HELPING FALLEN CHRISTIANS
Sad to say it, but Christians DO sometimes wander from the truth, and return to their "lost" condition. There are many possible reasons for this tragedy. Perhaps:
they don't read the Bible very often?
they miss out on good teaching?
they are too busy to pray?
they are led astray by a cult?
they find the world too attractive to resist?
James says: "If anyone you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back ..."
In this verse there are at least two people"
SOMEONE WHO WANDERS
and
SOMEONE WHO RESCUES
This little verse shows us how important it is to keep an eye on Christians who are straying from the truth. See Gal.4:19, 6:1 and 2Tim.2:18, 25-26, and Jude 22,23. The salvation of a wandering brother or sister is a high priority because if they wander too far from the truth they lose it, and become dead for all eternity. Unfortunately, not every wandering
Christian WANTS to be
rescued! so we who do the
rescuing, must be careful
how we go, in case we too
are pulled down.
All through his letter James sticks to realities. He never hesitates to write about such things as: the shortness of life, God, the devil, the Law, religion, sin, judgement, demons, evil, Man's sinful heart, the Holy Spirit the return of Christ, and death. All these things are true but the world usually does not like to discuss them.
James also faces the problems common to all Christian fellowships, and gives us God's advice on how
best to salve them.
"He who
turns a
sinner from
the error of
his way will
save a
soul from
death,
and cover
a multitude
of sins."
