Bible Questions and Answers

 

Confess your faults one to another:  This is a difficult piece of advice to follow.  James is telling us to trust one another and to rely on one another.  This is true fellowship.  In revealing our inmost faults and in learning to love one another at that level, we truly enter into the love of the Father for His children.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

 

pray for one another:  true love and fellowship leads naturally to prayer Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

that ye may be healed:  this healing is in the context of revealing faults.  The intent is to be healed from some besetting weakness which is interfering with one’s walk to the Kingdom.  (See 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.) “Healed" in this passage is the same word as in James 5:16.

 

the effectual fervent prayer of a righteus man availeth much:  the RSV renders this phrase: “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.”  James always returns to the word for a powerful example of what he means.  Elijah was a man like us, serving God as best he could but subject to extremes of depression due to the persistence of outside pressures on his faith.  But look at the outcome of his prayer!  Even in his darkest moments, Elijah never stopped praying.  He prayed earnestly, with passion and honesty.  Even when he felt most alone, he was heard by the Father and his needs were met.  Never give up on prayer and never give up praying for each other!

 

Mike