"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:19,20).
It has often been pointed out that the "sinner" here spoken of is not one of the class we usually call the "unsaved," but rather, as James says, "One of you." Whatever the person named "the sinner" may be at heart, he is of the company of Christian disciples, but one who has "erred from the truth." James does not say what the error is, whether what we call doctrinal or moral:in either case, it would be going astray from the path of truth. In such a case, what is to be done? Can he be restored?
Most of us know what defection from the truth is_ heart defection, at least. Thank God, we can also with the Psalmist say, "He restoreth my soul:He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake" (Psa. 23:3). The two disciples on their way to Emmaus illustrate the condition of all the disciples at that time. They were in need of restoration. How beautiful then to see the "great Shepherd of the sheep," brought back from among the dead, going after the erring and discouraged ones, and leading them, not only to Jerusalem, but in heart, to God and to the truth. It was unbelief of the Word of God given by the prophets of the Old Testament which had caused the disciples to wander and to lose heart:but He whose love had brought Him into death for them, now seeks the wandering ones to cause them to realize that the Christ must suffer first before He could bring them into glory.
There is the same privilege here held out to the Lord’s people. We are all apt to go astray, and we surely will if our eyes lose sight of the Shepherd. What then? It is not here a question whether the Shepherd will seek the erring one_there can be no doubt of that_but the word is put before us, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth," what then? What is our responsibility, or rather our privilege? We might say with Cain, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" but if we do, we betray in measure, at least, a sympathy with Cain. Neither should we go to the other extreme, and seek to drive the erring one back to the right path. That legal method has often been tried, and as often failed. The erring one needs to be converted, or turned from his error back to the truth, but how is this to be done? James does not apparently here speak of this, but in the familiar incident in the Gospels we have a beautiful illustration from the Shepherd Himself as to His way.
Peter was one of those who had a true and devoted love for Christ. He had left all, as he said, to follow the One who was "despised and rejected of men." Now a time came when it was to be seen if he could continue to follow his Master. The Cross was looming up in view, and Peter, when the question was put, declared that "though all men should forsake Thee, I will in no wise forsake Thee." But the Lord knew His disciple better than he knew himself, and foretold that Peter should deny Him with a complete denial. Referring to this, the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31,32).
Do we not here have the first step toward restoring an erring one? Jesus says to this one who had already begun to slide, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Brethren, if we see a tendency in one to slide in his steps, do we go behind his back to speak of it to others, or do we go to God about it, and tell it into the ears of the Good Shepherd who died for the erring one? It takes spirituality for this, and love alone can prompt us to do this.
| John Newton tells in one of his beautiful hymns how the Lord’s "look of love and sorrow" melted his heart and brought him to repentance. And just as a shameless sinner, as John Newton had been, was won by that look of tender love and compassion, so Peter, at the time of his denial, was broken down when "the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter" and that disciple went out and "wept bitterly" (Luke 22:61,62). If genuine sorrow is in our hearts over an erring one, will it not be manifest in our eyes? If they are moistened with grief, will that not have a powerful influence in the right direction over the wandering one? But if he sees a hard, cold stare, or the face turned away, can we hope to "convert him from the error of his way"?
When, after three days, which must have seemed like years to Peter, the Lord rose again, He sent a message to His disciples by the women who were first at the tomb:"Go . . . tell [My] disciples and Peter" (Mark 16:7). Why single out Peter? Because he had strayed from the truth, and needed to be converted, and the Shepherd used this means to help restore His sheep. It let that denier of his Lord know that though he had completely disowned the One he professed to love, and though he might well consider himself numbered with the ungodly and profane, there was One who had not lost sight of him in his desperate need. A special message for him! Was not this a most wonderful instance of heaping coals of fire on the head of the erring one? Yes, but there was no other way to win him back, and love took the only way possible. In this, as in much else, our blessed Master is saying to us today as of old, "Learn of Me" (Matt. 11:29). But this is not all. Some days later, Peter and others of the disciples were hungry after being out all night on a fruitless search for food. But in their extremity, there was Someone with omniscient love who had already been doing for them what they so much needed, procuring and preparing breakfast for them. But first He stood on the shore of the lake and called to them, advising as to where to cast the net so they might take up fish. They followed his directions and brought to land a large catch, and then discovered that this kind Stranger was well-known to them ("It is the Lord"), and that He had made such preparation for their hunger and cold as only those who have been in such a situation can appreciate. There on the shore was a "fire of coals . . . and fish laid thereon, and bread," and with this welcome sight came the word of welcome from their Host, to "Come, and dine" (John 21:1-18).
To one of those men that sight of the fire of coals meant much more than to the rest. It recalled to his mind that he had stood recently at another fire to which he had gone to "warm himself," and at how great a cost! But this was not the "enemy’s fire," as that was. He who had kindled it and had made this provision for Peter and the others was the very One he had so shamefully denied in the palace of the high priest. What kind of treatment was this which was being given may be sure that this fire not only warmed him but, figuratively speaking, burned into his very soul. It was divine love’s answer to the great wrong which Peter had done to Him, and it had its desired effect. It brought Peter down, ready to face the whole matter of the denial, ready to face the heart-searching question which was about to be put_"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?" But before the Lord put this question to His disciple, He was very careful to leave no doubt whatever in Peter’s heart as to His deep and powerful love for His wandering sheep. And if the Shepherd has so great love for His sheep, what is the response from the one so much loved? |
| In all this do we not have given us much instruction as to the way in which a fellow-believer who has "erred from the truth" may be "converted" from "the error of his way"? Or has all this been written for us in vain? Do we think our modern manner of spreading abroad our brother’s sin is a more effectual means of restoring him than this which James teaches? "Let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall HIDE a multitude of sins." Brethren, if "love found a way" to restore the erring, and in so doing covered up a multitude of sins, has it lost its original power, and left us only the means, which we have used, of publishing those sins? And if this is all we have left, is it any wonder that we fail to "convert" the shiner from his error? Do we not need to be taught over again the "more excellent way"?
It may be asked, Does it not say, "If he will not hear . . . tell it to the Church"? Yes, but it is a last resort, and is a confession of our own poverty in spiritual power. And if we have lost the way of love, and of the Good Shepherd who went after the lost sheep until He found it, is it not a witness that we too need to be "converted from the error" of our way? Let our confession be that of the one of old, who said, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy commandments" (Ps. 119:17). FRAGMENT One thing I pray for, because I love the Lord’s sheep, is that there might be shepherds. I know nothing, next to personal communion with the Lord, so blessed as the shepherds feeding the Lord’s sheep, the Lord’s flock. But it is the Lord’s flock. I see nothing in Scripture about a pastor and his flock; that changes the whole aspect of things. When it is felt t6 be the Lord’s flock that a man has to look over, what thoughts of responsibility, what care, what zeal, what watchfulness! "Lovest thou me? . . . Feed My lambs . . . Feed My sheep" (John 21:15,16). I know nothing like it on earth:the care of a true-hearted shepherd . . . a person who can bear the whole sorrow, care, misery, and sin of another on his own soul, and go to God about it, and bring from God what will meet it, before he goes to the other . . . . But we are not to suppose that the "great Shepherd" cannot take care of His own sheep, because there are no under-shepherds. If there were those who met together and depended on the Lord, if they did not pretend to be what they were not, though there were no shepherds among them, there would be no danger. They would infallibly have the care of that Shepherd. J.N.D.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God." 2 Timothy 2:15 |