Our scripture reading for this evening, brothers and sisters, is found in the New Testament book of James, the fifth chapter, James, chapter five. It's found near the end of the Bible, right after the book of Hebrews, before the epistles of Peter. And in the pew Bible, it is found, I believe, on page one one nine nine, page one thousand one hundred and ninety nine. We have been considering together, as you may be well aware, a series of messages on the character of Christ, looking specifically at several one another exhortations as set forth in the New Testament. Thus far, we have considered together the biblical exhortations to be devoted to one another, to be found honoring one another, encouraging one another, serving one another, accepting one another. And last Lord's Day, we considered praying for one another. We hope next Lord's Day morning to conclude this series by looking at the exhortation to be found forgiving one another, indeed, in prior preparation for our celebration of the Lord's Supper next Lord's Day evening. But tonight we go to God's word concerning the exhortation to be found confessing our sins to one another, confessing our sins to one another. We looked at the same verses last Lord's Day concerning the exhortation to prayer. We focus in very specifically tonight on James 5, verse 16, as that will constitute our text for this evening. But once again, we will begin our Scripture reading, penned under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by the brother of our Lord, the Apostle James, the leader in the church of Jerusalem, as recorded for us in James 5, verses 13 through 20. James 5, beginning in verse 13, hear then the word of the Lord. Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other. and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth, And someone should bring him back. Remember this. Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word, and as always, brothers and sisters, I ask and urge you to keep your Bibles open and handy as you look to God's word together at the close of this Lord's Day. your congregation of Jesus Christ. Confession is good for the soul. Confession is good for the soul. Have you ever heard that expression before? I have. In fact, I suppose that very probably so had a few of the friends of the Old Testament patriarch named Job, for example. Turn with me, if you would, in the Old Testament to the book of Job, the 22nd chapter, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Job, chapter 22, beginning in verse three. Here we find that in response to Job's persistent claims of innocence, his friend Eliphaz, the Temanite, replied, Job 22, verse three, What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you? Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless? Elipaz wanted Job to confess. He said, consider your suffering. Surely there must be some unconfessed sin in your life. And yet, as Job 23, the first few verses, for example, go on to teach us, Job goes on to maintain his innocence of being deserving of such severe suffering. Indeed, in the first few verses of Job 23, Job replies, even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find Him. That is God. If only I could go to His dwelling. I would state my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me and consider what he would say. Would he oppose me with great power? No, he would not press charges against me. There an upright man could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. Well, dear friends, as the rest of this very riveting book goes on to teach us, even though Job was never told why he was suffering, And even though his suffering was not, in fact, a direct cause or result of some unconfessed sin. And even though Job was never told that the reason for his suffering was, in fact, a test of his faith. And a vindication of the fact that our God alone is worthy of worship in contradistinction to the vile and vindictive accusations of Satan. Still in all, let us not presume to believe that Job was sinless. Let us not presume to believe that Job was sinless, because he was not. And you and I are not. In fact, for example, in Psalm 51, verse 5, the sacred psalmist David declares, Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Again, in Ecclesiastes 7, verse 20, King David's son, King Solomon, declares, There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. And friends, again, these words are true for you, and they are true for me, and they are true for every man, woman, and child who ever lived, except for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, turn to Hebrews 4 with me just for a moment, if you would, please. It's right before the book of James, where we read our Scripture reading a moment ago. Hebrews 4. Look at verses 14 and 15 with me, if you would. Hebrews 4, verses 14 and 15. Here we read, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are noticed, yet was without sin. Turn over a page or two further also to 1 Peter 2. Just go on the other side of the book of James with me, please. 1 Peter 2. And in 1 Peter 2, drop down to verses 21 through 23. 