Authentic Christianity- Part 20

Introduction- James 5:19-20

Last time we were here in the book of James we were challenged to look to God whatever our circumstances (in affliction, in times when all is well, and when struggling with sickness).

We were also reminded of the power of prayer to affect our circumstances and the circumstances of others.

We are encouraged by the reality that Elijah was a man like unto us and that just as he prayed and God worked mightily in response, so also may we pray in similar fashion and expect a response from the Lord.

The final two verses in the book of James turn our attention towards those who turn away from the truth.

These verses commend those who work to restore the erring one and remind them of the effect which their efforts may have.

A Brother Gone Astray (Vs. 19a)

This passage opens with the mention of a “brother” erring from the truth.

This seems to indicated that the person at issue here at least has professed himself to be a Christian and is considered to be a brother.

This was written to believers and concerns one among their number who has erred from the truth—the word err here means to go astray or to be mislead or deceived.

This brother has been led astray, has turned away from the truth and is obviously in need of intervention.

Each of us can probably think of someone right now who has erred from the truth, who professes to be a Christian and was once faithful to the Lord, but who has now turned away from the truth.

There are various ways and various circumstances which have caused these to err from the truth.

Some have been misled by someone and have turned away from truth to false religion.

Others have been offended in some fashion by someone and have turned away from the truth and are now away from the Lord.

Still others have been deeply convicted by the truth and rather than respond positively addressing their failure they have chosen instead to reject the truth and to turn away from it.

Still others have been influenced by unbelieving friends or relatives and have been led away from the truth into error.

The reality is that there is not one of us who is immune to the temptation to err from the truth and we ought each to recognize that any one of us may yet be led astray.

Illustration—In my late teenage years I was that person who had erred from the truth—due to a lack of personal spiritual maturity, the influence of ungodly friends, and a lack of godly influence from believers around me I was that one who had erred from the truth and who went astray.

Conversion (Vs. 19b-20a)

It is important how those who remain faithful to the Lord respond in a situation like this.

I remember back to my own experience—as I began to go astray and to turn away from the Lord, there were many believers who noticed that I was going astray but as far as I can remember not one who made a genuine effort to bring about my restoration.

This is true in churches everywhere, there are men, women, and young people who begin to go astray and in too many cases other believers criticize them or write them off as a lost cause without making any real effort to see them restored.

This passage is intended to encourage believers to work to restore those who have gone astray.

This is a theme that is repeated multiple times in scripture:

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Jude 22–23 “And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

The scripture here speaks of one who would “convert” him—we often think of conversion in the context of salvation when a sinner calls upon Christ and is saved—but that is not the way that the word is used here.

The word convert actually means to turn back or to cause to return and it is used here to indicate the restoration of the one who has erred from the truth.

We see it used by the Lord Jesus in a similar fashion with regard to Peter’s denial:

Luke 22:31–32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

By this time Peter had long before professed faith in Christ:

Matthew 16:13–16 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

When Jesus spoke of Peter’s being “converted”, He was speaking not about his salvation, but his restoration after having denied the Lord.

This means that you and I have critical role to play in bringing about the restoration of the erring one.

When a brother/sister turns away from truth, rather than criticizing and passing judgment upon them, we ought to work to bring about their restoration.

This we may do through prayer and a demonstration of genuine love and concern for them.

Illustration—in my own life I can only imagine how different things might have been if when I began to turn away from the truth someone had displayed genuine care and concern. If only someone had come to me and asked what was going on, had tried to encourage and help me, had tried to work towards my restoration.

Consider for a moment what High Plain Baptist Church would look like if all those who have erred from the truth, who have over the years gone astray, were somehow restored.

We ought each to work to see the unbelieving around us come to faith in Christ, but we ought also to strive to see that those who know Christ, but who have for some reason or another gone astray restored.

There are many who were once faithful members of this church who we could strive to restore, there are many more in our community who were once faithful to the Lord and to truth but who have gone astray and whom we could work to restore.

We should pray for them, we should go to them, we should demonstrate our love and concern for them, and we should do all that we can to bring about their restoration.

The Impact (Vs. 20b)

The scripture then states that if one should convert the sinner from the error of his way, he shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

This is the product of the work of restoring sinners.

The salvation of a soul from death may indicate that in bringing about the restoration of the one who has erred from truth we prevent a premature death.

The scripture plainly indicates that a believer who persists in sin and open rebellion against God may ultimately die a premature death as a result.

1 John 5:16 “If 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.”

God is merciful but there is a point at which God may take the physical life of the believer who refuses to repent and turn back to Him.

James 1:13–15 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

There is certainly also an application which may be made to those who were not genuine believers and who return to the Lord in the sense that they genuinely place their faith in Jesus Christ.

The scripture also states that in converting the sinner from the error of his way, the believer shall hide a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirreth up strifes: But love covereth all sins.”

1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

It is evident here that love is involved and that through love restoration is made possible and much sin may be hidden/covered.

The idea seems to be that in bringing about restoration the believer may then prevent future sin and may avoid the spread of sin which might otherwise have been the product of this erring believer.

The sin which has been committed may also be addressed and forgiven through the process which bring about the restoration of the erring brother.

The longer the believer remains in this state of error away from the Lord, the more sin will continue to compound and accumulate and the greater the likelihood that other will also be affected.