James 5:19-20

19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

IF ANY AMONG YOU STRAYS FROM THE TRUTH

The Great Value of Truth• Proverbs 23:23 (NASB95) — 23 Buy truth, and

do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

• Jesus is the Truth – and some Christians stray from Him and His gospel.

Reasons Christians Stray• Weakness of the flesh. Romans 7• Some care more about the world. 1 Jn. 2:15;

Jas. 4:4• Contextually: money (vss. 1-6); struggles (vss.

7-11); complaining (v. 9)

ONE TURNS HIM BACK

Ultimate Love For Another• This is the whole of the gospel! Matt. 22:37ff• When we have the love of Christ in us… we’ll

extend that love toward a brother/sister in Christ who we know to be straying.

• How you turn him backis essential. Gal. 6:1

SAVING HIS SOUL FROM DEATH

The Soul’s Value and Death

Matthew 16:26 (NASB95) — 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

A Wandering Soul is INVALUABLE!“It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare…

A Wandering Soul is INVALUABLE!“…All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics…

A Wandering Soul is INVALUABLE!“… There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.” – C.S Lewis’ sermon “Weight of Glory”

The Blessings of Saving a Soul• A priceless soul is saved from death!– Remember how priceless YOUR SOUL is to God.– Remember how priceless ONE SOUL is to you.

• Your efforts offset a multitude of sins. cf. Prov 10:12; 1 Pet 4:8