The Book of James Week Six Lesson Five

“Turn Them Back”

“My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”         James 5:19-20

This is the last lesson from the Book of James Study. I hope you have discovered many new or renewed truths from this short book written by our Lord’s brother. God’s Word is multi-faceted and gives us new lessons each time we read and study it. 

Read James 5:19-20. What should we do when we see another believer wander from the truth?

What is important to remember?

James is speaking to believers in Jesus about other believers who have wandered from the truth of God’s Word. It is our responsibility to turn our brothers and sisters in Christ, who have wandered from God’s Truth, back to Him. It isn’t an easy task.

Read Matthew 18:15-18. What are we to do when a believer sins against us? 

If they listen to you, what is the result?

What happens next if they don’t listen to you?

What is the next step if they don’t listen to the testimony of others?

What is the result if they do not listen to the church body as a whole?

Jesus gave us these steps to follow when we have disputes between one another. It is orderly and should be followed as He instructs us in the Bible. The purpose of disciplinary action is to correct the immoral character of people who claim to be Christians. This is hard, but, Christ has called us to take such action. This is not judging behavior, this is God judging behavior and is what He commands us through Christ Jesus to do.

There is right and wrong and we as Christians need to understand the line we cross when we sin. Otherwise a blurring of the lines takes place  and we slowly begin to turn away from God’s truth. We must hold each other accountable. 

Read Romans 16:17-19. This is a powerful portion of Scripture. The Apostle Paul redefines the line between right and wrong. What does he tell us to “watch out” for?

What do you think “serving their own appetites” means?

What are the obedient expected to do?

We must stop believing there is a gray area in the behavior of believers. This study of James has taught us just that. For too long, we have turned our heads to the way people justify worldly behavior. It has infiltrated our churches at an alarming rate. 

Truth without grace is wrong. Grace without truth is wrong. Truth and grace must prevail. We cannot function correctly within our Churches without both. We’ve been told we aren’t suppose to judge others, but the Word doesn’t say we are suppose to allow sin to flourish because we think we can’t judge. God gives us discernment to deal with sin among believers. The judgment and discipline is left to Him. He reveals to His people what He wants removed from His Church. 

Read Hebrews 10:26-27. What happens if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth?

The Spirit of the Living God speaks to those who are His and calls us back to Him. He employs believers to turn fellow believers back to Him. Christ Himself gave us the process for doing so. If the person refuses correction, they are living the will of Satan and not the Lord’s. Again, this is hard but necessary.

We save lives when we bring others to Jesus and they give their lives to Him. One of our responsibilities is to bring others to Christ. Do you ever look at your Christian walk this way? Our main concern, aside from loving God, is to love others. If we love others as Christ commanded, we should care what happens to them.

Saving someone from death is a major thing. Rescuing a drowning person or pulling someone from a burning car is stuff heroes do. Someone who is brave enough to do this should be honored. Do we think of saving someone from eternal death in the same way? This should get our adrenalin pumping even higher than rescuing the living from physical death.

Both the Old and New Testaments speak of death as a result of our sinful nature; they also speak of death in comparison to the Living God. We’ve learned over the last six weeks of studying James that sin equals spiritual death.

As a kid, my family would go to to the lake. We’d load up the ’65 Chevy station wagon with all six kids, two dogs, our picnic and pull the boat filled with life jackets, inner tubes and skis. When we’d get there we’d unload everything and then go out on the boat to ski. We’d come back to shore and swim a little while before we’d eat. 

I loved getting in the black inner tubes to float on the water. I’d pick the biggest one I could handle, climb on and float off daydreaming as I drifted along. I remember one time when I wasn’t paying attention and drifted out into deep waters. My mom happened to see me and sent one of my big brothers, who were strong swimmers, to rescue me. They pulled me safely to shore.

It’s the same way with those who drift away from the safety of God’s truth in Christ. Sometimes believers are floating along, not paying attention and the current of life pulls them away from safety. Others choose to swim away  from the truth. Whatever the case, the Lord sends out His strong swimmers to bring those adrift back to safety. Some refuse to be brought back and that is their choice. Those who the Lord sends to rescue those who have left the safety of God’s Son must be obedient so those adrift may be brought back to safety.

Read Jude 17-13. What we as believers supposed to do?

What are we to keep ourselves in?

Look closely at verses 22-23. There are three things, we as believers, are to do for “others who doubt.” What are they?

1. 

2.

3.

Show mercy to doubters - There are those who doubt. They are divided in their thoughts. These folks have heard the truth and they hear the message of the world and are drifting. We are to show them mercy from Christ.

Snatch them from the fire - There are those falling forward towards the fire. We see them heading that way and we must respond. A gentle tap on the shoulder won’t do. A forceful grasp of the collar is more like it.

Show them mercy mixed with fear - There are the ones with a strong smell of smoke. It is the stench of seared hair, clothing and flesh which permeates the air they breathe. Mercy mixed with fear means we remind them of Christ’s mercy, but we also remind them to fear God and the discipline He gives.

It is the responsibility of those who place their faith in Christ Jesus and live their lives for Him, to turn those who have drifted away back to the Savior. We really are in the business of saving lives.

As we close our study of James, let us remember we are called to serve the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the Royal Law of our King Jesus. My limited earthly love cannot cover sins. The infinite love of Jesus, demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary, can cover all sin. It is this love in us which enables us to love others as Jesus does.

Thank you for taking this journey with me. It has been a honor to study the Word of God with you. Keep seeking Him and He will always reveal Himself to you. May we “count it all joy” to follow Him right into eternity.