James 5:19

My Brother's Keeper"one would expect the close of the letter to offer some sort of summation of the contents, or at least. conclusion based upon the material that has been given….After mentioning in the letter. great many sins that Christians can commit (e.g. favoritism, uncontrolled speech, judging each other, friendship with the world), James indicates that such discussion was not to be taken merely as an academic analysis of church conditions but as. call for action. Those who had strayed from the truth of the gospel and its attendant responsibilities needed to be brought back to proper conduct" (Kent p. 196).

James 5:19 "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back,"if any among you" -The people straying from the truth are Christians. We must reject the interpretation that those who are straying from the truth are non-Christians. "Any"-This can happen to anyone, it even happened to some who had been elders (Acts 20:28 ff)."strays" -that wanders away, to be lead astray, deceived. Whether others have deceived you or you have deceived yourself (1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Galatians 6:7; James 1:16)."from the truth" -which is contained in the gospel message, the Word of God (James 1:18). Notice, how. person might stray from the truth isn't the issue, because any straying from the truth on any point of the truth can be equally dangerous. The truth is an objective standard, that can be believed, practiced, obeyed, loved and understood (John 8:31; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Timothy 2:4). The truth isn't something which is fuzzy, unattainable, mysterious or all inclusive. From the fact that. Christian can stray from the truth, it must be clear that the truth doesn't include every practice or idea in the religious world. It is just as obvious that. Christian can so sin as to end up lost and that God doesn't prevent people from straying. The idea of once-saved-always-saved, or the associated ideas that God would never let. Christian believe false doctrine or that God would have you killed before you strayed to the point of lostness---are all false ideas.

Be impressed that doctrine "the truth" and our relationship with God cannot be separated. Straying from the truth means straying from God! Draper reminds us, "We never backslide suddenly. Slowly and over. period of time it begins to happen until ultimately it becomes. condition of backsliding" (p. 170). At times we think that. major crisis might shake our faith---when in reality, often the devil is having success in wearing us down slowly. Instead of bracing ourselves that that one major crisis in our lives, we need to take. good look at ourselves today and see if we have compromised."and one turns him back" -Note, and it only takes "one" (Matthew 18:15). Especially, one spiritual and righteous individual (Galatians 6:1). "Turns"-"to cause to return, to bring back" (Thayer p. 243).