1 Peter 2, beginning in verse 21. The Apostle Peter proclaims, To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. And then finally, on this score, don't lose your place in James, but take your psalters for a moment with me, if you would, and turn to page 21 in the back of our psalters, page 21 in the back of our psalters, Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 35, commenting on the petitions or the the articles, I should say, of the Apostles Creed, which we professed together a few moments ago. Page 21, question answer 35. Let's read this responsibly. The question asks, what does it mean that he that is Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary? And that answer together is that the eternal son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself through the working of the Holy Spirit from the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary a truly human nature, so that he might become David's true descendant in all things like us, his brothers, except for sin." Thank you. Except for sin. Now, friends, when we bring this biblical and confessional information to bear on the words of our text for this evening, as recorded for us in James chapter 5, verse 16, We find ourselves being challenged by the fact that even though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ alone was perfectly sinless, and even though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ alone never needed to confess even a single sin to anyone, still and all the Bible says that all those who by God's grace profess faith in His holy name are indeed called and commanded by God to confess our sins to Him and also to one another. also to one another, thereby being more completely conformed after the character of Christ." Now, friends, think about that. Think about that. How could that possibly be? Considering the fact that we are sinners from birth and Jesus Christ alone is perfectly sinless, how could it be that by confessing our sins not only to God, but also to one another, we become more completely conformed after His character? As we look at our text and some related passages together this evening, we're going to find that this glorious transformation of our character occurs, and we grow in love for God, and union with God, and love for one another, and union with one another, when by His grace we follow a very simple two-step formula. Step number one, our text teaches us toward being more completely conformed to the character of Christ by confessing our sins to one another. is that, first of all, we must carry out this specific precept. We must carry out this specific precept. For example, look at verse 16 of James 5 with me, if you would please. The Apostle James declares, therefore, in other words, therefore, because of the power of prayer that we looked at together last Lord's Day, therefore, in view of everything that had just been said, confess your sins to each other, or your translation may say to one another, and pray for each other. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other." Now, first of all, let us notice the very direct and close connection between the confession of sin and power in prayer. The close connection between confession of sin and power in prayer. For example, turn back to the book of Psalms with me, if you would, just for a moment. Psalm 66. Job's Psalms Proverbs. Psalm 66. In Psalm 66, verses 18 and 19, the sacred psalmist declares, Psalm 66, 18 and 19, he says, If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Think about that. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Turn over similarly to the book of Isaiah. Just a little further to the right in the Old Testament, the book of Isaiah, the first chapter. Isaiah 1, verse 15. Isaiah 1, verse 15. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. Isaiah 1, verse 15. God is speaking to His people. And He says, when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. We might ask why? And His answer is given. Your hands are full of blood. It was sin which kept God from hearing and answering the prayers of His people. And finally on this score, we're going to bring this right home to where we live. Let's go to 1 Peter 3. It's right past James again. 1 Peter 3. 1 Peter 3, verse 7. Peter brings it right home to our family relationships. He brings it right home to where we live. He brings it right into our marriage relationships. Peter was a married apostle. In fact, Jesus healed his mother-in-law when she was very sick. The book of Mark tells us. But here in 1 Peter 3, verse 7, Peter gives this exhortation. Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner. And as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life..." Why? "...so that nothing will hinder your prayers." So that nothing will hinder your prayers. Gentlemen, the first thing I try to do by the grace of God is if I feel my prayers are not being heard and answered by our living God, I honestly look, and I don't even tell Margaret about this. She's here tonight. She's going to hear this. But I look at my own heart and life. And I say, am I being considerate with my wife? And am I being respectful toward my wife? Because if I am not being, God says he will not hear my prayers. And so, gentlemen, you and I need to do that sort of introspection, soul searching, if you will. But all of us need to look at all that we say, think and do and say, is there sin in my life that may very well be preventing God from hearing and answering my prayers? That's why back here, let's go back to James. That's why he says again, very, very succinctly in the words of our text, In fact, look at the second part of verse 16. He says, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. It doesn't simply say the prayer of a man is powerful and effective. It says the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Well, that begs the question, does it not? Who or what is a righteous man? Who or what? What does it mean to be a righteous man or woman, as the case may be? Well, the Bible speaks primarily of two kinds of righteousness. First of all, there is a righteousness or a right standingness which we have before God solely by His grace, solely through faith, solely in the name of Jesus. In fact, turn to Romans 3 with me for just a moment, if you would please. