“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
Some observations on James 5:19-20
1. Anyone 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 the
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 errs
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 ‘brother’ 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 wins souls, in the manner stated, is wise!!!
Some 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?-
a. What is needed to convert an erring
brother?
-
b. What would you do to convert an erring
brother?
-
c. Why should you endeavour to convert an
erring brother?
-
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, the termination of church
fellowship, a form of death?
c. Does God terminate the physical 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 obedient
children?
- Deut 5:33; 1Kg 3:14; Ps 91:16; Pr 3:2,9:11,
10:27; 1Pe 3:10.
6. What does it mean ‘shall hide a multitude
of sins’?
-
a. How does converting an erring brother hide
a multitude of sins?
-
b. Are the multitude of sins already
committed, but are forgiven because of conversion?
-
c. Are the multitude of sins avoided because of
the conversion?
-
7. Do you have any questions?
- Please do ask them.
