“RESTORING THE STRAYING SAINTS”

JAMES 5:19-20

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and

someone turns him back...” {James 5:19}

• Joy in trials and enduring them through faith (1:3-12)

• Overcoming temptation to do evil through faith (1:13-16)

• Overcoming anger through faith (1:17-19)

• Being doers of the word and not hearers only (1:20-27)

• The matter of “favoritism” or “prejudice”(2:1-13)

• The faith that does not save and the kind of faith that does-- (2:14-26)

• The power of the tongue and our need to control it—(3:1-12)

“RESTORING THE STRAYING SAINTS”

The Importance of Attempting to Restore the Erring (5:19,20)

• Two kinds of wisdom and their fruit (3:13-4:12)

• Making Our Plans-- (4:13-17)• Those who oppress you will

be Judged—therefore be patient—(5:1-12)

✦ God promises aide and deliverance in times of suffering - (WILL save - WILL lift up - and WILL forgive sin)

✦ Are we seeking what God provides through faith and prayer?

James 5:13-18

✦ If our faith is weak - are we willing to call for someone whose faith is strong?

✦ If we have sinned - are we willing to confess our sin that we may be forgiven?

• As James comes to the close of his epistle, he stresses the importance of restoring those who wander from the truth - (19,20)

• Restoring straying saints is a responsibility given to the spiritual - cf. Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Jude vs.20-23

• A duty too often neglected - Ezekiel 34:4

• The purpose of this lesson is two-fold:

• To impress upon our minds the importance of engaging in this work of restoring straying saints.

• To suggest how we should carry out this important work.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth,

and someone turns him back,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.”

James 5:19,20

The condition of those who have strayed from the Truth-

✦ Away from the truth - 19; John 8:32; 1 John 1:5-10✦ In the way of error - 20; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:18-22✦ In the way that leads to death - 20; Romans 6:23; James 1:15

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you

wanders from the truth… the error of his way will save a soul

from death…”

The condition of those who have strayed from the Truth- ✦ Those who returned

to the Law- Galatians 5:1-4✦ Entangled again with a yoke of bondage - 1✦ Christ will profit nothing - 2✦ Have become estranged from Christ - 4✦ Have fallen from grace - 4

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you

wanders from the truth… the error of his way will save a soul

from death…”

The condition of those who have strayed from the Truth- ✦ That such a person is

in danger of more serious punishment is stressed by Jesus in - Luke 12:47-48 ✦ Peter tells us that "the latter end is worse for them than the beginning" - cf. 2 Peter 2:20-22

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you

wanders from the truth… the error of his way will save a soul

from death…”

The condition of those who have strayed from the Truth- ✦ As described…

Hebrews 10:26-31✦ “There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins" – 26✦ “But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation" – 27

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you

wanders from the truth… the error of his way will save a soul

from death…”

The condition of those who have strayed from the Truth- ✦ “Much worse

punishment...will he be thought worthy" – 29

✦ "Counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace” – 29

✦ “The LORD will judge His people" – 30

✦ “Fearful to fall into hands of the living God”—31

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you

wanders from the truth… the error of his way will save a soul

from death…”

Certain Attributes Needed to Restore Those Who Have Strayed - ✦ Attributes that Hinder:

✦ Hypocrisy -

✦ Arrogance -

✦ Self Righteousness – Self –righteous judgment

✦ Harshness - Impatience

✦ Lack of Love -

✦ Spirit of Compromise -

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

Certain Attributes Needed to Restore Those Who Have Strayed -

✦ Those Who Are Spiritual - Galatians 6:1; Romans 15:1; Matthew 7:3-5

✦ A Spirit Of Gentleness - Galatians 6:1; 2 Samuel 12:1-7

✦ A Constant Sense Of Self-Examination - Galatians 6:1

✦ A Willingness To Bear One Another's Burdens - Galatians 6:2

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

Certain Attributes Needed to Restore Those Who Have Strayed -

✦ Humility - Galatians 6:3; 2 Timothy 2:24-26

✦ Ample Knowledge Of God's Word - 2 Timothy 2:24

✦ Patience (Longsuffering) - 2 Tim. 2:24; 2 Cor. 1:23-2:3

✦ A Sincere Demonstration Of Love - 2 Cor. 2:4, 6-8; Matthew 18:10

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ Wrong Methods:

✦ Gossip - Backbiting -

✦ Harsh Ridicule -

✦ Impatient Demands -

✦ Focusing on the symptoms rather than the root problem

✦ Ignoring the sin -

✦ Toleration of evil -

✦ Compromise -

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ Instructions of

Jesus: Matthew 18:15-17

✦ “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. ✦ “. . . if he will not hear, take with you one or two more…

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ Instructions of

Jesus: Matthew 18:15-17

✦ “. . . if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. ✦ “. . . if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ Instructions of Paul:

1 Corinthians 5:1-13✦ Collective action - 1,2,4,6,7✦ . . . be taken away from among you – 2✦ When you are gathered together, . . . deliver such a one to Satan . . . that he may be saved - 4,5

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ . . . purge out the

old leaven - 6,7✦ Members . . . not to keep company with sexually immoral people – 9✦ . . . not to keep company with . . . not even to eat with such a person – 11

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ . . . “put away from

yourselves the evil person.” - 13

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ Instructions of Paul:

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

✦ . . . withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us - 6

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

How To Restore Straying Saints✦ . . . if anyone does

not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed - 14✦ . . . Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother - 15

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the Erring

James 5:19,20“… and

someone turns him

back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way…”

✦ The work of restoring or correcting saints may be unpleasant at times, but it has the potential for great joy! - (Luke 15:7; 3 John vs.4)

✦ Do we really love God and one another as we should? -

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the ErringJames 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you wanders

from the truth, and someone

turns him back, 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.”

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the ErringJames 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you wanders

from the truth, and someone

turns him back, 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.”

“By this we know love, because He laid down His

life for us. And we also ought to lay down our

lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's

goods, and sees his brother in need, and

shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of

God abide in him?”1 John 3:16,17

“RESTORING STRAYING SAINTS”The Importance of Attempting to

Restore the ErringJames 5:19,20“Brethren, if

anyone among you wanders

from the truth, and someone

turns him back, 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.”

“My little children, let us not love in

word or in tongue, but in deed and in

truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts

before Him.”1 John 3:18,19