James wrote that if one were spiritually sick, as committing serious sins would indicate, “let him call the elders of the church, and let them pray over him.”

God does not authorize the elders themselves to forgive sins; that is something He does. (1 John 1:9) But when one has confessed to God, not “covering over” his sins, the spiritually qualified elders can pray with him as well as counsel and help him.​—Prov. 28:13; Gal. 6:1.

What can result from such confession? James adds: “The Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”​—Jas. 5:14, 15, CB.