This verse, along with the next, constitutes the final exhortation in the book. The whole aim of James is to turn the erring back to the Lord – to right Christian living. In these last verses he is asking for helpers in the great and needful work of reaching the straying.

"Brethren ..." It is well to remind ourselves again, that when James uses the term "brethren", he is referring to all those who profess to be Christians. He does not distinguish between the faithful and those who merely profess so to be. So these last two verses can be applied to one faithfully serving the Lord, or to a Christian straying from the truth. The expressions "brethren" and "my brethren" are often found in the book. Some translations have "my brethren" here as in other places.

"... if any of you ..." The expression "if any of you" tells us that he is particularly thinking of those in Jewish assemblies, considered to be one of the flock. He is not thinking of those outside, who make no profession to Christianity. Some professing Christians today may not be saved at all – perhaps no more right with God than the lost.

"... do err from the truth ..." Sometimes Christians err from the truth. It is possible to be led astray either doctrinally or morally. Some have been turned aside by false teachers – others, by sinful men. Strong passion and love of the world have led some off the high road of faith and morality. Backsliding is so easy. Let us be on guard, or we, too, may be numbered among those who err from the truth.

Astray as to doctrine: There are a great many false teachings rampant today – always have been. Some seem ready to swallow almost anything. What one believes seems of little importance to some. An elder of the church once said: “It matters what one believes, but, perhaps more important is his sincerity.” Right doctrine is important because it affects both one's salvation and life. False cults can usually be judged by what they teach pertaining to the person and work of Christ. What do they think of His deity? Do they teach there is salvation only in obeying Him; being born again – contacting His shed blood? Further, what do they believe about: sin, the inspiration of the Scriptures, the personality of the Holy Spirit, etc.? The prophet laments, "O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err" (Is. 3:12). Many leaders of the church today will have much to answer for when they stand before the Lord.

Err from the truth in practice: It is as possible to err from the truth in our practical Christian living as it is in doctrine. Some do not deny fundamental truth, but live contrary to it. Right doctrine and right living are important things that cannot and must not be separated. Right doctrine comes first, but right living must follow at once as a result. To live a loose or immoral life is certainly to err from the truth. Some, in effect, say, "Christ died for me, I am saved, I am bound for heaven, I can say and do as I like." James would call such a heretic. We are not saved by how we live, but certainly how we live proves whether we are saved or not. The natural effect of salvation is a separated life for God. To live a sinful life after salvation is to deny the power of the gospel to save from sin. Heresy in doctrine is a bad thing, but heresy in life is equally serious. It brings reproach on our Savior, our Father, and His royal family.

"... and one convert him." We often think of conversion as applying to salvation, but this is not always so. "Convert" does not mean "regenerate." It means to "turn back," referring to both the lost and the erring saint. Peter says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). The Lord used the same term speaking to Peter after his denial; "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32). Peter was saved, but had sinned grievously, and needed to be restored. The spiritual life of some Christians fluctuates greatly. At one time they seem to walk with the Lord, but then they grow cold and careless. Such need turning back, but not another new birth.

Only God can convert one: In the final analysis, only God can convert a sinner or a straying saint, but it is a wonderful privilege to be an instrument in His hand in the winning of an erring brother, or an unsaved one to Christ.

Am I my brother’s keeper?: Cain asked the Lord, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9). The whole Word of God tells us that we are our brother's keepers. If the Lord has blessed us with salvation, it is so we may be a blessing to others – both saved and unsaved. The word, "brethren," in our verse is reason enough for us to do what we can to reclaim the straying, whether they go astray doctrinally or morally.

Not work of a special class: Our verse does not say "and the preacher convert him," or "and the elders convert him," but simply, "and one convert him." This tells us that any of the Lord's people may undertake this work, and it would be wonderful if we all did.

Work for the spiritual Christians: Of course, in order to do this work, one must himself be spiritual. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness" (Gal. 6:1). In order to help the straying, one must himself be leading a godly life, or they will say, "Physician, heal thyself." Only a good man can influence another for good. If you are used of the Lord in bringing one back to God, you are a friend indeed. "He that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30).

