James 5:20

"let him know that he who turns. sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover. multitude of sins"."let him know" -Present active imperative. When we see someone fall away or slipping away, we need to continually remember: A.. soul is at stake, eternity for this person is hanging in the balance. B. This is an urgent situation, that demands our best effort, attitude and dedication. C. Even though. person who has strayed might resent my initial efforts---I know that. am doing what God wants done, that. am doing what is best for that individual!"he who turns. sinner from the error of his way" -Such can be done, this isn't an impossible task! People who stray from the truth can be brought back. Note also that the unfaithful Christian is called. "sinner". "God sees such. one as. sinner 'in the error or his way'. Not that he has merely stumbled in doing wrong, but that he practices sin" (Plain Talk, 16/6/3). "of his way" -Nobody is forcing this person to defect. And when. sin-those sins are "mine". "will save his soul from death" -The soul being saved from death is the soul of the person who is brought back to God. The idea isn't that if. bring someone back,. have saved my own soul---because, what if they don't want to come back?! Compare with 1 Corinthians 9:27. I do have the responsibility in going after the erring (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15), but. do not have the responsibility for what decision they will finally make. The death under consideration is obviously eternal death, final separation from God. It can't be physical death, for many unfaithful people live long lives or live just as long as the most devout Christian. And, when. person strays from the truth, they are automatically in. condition of spiritual death. What we are trying to save this soul from is final and eternal separation from God, i.e. hell."and will cover. multitude of sins" -"Cover"-"cover, conceal, remove from sight". (1 Peter 4:8 "because love covers. multitude of sins"; Proverbs 10:12; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 85:2).

Points To Note:

1. First of all, when. person is brought back to the truth, their sins of unfaithfulness are forgiven by God (1 John 1:8). 2. In addition, think about all the sins which will never happen because you were able to bring this person back! Think of the difference that has been made in this person's life and in the world. The difference in what type of husband, wife, parent, child, worker, etc…and this person will be. 3. Please note, when we don't serve God we are not merely sinning here and there, we are living. life in which we will sin countless times without number.. life of unfaithfulness is not merely sinning in one thing or area, when we are unfaithful to God we are being unfaithful to many people, many duties, responsibilities and so on. 4. In addition, the person who comes back is forgiven and his or her sins are not remembered. "The need of the man who errs from the truth is not ignoring him, advertising his situation, exposing, criticism, rationalizing. But he needs help, converting, saving, restoring, counted as. brother" (Plain Talk 18/9/5). "he that is wise winneth souls" (Proverbs 11:30).