James 5:16,19-20

Introduction

Two Tools
Restoration thru Confession
Recovery through Rescue

Paul’s Example:  Corinth
I Corinthians 5:2 , II Corinthians 2:5

  • Confession is when you go to someone and say: I have got a sin, I’m caught, I need help.
  • Rescue is when you have to go to them and say: You are caught, and you need help. 

Confession and Rescue are absolutely vital to the survival of any congregation

  1. Confession (James 5:16)
  • Confess your sins to each other
  • Confess:  “to ratify, affirm”
  • (Gr) Homologeo: “to speak the same”
  • To Confess:  “you were right,  I did sin, I did hurt you, I was wrong Pray for me.  Forgive me.” (I say the same that you say)

Kinds of Confessions

  • Secret Confession: If you have sinned only to God, you should confess only to God.
  • Private Confession:  If you have sinned against one person, you should confess to that one person.
  • Public Confession:  If you have sinned against or in front of a whole community you should confess in front of the group.

The confession should be as broad, or as widespread as the sin.

  • The Object of Confession is Restoration.  It is to heal the relationship.

Levels of Confessions

Level One

  • If you have sinned against someone, be willing admit the wrong you’ve done to damage the relationship.

Level Two

  • If somebody else thinks you sinned, and you’re not so sure you did – you must go to that person.(Matthew 5:23,24)

A Model of Confession- The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:18-19

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have

  1. sinned against heaven
  2. and before you.
  3. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.
  4. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”
    ​​
  1. It is a sin against God
  2. It is a sin before you (against the other person)
  3. It does not demand the relationship be restored normal
  4. It is doing things to show them that this will not happen again.

Confession:  Only when you sin against someone? No.  Hebrews 3:13)

To whom do you need to confess?

  1. Rescue
  • Whom do we Rescue?  People who have wandered from the truth
  •  It’s when you see a pattern of coldness, indifference toward God, moving away from other believers, from church – Search & Rescue!
  • Search and Rescue is the job of every Christian

Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save him from death.

How to Rescue

  • Be grieved over their wandering.
  • Cover over their offense

Ch 5 v20 “For the one who restores the sinning believer back to God from the error of his way, …covers over countless sins by their demonstration of love!” (TPT)

  • Remember Jesus – the true elder brother (Luke 15)

We have a seeking Lord who loves the one stray sheep, the one lost coin & the lost son.

When you go after a person who has wandered away, you represent the true elder brother. (Jesus) He came and rescued you.That is why you go to rescue them.