Scripture Reading: James 5:20 (KJV)

"Let him know ..." James does not promise any special reward in heaven, or special favor or earth, because of converting a sinner from the error of his way. His only promise is the joy of knowing that one has been saved from death, and a multitude of sins have been covered. This alone should be enough to stir us on to this grand work. Other Scriptures tell us this will also bring us reward in glory. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Dan. 12:3).

"... he which converteth the sinner ..." No doubt, the best thing one can do for his neighbor is to be a Christian example, in the hope of leading him to Christ. This is truly a noble work; grander than saving someone from fire or drowning. Has the Lord, through your efforts, plucked brands from the burning, and making them children of God? Have you ever caused "joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth?" For the joy of knowing this, some have suffered the loss of all things, willing to be abused, imprisoned, and even executed. An old Christian said: “To be used of the Lord only once, is worth living a lifetime for.” This is true whether it is in reaching the lost or restoring a straying saint.

"... the sinner ..." All men fall into sin, but the Scripture usually means an unsaved person when it calls him "a sinner." This is evident when we read over the occasions where the term is used. A Christian, who is away from God, walking in sin, is also called a sinner. This seems to be the case when James says, "Cleanse your hands, ye sinners" (4:8). Perhaps, also, James is not differentiating between the one who merely professes to follow the Lord and the true Christian who was not walking as he should. It seems there were some in the early church, as today, who wore only a cloak of Christianity – not faithful. James may have these in mind especially.

"... shall save a soul from death ..." The expression "shall save a soul from death" can also be applied to the lost or an erring saint. The word "soul" is often confused with "spirit." "Soul" here, as in most places in the Word, refers to the life of a man. So we could read this: "shall save a life from death." Every unconverted sinner is bound for death, both natural and spiritual. This is also true if one makes only a profession of Christianity – not sincere. One is saved when born again, and by living a faithful life, will never see spiritual death. He may die a natural death, if the Lord does not come in his lifetime. In the early church, if an erring Christian was restored to the Lord, a life was saved from being wasted. Sometimes, too, the Lord may remove such from this scene. Because of abuses in connection with the Lord's Supper, Paul says, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep" (1 Cor. 11:30). The Lord still judges in this way.

"... a soul ..." Notice, James does not here speak of the conversion of great crowds, but of "the sinner" and "a soul." The Lord everywhere places great value on one soul, and the restoration of one saint. This is emphasized in connection with the one sheep, one piece of silver, and the one son in Luke 15. Also, "For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). Here, as in our verse, "soul" would be better translated "Life," but certainly it means more than natural life. This puts great emphasis on personal work – reaching one soul.

"... shall hide a multitude of sins." To convert a sinner from the error of his way means not only to save a soul from death, but to "hide a multitude of sins." "Cover" would be better than "hide." Some have read this to mean that if one converts a sinner from the error of his way, his sins will be covered. This is not the meaning. The sins of the repentant one are covered. As the blood stained mercy seat on the ark hid from view the tables of the law, broken by man, so the confessed sins of the erring one is covered by the blood of Christ. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Ps. 32:1). "... multitude of sins." When James speaks of a "multitude of sins," he reminds us that sins pile up. Think of the sins of many, many years before one is converted. Consider how many sins will be committed if a person committed only one a day for 22 years. It would be over 7,600 sins. And who will say that one sin a day is all we might commit? Perhaps with some of us, 100 a day might not cover it. When one trusts and obeys Christ all these sins are forgiven. Truly a multitude of sins are washed away by the blood of Christ—freely and gladly forgiven! When born again, the sinner is as readily forgiven as the prodigal son was by his father (Luke 15).

The erring saint: When the erring saint is restored "a multitude of sins" are also covered. First, the sins he confesses are forgiven put away. There often is a great multitude of these. When one is born again, not only are past sins forgiven, but, by constant confession and repentance, future ones are also washed away. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

The close: So our epistle comes to an abrupt close. It is altogether different from Paul's or Peter's. There is no salutation or doxology. He closes with this high note of exhortation, telling others to follow his example in converting sinners from the error of their ways. This has been the main purpose of his whole letter, repentance and conversion of the mere professor of Christianity – the return of the true Christian to a high plane of life for the Lord. May the Lord help us live this high life for Him, and may we assist others in reaching it. May we truly be, "Workers together with him" (2 Cor. 6:1).

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