Series in James - Saving Those Going Astray

 

Saving Those Going Astray

James 5:19-20

Jude and Peter, who wrote at a later date than James, had made similar statements as James, Jude’s brother, “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (vv.22-23 NIV) And Peter, “Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].” (1 Pet.4:8-9a AMP) The believers throughout Israel were to contend for the faith and to reachout to those going astray, wandering away, drifting from sound doctrine, or who were on the verge of departing as an apostate. Such was the love the believers had for each other, thus the last words of the letter, earnest love “covers over a multitude of sins.”

So let’s read the portion of the text for this lesson, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

James had probably seen many who left Jerusalem and Israel seeking a safe place from persecution. And in doing this found themselves in a similar role as the Israelites of old who were in captivity to the gentiles and allured to the sinful lifestyle of the Roman and Greek cultures. James doesn’t say how far they wandered or into what estate the wanderers found themselves, it states emphatically that they have wandered from the saving truth of the Gospel. James would have remembered Jesus’ statement on truth, “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”​ (John 8:31, 32) 

James doesn’t make a claim that the wanderer is a genuine believer, but that those of the truth of God should save the wandering one(s) from two things: to save the soul from death (Lit. Greek translation), so it infers that the wanderer was leaning towards spiritual death. There were those who attended house churches for various reasons other than salvation as James warned in the opening chapter of his epistle, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” 1:21-22.  And it is in this truth that those who wander or who go astray are much like Isaiah’s sheep. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way…” (53:6) They are wandering from the Truth.

James knew it was death anyway that you cut it to wander away from God. And He wanted all believers to reachout to those astray and gently bring them back to the Truth and from the errors of false teachings or the contamination of the world. 

Second, James knew the power of the true earnest love they were to have for one another “...cover over a multitude of sins.” Love was the visible action of a true believer, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) 

The covering over of sin is not the toleration of sin, but the blood covering of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. James knew that forgiveness and restoration begins with the covering of love through the atoning blood covering of Christ and God's grace. It is in this covering that He exhorts the believers to bring back the straying and wandering sheep. 

Application - Staying in the truth really does mean to stay (remain) on the vine as Jesus taught in John’s gospel (John 15). Truth has been twisted today in this sinful world of relativism. But to the believer in Jesus Christ, Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life (John 14:7).  

We all probably have friends and family who have strayed from the Truth of God, His precious Word, or from following Jesus; or it may be you who are straying from the truth. The writer of Hebrews said it was “drifting away from God’s salvation. “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” God has given us three different men who gave us the same divine wisdom and directive. Reachout to the wandering and those going astray, drifting away. Yes, it may be dirty, filthy work, and more than likely it is entangled in wickedness and sin as James stated. The divine qualifying action of those who seek and save the lost is found in the heart of God: mercy, forgiveness, and genuine love. Not just in words but in action. “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.“ (1 John 3:18 NLT)

We cannot forgive sins like God, but we can love people with the Love of the Father that truly covers all sins. We are to have that fervent and unfailing love, for it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others. 

Second, we are to be gentle and humble in the restoration of those who have gone astray. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Col. 3:12)

The story of the prodigal (Luke 15:11-32) is a great example of the Father’s love and restoration of one who went astray, wandered into the allure of temptation and sin. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” (James 1:14 ESV)

So let us be like our Lord and Savior, for it was in gentleness and humility that He went to the cross as the Lamb of God. “... he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8b NIV) So too like the Father to the prodigal, let us receive, seek, love, and assist the wanderers back into God’s sheep fold. And as James addressed the need to be doers of the truth, Jesus said it first, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man…” (Matt. 7:24)  

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com