Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, January 26, 2015

James 5:19-20 Save a soul from death



A bible study note: How to save a brother from death?

Text:
“Brethren, if any among you (2pp) do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” - James 5:19-20

Observations:
1. Any one among the ‘brethren’ is liable to err from the truth; in these numerous ways:
a From Christ, who is the Truth, by not abiding in Him, forsaking His ways, His worship, and ordinances;
- From the Scriptures of truth, not speaking according to them, and embracing fables and notions that are contrary unto them;
- From the gospel, the word of truth, from the doctrine of the faith once delivered to the saints, and from uprightness of life and conversation, after having made a profession of Christianity.
- This is to be understood of one who has embraced the Christian religion, become a member of a church, and has walked in the path of truth and holiness, but now fallen into error, either in principle, or in practice, or both. (Gill)

2. A clear distinction between error and truth is presupposed, otherwise it is not possible to know when a brother err from the truth. The standard is, 'Thy word is truth.'

3. To err from the truth and continue in the way of error is sinning. To continue in the way of error will result in 'death.'

4. Truth and practice are always related. To ‘err from the truth’ is to walk in ‘the error of his way.’

5. Such a sinner needs to be converted from the error of his way and be brought back to the truth. A fellow brother has a solemn duty to convert an erring brother. Each brother is his brother's keeper.

6. To convert an erring ‘brethren’ from the error of his way and bring him back to the truth “shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

7. "Let him know" – indicates great encouragement to motivate a believer to perform the difficult and unpleasant work of converting an erring ‘brother.’

8. He who winneth souls is wise!!!


Questions to promote study:

1. Who are the ‘brethren’ addressed by Elder James?
- Please note that BOTH the erring one and the converting one are among the ‘brethren.’
a. Are they blood brothers, ethnic brothers, i.e. fellow Jew, or spiritual brothers?
b. Give reasons for your answer.


2. Who is the erring/sinning one among the ‘brethren’?
- Who is the truth? What is the truth?
- If one is not first in the truth, can he err from the truth?
- How did one come in the truth? Cp John 14:6,17; 15:26; 16:13; 17:17


3. Who is able to convert the sinning one among the ‘brethren’?
- Who can lead someone who has departed from the truth back to the truth?


4. What does it mean to convert (turn) the erring one from the error of his way?
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a. What is needed to convert an erring brother?
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b. What would you do to convert an erring brother?
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c. Why should you endeavour to convert an erring brother?
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5. What does it mean to save the sinner’s (i.e. erring brother’s) soul from death?
- Different usage of the word ‘soul.’ See Gen 2:7; 12:13; 17:14; 19:20; 46:15; Ex 1:5.
- Sometimes it is synonymous with the living person. A living person is a soul.
- Sometimes it is synonymous with the spirit of the man. A living soul consists of body and spirit.

a. What is the sense of the word ‘soul’ used here?

b. What is the death spoken of? Is it spiritual death or physical death?
- Remember that death is separation.
- Who alone CAN SAVE a man from his native state of spiritual death?
- Can the act of a fellow man save a soul from spiritual death?
- From what kind of death can the converting act of a man save his brother’s soul?
- Is excommunication a form of death?

c. Does God terminate the natural life of His wayward and unrepentant children?
- John 15:6; 1Cor 11:30; Phi 3:17-21;1Pet 4:17; 2Pet 2:1,
- 2Pe 3:16 "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
- What is the destruction spoken of?

d. Does God promise long life to His obedience children?
- Deut 5:33; 1Kg 3:14; Ps 91:16; Pr 3:2,9:11, 10:27; 1Pe 3:10.


6. What does ‘shall hide a multitude of sins’ mean?
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a. How does converting an erring brother hide a multitude of sins?
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b. Are the multitude of sins already committed, but are forgiven because of conversion?
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c. Are the multitude of sins avoided because of the conversion?
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7. Do you have any question?
- Please do ask them…
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