32. Sin in the Assembly

James 5:14‑15 • 2 min. read • grade level: 10

“J. N.” Grange, Co. Antrim, wishes to know the meaning of James 5:14-15¹⁴Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: ¹⁵And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:14‑15). In this passage the assembly is viewed according to the divine idea, as furnished with divinely appointed elders, for whom the sick man can send in his moment of need and pressure. It is evident that the sickness is in connection with God’s governmental dealings. “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” God in government visits sin with His chastening hand, as in 1 Corinthians 11:30³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30); and in answer to the believing prayer of those who are in communion with His mind in the matter, He removes the chastening, and grants restoration. If it be asked, “How far does this passage apply now?” We reply, in proportion as you exhibit the divine conditions may you count upon the divine results; and, in every case, the rule is, “According to your faith, so be it unto you.” Nothing can be more contemptible than human assumption and pretension, where there is not an atom of divine power or divine principle.

The above reply bears in some measure upon the question of our Maidstone correspondent “M. T.” as to 1 John 5:16¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16). A brother may commit a sin of such a character as to preclude all thought of praying for it—a sin which, instead of calling for intercession and prayer for his restoration, evokes only righteous indignation from all who have the Spirit of God in them. There are sins which God visits with death, and there are sins which He visits with illness, and in reference to which He hears the prayer of faith. If we are walking in the energy of the new nature, we shall understand these things.