James 5:16-20 - Elijah was a human being, even as we are

5:16

Our natural inclination is to hide our sins. Why is James so free with the idea that we should confess our sins to one another? It is because he knows that in Christ we have the complete and perfect solution to our sins, the sacrifice for our forgiveness, the sending of the Holy Spirit for our sanctification. “By His wounds we are healed”. Through the cross sin is a defeated enemy, a problem that has been solved. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”. In Christ we are made righteous, and God hears our prayers. One of the blessings of the gospel, and one that is found in the Old Testament as well, is that we will call upon the Lord and He will hear us.

5:17,18

James then cites an example from the Old Testament, Elijah. “Elijah was a man, even as we are”. Elijah did amazing things, he also experienced great weakness. We can identify with his weakness, but we can also share in his effectiveness. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain. He prayed that it would rain, and it rained.

5:19,20

Human nature is to look for a reason to prove that we are better than someone else, or to look for a reason to write someone off, or to condemn them. The gospel has a whole different ethos. How much better and richer to be involved in bringing someone back from their sins, than to be involved in condemning them in their sin. Notice that there is no hiding from the fact that people sin, unlike the prevalent attitude today which is so averse to talking about sin. But while sin is recognised, this is done not to condemn, but to save. The Father sent the Son in order to save us from our sins.