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans. In Romans 3, verses 21 and following, we'll go through about 24 or 25. In Romans 3, beginning in verse 21, the Apostle Paul proclaims, now a righteousness, notice, from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith. It is not by works. We cannot earn our salvation. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified, or declare not guilty in God's heavenly court, are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in His blood. And so, all those who by God's grace, His unmerited favor, Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. No matter what we may have ever been or ever done, we are cleansed by His shed blood. We have an imputed righteousness that is credited to our account. And we stand rightly before God. That's one kind of righteousness. But there's another kind of righteousness of which the Bible speaks. And that concerns a right livingness, if you will, or living rightly before one another. In fact, that is the way the patriarch Job is described. As you know, you don't need to turn to it, but in Job chapter one of verse one, we read of this patriarch. It says in the land of Uz, there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. And so, dear friends, especially if we desire our souls to be saved, and especially if we desire to have power in our prayers, we must be righteous. We must be righteous before God, and we must live rightly before one another. And part of that righteousness, brothers and sisters, our text teaches us, is confessing our sins to one another. Confessing our sins to one another. Indeed, go back to James with me, if you would, please. And if you've got your own Bible, underscore or highlight in some way that word confess. That word confess in verse 16, therefore confess your sins to each other. The term in the original is is exomo logeo. Stay with me. Exomo logeo in the Greek, it literally means to confess or to admit or to acknowledge, confess, admit or acknowledge. But as I was studying the term, I realized it was built upon a simpler and similar root. And stay with me. The root word of that word confesses homo logeo. Homo, as you might have suspected, means the same. Logeo is similar to the Greek word logos, and it means to say or to speak. Confess, homo logeo, literally means to say the same thing as. To say the same thing as God says about my sin. That's what confession is. To say the same thing as God says about my sin. One Reformed commentator consequently writes, and I quote, Though confession to a priest is not required by Scripture, confession to God and to one another is. End of quote. Personally and practically speaking, what does that mean? Does that mean, brothers and sisters, that we ought to all be airing our dirty laundry before each other? Does it mean that that we ought to be spilling our secret recesses of our souls to each other? Ought we to take worship time, for example, to have us stand up one by one and sort of share with each other, confess to one another, if you will, our most personal and pervasive and persistent sins? Is that what the Scriptures are exhorting us to do? Some people believe it is, and that is what some congregations and cultures do. Is that what this is all about? Well, you may be pleased to know The answer is no. The answer is no, that by no means is what this text means. In fact, as we allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, as always, we must. We find that our personal application of this particular precept ought to be governed by two very important principles. I name them the principles of discretion, And delimitation. Discretion. And delimitation in our confession. Boys and girls, young people, discretion means, according to Webster's Dictionary, being discreet. Cautious reserve in speech. The ability to make responsible decisions. Discretion. Delimitation means, and I quote, to fix or define the boundaries of. To fix or define the boundaries of. In other words, not to go wild. To limit. To fix or define the boundaries of. to limit. Now, what that means is that there very well may be an instance, there very well may well be a case where there is a public sin which gives public offense in such a public sin, giving such public offense ought to be confessed publicly among the people of God. That is true. But it also means that when there is private sin, giving only private offense, Such sin ought to only be confessed privately, especially only to the person who has been injured or wronged or offended or harmed or grieved by the sin which you or I committed against them. And indeed, to share other personal private sins with others, sometimes I speak to some of the young men and I commend this, I commend this. They just need to be careful, some of the young men. have what they call accountability partners, spiritual accountability partners, and they bear their souls to each other and they hold each other accountable spiritually. Well, that can be a good thing. But I caution them and I caution us that if we are going to confess our most private personal