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THE RESCUERS. James 5:19-20. 12/01/2024. #21.
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
1. Wandering from the truth
a. James ends his epistle by exhorting believers to help rescue those who wander from the truth
a1. The truth is the Word of God
a2. The specific truth is the gospel (save a soul from death)
b. It seems that James is speaking of those who claimed to be Christians, but were not
c. There are several kinds of those who wander (err) from the truth
a1. GAL. 6:1-5 the believer who falls into sin
b1. I John 1:9-10 those who confess their sins receive forgiveness
b2. Paul went to Jerusalem against God’s will (Acts 21), Peter backed away from the Gentile believers (Galatians 2), the carnal believers in Corinth
a2. Heb. 6:4-6 false believers who never possessed true faith to begin with
b1. These are either PRETENDERS (in rocky soul with no depth) who embraced Christ as an idea, but not in true faith or DOUBLE-MINDED (thorny soul consumed by the lust of the world, as with Demus)
b2. There are also IMPOSTERS (those who are wolves that come in sheep’s clothing to destroy and confuse)
b3. 1 John 2:19 those who are true believers remain true to the end
a3. 1 Cor. 3 the carnal Christian who never matures in faith, but remains fleshly, uninformed, and weak
b1. Can’t tell if this one is saved
b2. II Corinthians 13:5 leaves salvation in doubt
a4. James 4:1-4 the backsliding Christian who continues to fall back into sin (Galatians 5:15 this believer is argumentative, adversarial, self-willed, and slow to repent, but can be redeemed)
2. Turning the sinner back
a. The approach to the wanderer is similar whether he is unsaved or backslidden
a1. Need to approach with the truth of the gospel and the Word of God
a2. Matthew 18:15-18 those who refuse to repent are treated as if they are unsaved and in need of coming to Christ
b. Since one can’t tell if a wanderer is truly saved or not, the basic truths of faith must be applied
c. A person may reject being corrected (turned back)
a1. Prayer and openness to help him needed
a2. Can’t force repentance
d. Love covers a multitude of sins
a1. Christ’s atonement not only saves sinners, but provides forgiveness for the erring believer
a2. Once forgiveness is received, the sins are buried with Christ
3. The importance of the rescuer
a. James mentions the rescuer last because it is our most important function
a1. Isaiah 52:7 those who carry the good news to others, whether for repentance of sins or reclaiming a believer are blessed
a2. Love demands that we live for Christ and bring his message to others
b. Love causes us to care for others, continually seeking to help restore, encourage, and support
c. Rescuers are God’s first responders
Key Passage: Galatians 6:1-51 Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.