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The Book of James (page 10)
- STUDY
INDEX
- Page 1 Introduction and Outline; Trials are a means of growth
- Page 2 Godly wisdom; Trials affect everyone; Differences between trials and temptations
- Page 3 Hearing the Word and doing it; Being impartial
- Page 4 Professing faith and proving it
- Page 5 The tongue
- Page 6 Earthly wisdom; Sinful behavior
- Page 7 Speaking evil; Presumptuous living; Selfish wealth
- Page 8 Patience and endurance; Simple honesty
- Page 9 Prayer
- Page 10 Converting the sinner
- Page 1 Introduction and Outline; Trials are a means of growth
Converting the sinner
"Brethren, if any of you 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." (5:19-20).
Matthew Henry states, "This is conversion; to turn a sinner from the error of his ways, not merely from one party to another, or from one notion and way of thinking to another. There is no way effectually and finally to hide sin, but forsaking it. Many sins are hindered in the party converted; many also may be so in others whom he may influence. The salvation of one soul is of infinitely greater importance than preserving the lives of multitudes, or promoting the welfare of a whole people. Let us in our several stations keep these things in mind, sparing no pains in God's service, and the event will prove that our labour is not in vain in the Lord."
If the Gospel of Christ could be summed up in one word, it would probably be "repent". It was Jesus' message from the beginning, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17). "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick", Jesus explained, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance". (Mark 2:17). Jesus' disciples went forth and preached repentance, and it was the message of the early church as well, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem..... Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..... And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent..... But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance..... The Lord is slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance..... Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent....."
As repentance was the message of Jesus and the early church, so it should be the message of the modern church as well. It was the reason Jesus came, to call men to repentance, and to open the way for man to be reconciled to God. It should be our mission, to seek out the lost, and preach to them the message of repentance. "He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
Conclusion
Let us close with a final thought from Matthew Henry, "For six thousand years He has been multiplying pardons, and yet his free grace is not tired nor grown weary. Certainly Divine mercy is an ocean that is ever full and ever flowing. May the Lord give us a part in this abundant mercy, through the blood of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit."
We hope you enjoyed this study on the Book of James, and that it was a source of blessing and instruction to you. Please join us again soon as we begin a new study. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcomed.
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