverance is a Community Project

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Theology 🡪 Tone. 🡪 Timing.

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Prayer 🡪 Asking Questions. 🡪 Avoiding Judgement 🡪 Sharing Love.

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What prevents us from Persevering together?

• Attraction of so much other stuff.
• Fear of being known.
• Bad past experiences with church people, small groups (Fear of being gossiped about or judged).
• Hard to find people/groups with whom we connect.
• Difficult to find people who encourage and inspire us.
• Fear of others discovering how much growth is still possible (lack of desire to be challenged for deeper faith).

What should motivate us to persevere together more regularly?

• Acknowledging Ongoing Spiritual Transformation is the most important thing in life.
• Understanding the way God designed us to experience Spiritual Transformation is through persevering together.
• Accepting where I am spiritually because God does.
• Recognizing even those who appear to be ahead, may not be, and even if they are, we all have room to grow.
• Appreciating that no matter where I am in my journey, God wants to use me to encourage others.
• Being convinced there is no greater joy in life than to be growing in our understanding and experience of, and ability to express the infinite love of God.

What’s my response to persevere together:

• Do you know of a brother/sister wandering, who needs help?
• What might my response be:
• Ignore it or rationalize doing nothing?
• Avoid confrontation because it makes them/me uncomfortable?
• Do my shortcomings prevent me from talking to another believer about their sin?
• With humility and tenderness and genuine heart-felt love PRAY/WATCH/STEP and try to turn them around.

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What’s my response to persevere together:

• Do you know of a brother/sister wandering, who needs help?
• Am I satisfied with what I am doing to draw near to God; and I need help?
• Re-read James everyday this week. Ask God to draw you near by revealing Himself (FOLLOW Jesus)
• We can gladly commit to building stronger relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ for our spiritual benefit and theirs (BUILD Community).
• If in a Life Group, read and prepare Life Group questions before Life Group. If not in a Life Group, pray to engage one this FALL.

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Is my life any different from what it was like before we started this series of studies?