sins to others beyond those whom we may have personally wronged or offended, that needs to be in a relationship of complete trust and confidence. And we are confessing and confiding such things in such folks Not so that they may gloat or gossip, which of course is a danger when we do that, but simply so that they can pray. Confess your sins to each other and pray for one another, you see. Now, this kind of discretion and delimitation is set forth, for example, in such passages as Matthew 18. Turn there with me, if you would, just for a moment. Matthew 18. First gospel account, Matthew chapter 18. For example, in Matthew 18, verses 15 through 17, our Lord Jesus is speaking and he says, if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if you will not listen, take one or two others along so that the so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. And when I read this passage, I often remind myself that Jesus was a friend of pagans and tax collectors, but that's a message for another time. The point, brothers and sisters, is that Jesus is saying we must keep our sins as private as we can for as long as we can, and only confess as needs be those directly involved. In fact, turn back just a few more pages to the left to Matthew 5. Matthew 5, verses 23 and 24. Matthew 5, verses 23 and 24 also speak to these principles of privacy and confidence, discretion, and delimitation. In Matthew 5, verses 23 and 24, Jesus says, Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. You see, in both of these passages, we're not supposed to be out there talking about it. We're not supposed to be, you know, gossiping or or declaring somebody else's sins or airing our dirty laundry everywhere. We keep our sins as private as we can for as long as we can. In fact, one one commentator, Matthew Henry, comments on the words of our text back in Matthew 516 by saying this. Listen carefully, please. Matthew Henry writes, the confession here required is that of Christians to one another, where persons have injured one another, where persons have tempted one another to sin or have consented in the same evil actions. So far as confession is necessary for our reconciliation with such as are at variance with us or for reparation of wrongs done to any, making our own spirits quiet and easy. So far should we be ready to confess our faults. So far should we be ready to confess our faults. And sometimes, he adds, also it may be of good use to Christians to disclose their particular weaknesses and infirmities to one another. Those who confess their sins to each other should then pray with and for one another." End of quote. You see. And brothers and sisters, is this not precisely what the so-called prodigal son did in the so-called parable of the prodigal son turn over to Luke chapter 15 with me if you would please Matthew Mark Luke chapter 15 in Luke chapter 15 verse 21 the the son is the boys and girls and young people know he demanded his inheritance from his father he went and squandered it on on riotous wild living the Holy Spirit convicted him of his sin he came back to his father and in Luke 15 verse 21 The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, notice, and against you. He confessed his sin to God and he confessed his sin to his father. He said, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. And then, of course, as many of us know, the rest of this account goes on to powerfully portray the glorious gospel good news of the forgiveness of sins, the topic which, Lord willing, we will look at together next Lord's Day morning. Friends, again, Here in the words of our text, we are taught in no uncertain terms that in order for us to be more completely conformed after the character of Christ, we must be confessing our sins to one another. We must be confessing our sins to one another. We must be, if you will, carrying out individually and corporately this specific precept. Now, Step number two, our text teaches us for being more completely conformed after the character of Christ by confessing our sins to one another, is that we must claim this special promise. We must claim this special promise. Look again at James 5, verse 16 with me, if you would please. James declares, therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. Notice, so that you may be healed so that You may be healed. In the original language, it's a very broad term, this healing. This being made whole. It can also be translated to read. It can refer to physical healing, to emotional healing, to mental healing, and to spiritual healing. Any one or all of the above. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. writes one commentator, and I quote, "...confession of sin and praying for one another are vital ingredients of the healing ministry in the Christian community. When sin is removed, the power of prayer becomes evident in its amazing effectiveness." End of quote. And that's true. In fact, consider with me, if you will, for a moment, the example of the life of King David. This man, after God's own heart, The Bible says, for a time, harbored and hid the sins of adultery and murder in his heart. He covered them over, unconfessed. Turn to Psalm 32 with me. That's one place where we read about that ordeal in the life of David and its consequence upon him. Psalm 32. Look with me, if you would, please, at Psalm 32, verses 1-7. Psalm 32, verses 1-7. David writes, Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me. My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then, I