James theme: A whole faith for a whole person.
Open discussion: What were some main ideas in the three primary topics in James?
(Use three columns to write ideas.)
What final admonition concludes and wraps up the book of James?
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19 Brethren,
If - Third Class Condition - Traditionally known as the 'More Probable Future
I. TRUTH v.19
"if anyone among you wanders from the truth,"
ἀλήθεια alētheia:
(a) objectively, signifying "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer), e.g., Rom 9:1; 2Cr 11:10; especially of Christian doctrine, e.g., Gal 2:5, where "the truth of the Gospel" denotes the "true" teaching of the Gospel, in contrast to perversions of it;
(b) subjectively, "truthfulness," "truth," not merely verbal, but sincerity and integrity of character, Jhn 8:44; 3Jo 1:3,
"The truth" is a set of facts that are known and believed
"The truth" also speaks to what we do.
II. WANDERS v.19
"if anyone among you wanders from the truth,"
πλανάω planaō:
1. in the Passive form sometimes means "to go astray, wander,"
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray,;
1Pe 2:25; For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Hbr 11:38; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.
2. frequently Active, "to deceive, by leading into error, to seduce," e.g., Mat 24:4,5,11,24; Jhn 7:12,
3. In Rev 12:9 the present participle is used with the definite article, as a title of the Devil, lit., "the deceiving one."
1. When you wander from the truth, you are living in error, living a lie. Your life does not tell the truth about who God is. JKV translate this error. [add to margin of Bible]
2. The deviation from the truth here must be a serious one. Note in verse 20, "saved from death."
2. When do we wander? When we loose our focus.
Hebrews 2.1 Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away.
3. Open Discussion: How do you identify someone who is beginning to drift?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
What has God given us to prevent us from wondering? (Spirit, Word, other saints)
III. TURNS
"and someone turns him back,"
ἐπιστρέφω epistrephō: to turn to, turn back
"Turns" is different than, μετανοέω metanoeō , the word usually translated "repent."
Ezekiel 34.15-16a
15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord God.
16 I will
seek what was lost and
bring back what was driven away,
bind up the broken and
strengthen what was sick;
Galatians 6
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
APPLICATIONS:
(ERROR / wandering n.)
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
(noun form of same word as in v. 19)
IV. THE VALUE OF RESTORATION
1. save a soul from death and
2. cover a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4.8
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Open discussion: What were some main ideas in the three primary topics in James?
(Use three columns to write ideas.)
- Trials
- Wisdom/speech
- Money
What final admonition concludes and wraps up the book of James?
-----------------------------------------------------
19 Brethren,
If - Third Class Condition - Traditionally known as the 'More Probable Future
I. TRUTH v.19
"if anyone among you wanders from the truth,"
ἀλήθεια alētheia:
(a) objectively, signifying "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" (Cremer), e.g., Rom 9:1; 2Cr 11:10; especially of Christian doctrine, e.g., Gal 2:5, where "the truth of the Gospel" denotes the "true" teaching of the Gospel, in contrast to perversions of it;
(b) subjectively, "truthfulness," "truth," not merely verbal, but sincerity and integrity of character, Jhn 8:44; 3Jo 1:3,
"The truth" is a set of facts that are known and believed
"The truth" also speaks to what we do.
Galatians 3:1
O foolish Galatians! Who has
bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed among you as crucified?
Galatians 5:7
You ran well. Who hindered you
from obeying the
truth?
James 3:14
But if you have bitter envy and
self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
1 John 1: 6 If we say that we have fellowship
with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth
1 John 3
17 But whoever
has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart
from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little
children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by
this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
hearts before Him.
Note, verse 20. the error of his way. This is not just what you believe with your mind and heart.
II. WANDERS v.19
"if anyone among you wanders from the truth,"
πλανάω planaō:
1. in the Passive form sometimes means "to go astray, wander,"
Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray,;
1Pe 2:25; For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Hbr 11:38; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.
2. frequently Active, "to deceive, by leading into error, to seduce," e.g., Mat 24:4,5,11,24; Jhn 7:12,
3. In Rev 12:9 the present participle is used with the definite article, as a title of the Devil, lit., "the deceiving one."
1. When you wander from the truth, you are living in error, living a lie. Your life does not tell the truth about who God is. JKV translate this error. [add to margin of Bible]
2. The deviation from the truth here must be a serious one. Note in verse 20, "saved from death."
2. When do we wander? When we loose our focus.
Hebrews 2.1 Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away.
3. Open Discussion: How do you identify someone who is beginning to drift?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
What has God given us to prevent us from wondering? (Spirit, Word, other saints)
III. TURNS
"and someone turns him back,"
ἐπιστρέφω epistrephō: to turn to, turn back
ylt, nasb95,nkjv, net—turns; kjv—converts; esv,
niv84, nlt—brings; wet—brings/turned
"Turns" is different than, μετανοέω metanoeō , the word usually translated "repent."
Ezekiel 34.15-16a
15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord God.
16 I will
seek what was lost and
bring back what was driven away,
bind up the broken and
strengthen what was sick;
Galatians 6
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
APPLICATIONS:
- Who in our flock do you know well enough to notice something is wrong and say, "I've noticed _________, What's happening?"
- Who at TBC has permission and knows you well enough to say something to you.
(ERROR / wandering n.)
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
(noun form of same word as in v. 19)
ylt, nkjv, net—turns; nasb95—turns/error; kjv—converts; esv,
niv84, nlt—brings; wet—brings/turned
IV. THE VALUE OF RESTORATION
1. save a soul from death and
- The soul of the wanderer is in view here.
- Two ways: the path that leads to life and the path that leads to death. The one you are one determines your eternal destination.
2. cover a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4.8
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
- The repentance of the reclaimed sinning believer results in the forgiveness (covering) of his or her sins. This description of forgiveness harks back to Old Testament usage where the biblical writers described sin as covered when forgiven. Such usage was understandable for James who was a Jewish believer writing to other Jews primarily..." -- Thomas Constable
- "So often when a person drifts away from active involvement in church and even from the faith, it is due to unresolved personal offenses within the congregation. --ECNT
- The words “cover over a multitude of sins” constitute at least an allusion to, and perhaps a deliberate quotation of, Prov. 10:12, where hate and love are contrasted: “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.” ---CNTUOT
- ...the idea is not that the wrongs are concealed but not dealt with, but rather that the love itself reconciles the alienated offender and changes everything. ---CNTUOT
- It is not enough not to retaliate against an enemy; it is essential to love one’s enemy. So too here at the end of James’s epistle: it is not enough to try to be faithful ourselves; rather, it is essential to try to secure the faithfulness of others. We overcome evil with good. ---CNTUOT
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