Lesson 35: Those Who Stray
 Read James 5:19-20 – www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.5.esv

Have you ever rescued someone from drowning? You have probably heard how the victims fight against their rescuers in the hysteria of that terrifying moment. The same is often true when an attempt is made to rescue someone spiritually who is floundering or made shipwreck of the faith. Many times we find ourselves on the shoreline yelling Biblical accusations about sin, justice and discipline to the drowning individual instead of swimming out and rescuing someone.

James 5:19-20 – “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

This backsliding is a very dangerous condition – subject to discipline by the Lord (Hebrews 12), and facing the danger of committing a sin leading to death (1 John 5:16-17). God disciplined some in the Corinthian church by taking them to heaven (1 Corinthians 11:30). It is also dangerous to the church. A wandering sinner can influence others and lead them astray (Ecclesiastes 9:18, 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Timothy 2: 17-18). This is why the spiritual members of the church must step in and help this individual.

The origin of this problem is found in the statement “err from the truth” James 5:19. The truth of course is the Word of God (John 17:17, 14:6). Unless the believer stays close to the truth he will start to drift away - Hebrews 2:1 – “therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”

The outcome of this wandering is sin and possible death (James 5:20) the sinner here is a believer, not an unbeliever. We expect unbelievers to sin but God expects believers to obey the Word. Sin in the life of a Christian is worse than in an unbeliever.


What are we to do if we see a fellow believer wandering from the truth? We should pray for him, but also seek to help him. He needs to be converted (turned back on the right path) Luke 22:32. It is important that we seek to win the lost (Great Commission) but it also important that we seek to win the saved (those who stray). Matthew 18 tells what to do if someone sins against us - Matthew 18:15 – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Gained means won. Win our brother as opposed to win the lost.

To win or help an erring brother/sister we have to have an attitude of love (James 5:20) Love hides a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) Both James and Peter learned this principle from Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up strife: but love covers all sins.”

Love does not sweep the dirt under the carpet. Where there is love there also be truth (Ephesians 4:15). Where there is truth there is honest confession of sins and cleansing from God. Love not only helps the sinner to convert but also assures of forgiveness afterward “and remembers no more”.

*Three verses in Ephesians 2 sum the relationship between faith and works as James has taught us – what is that relationship? _____