acknowledged or confessed my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found. Surely, when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach Him. You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Friends, think of it. Think of it. In fact, notice the direct correlation between David's unconfessed sin and the debility of his body. The direct correlation, the direct relationship between David's unconfessed sin and the debility of his body. That does not mean that all physical suffering is a direct result of unconfessed sin. And I'm going to say that again. That does not mean that all physical suffering is a direct result of unconfessed sin. But let us make no mistake about it. It may be. It may be. It very well may be, you see. In fact, in the Reformation Study Bible, I've read this notation on the words of our text in James 5.16, and I quote, Sin and illness are not unrelated. I'm going to say that again. Sin and illness are not unrelated. Forgiveness is therapeutic to the body as well as to the soul." And again, writes another Reformed commentator, physical ailments often are related to a guilty conscience. Physical ailments often are related to a guilty conscience. Brothers and sisters and young people, listen, that is why David says here in verse 6, Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found. None of us knows when God will give us the grace to seek His face. None of us knows how long He will keep heaven's door open to our cry, if you will, when we pray and we plead for the cleansing of our sins and that gracious gift of faith in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And part of the reason is because none of us knows As our dear brother and sister learned just several days ago, if we're going to be here tomorrow. None of us knows if there'll be another day of opportunity for us to come to Christ, to profess faith in Christ, to confess our sins to Christ as well as to one another. And that's why we rejoice to read David saying, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found. Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place. You will protect me. from trouble. And surround me with songs of deliverance. Friends, bring those biblical, Holy Spirit-inspired thoughts to the words of our text as we close. In James 5, verse 16, one last time, when James says, Therefore, confess your sins to each other. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you, insert your name, so that you, insert your name, may be healed, so that you, may be healed. All glory be to God. You know, several years ago, I read this letter. It was a copy of a letter that was sent by a young missionary to a man by the name of Reverend W.H. Aldiss of England. And this young missionary, writing from the field, said this, and I quote, he said, when I was before the candidates committee, I told a lie. I was so anxious to get to the mission field. And I feared if I answered that question as I ought to have answered it, I would never have gotten there. So I said what was not true. Ever since I arrived in this land where I am seeking to witness for God, that lie has been like a blight upon me. A blight as I try to learn the language, as I commence learning my ministry. And every time I kneel to pray, the Lord puts his finger on that lie which I told. At last, in desperation, I am writing to you as I owe it to you. I must get right." Then he added, from the very moment I determined by God's grace to write this letter, everything changed. God is beginning to use me. And I know that souls are going to be saved. End of quote. Oh, my dear brother, my dear sister in the Lord, I ask you today, is it not true that far too frequently, far too frequently, you and I allow unconfessed sin to serve as a blight on our souls? We allow unconfessed sin to serve as a blight on our souls. We replay old hurts over and over again. We bear resentment. We allow the root of bitterness to grow. We gossip. We slander. We hold grudges. And all the while, like David of old, Such unconfessed sin is debilitating our bodies, our hearts, our minds, and sabotaging the joy of our souls. But dear friends, if that is the case for you and for me, and we truly desire to be set free from such physical and mental and spiritual and emotional suffering tonight, Then by the mercy and grace and spirit and strength of the Lord our God, let us indeed, according to the words of the Apostle James, carry out this specific precept. And let us claim this very special promise. Because then, according to God's own word, individually and corporately, we will be more completely conformed after the character of Christ. Amen. Let's bow our heads and our hearts in prayer together. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Oh, our ever faithful God and Heavenly Father, individually and corporately, O Lord, we pray and we plead for the grace to first of all confess our sins unto Thee, like David of old, granting us the cleansing which is ours solely by Thy grace, solely through faith in the name of Jesus and by His blood shed on Calvary. But also, O God, in full and complete obedience to this biblical exhortation proclaimed by the Apostle James, with Holy Spirit-inspired discretion and Holy Spirit-inspired delimitation, grant us the grace to confess our sins also to one another so that we may be healed. Hear us, Lord, we pray. in the most precious and powerful name that is above all names. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.