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A FEW THOUGHTS ON JAMES 5: 19–20

W. McKillop

James is clearly in accord with Paul as he writes these verses.

Paul writes that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save

sinners”, 1 Timothy 1: 15. The salvation of sinners is clearly

the Lord’s great objective in 1 Timothy l: 15. The Lord Himself

says, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I have not come

to call righteous men but sinners”, Matthew 9: 13. The apostle

James carries forward the spirit of his Master in these verses.

James definitely brings the matter down to a sinner among the

brethren. “My brethren, if any one among you ...”; he is not

thinking of the generality of men, of sinners in that sense, but

of how the issue develops among the brethren. That there may

be sinners among the brethren, that there have been, we must

sorrowfully admit. The point with James, however, is not the

mere acknowledgment of this fact, but rather what is to be

done about it. It is noteworthy that, in James’s mind, the issue

is not an act (compare John 8: 4), but erring “from the

truth”. It is moral departure from the truth, from the revelation

of God. But even this, James indicates, can be met, can be

overcome.

He writes, “... and one bring him back”. What a fine thing that

is, what a triumph! No doubt this person, the bringer-back,

would be among the “ye who are spiritual”. But he is working

alone, not waiting on others, not organizing a rescue party, but

just going alone to bring back the sinner. James does not say

that it will be easy; it will not be, because the sinner’s heart as

well as his conscience must be reached. In this, as in all else,

the Lord Jesus shows us the way. He reached Peter’s

conscience with a look (Luke 22: 61) and his heart with a word

(John 21: 15–19). It is a question of altering the way the sinner

views things, his bent of mind. “All we like sheep have gone