19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
What does this mean and what are the implications? James was the brother of Jesus and became a leader in the early Church in Jerusalem. Some of fondly referred to his letter as the New Testament book of Proverbs due to its wise and practical instruction. James answers the question, “How shall we then live.” Faith, to James, is more than an idea; it includes a practical outworking of godliness. The Letter was probably written soon after Christ’s ascension and primarily to dispersed Jews. He addresses such topics as:
a. The need for wisdom in tests and trials;
b. Obedience to the Word;
c. Living loving lives among the rich and poor;
d. Living out your faith in good works;
e. Godly speech and worldliness;
f. Instruction to the
wealthy; and returning to the first category,
g. Suffering and prayer.
It would seem difficult to separate James 5:19-20 from his instruction on suffering, prayer and confession of sin because this would leave the letter without a concluding statement. However, that seems to be the case. It appears that James is placing his arms around the readers and reminding them to care for one another by helping those who sin, particularly the sins noted in his letter. What a poignant way to end a letter that focuses on the truth that our justification is justified by our godly behavior. He is writing to “brothers” and his concern is “anyone among you.” He is clearly addressing someone within the congregation “wandering away from the truth”.
The verb “wander away” can either mean to be led astray or going away by one’s own choice. [1] The word “if” conveys the possibility that this hasn’t happened, but if it did this is what you are to do. The scenario is a wandering from the “truth”. One might think this is a departure from orthodoxy, but the practical extent of this letter leads me to conclude that it is a wandering away from right behavior. The call to the Christian community is to “bring him back”. The danger to an unrestored wanderer is bleak to say the least: It will “save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”[2]
At the very least this person who is “among” them is a professing Christian. And in accord with this letter, I would agree with Bloomberg and Kamel that “this restoring is more a work that shows their faith than one that creates their salvation.”[3] That this is more than physical death is surely the danger. “That this cannot be physical death may be inferred from the literal translation of the Greek text: it "shall save his soul from death." So it would seem that spiritual death is in view.”[4]
Of course, it is only our Savior that saves. But the ministry of a loving believer seeking to restore a fallen brother (Galatians 6:1-2) is surely a life-saving rescue mission. The restoration of the confessing believer not only shows that they have passed from death to life, but we learn that it “will cover a multitude of sins.”[5] This harmonizes with 1 Peter 4:8 that reads, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, ESV).
Grammatically “The sins that are “covered” could also be the sins of the person who has wandered (v. 19), but it might be instead (or also) the sins of the person who has intervened on their behalf (Prov 10:12).”[6] “The most obvious person would be the one who has strayed. Yet, ‘Jewish sources are quoted to the effect that the one who turns a sinner to repentance is deserving of forgiveness himself.’”[7] The verse tends to be ambiguous, but the natural reading, I would contend, would be that the erring brother is the recipient of such “covering”. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1, ESV)
What does this mean? It would surely include the thought that once his sins are confessed before God in true repentance, they are “forgiven and forgotten” by God the Father. He has promised the erring saint in 1 John 1:9 (ESV), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [Emphasis mine]. The “saving the soul from death” is surely the result of confession and repentance and there is no sin that cannot be “covered” for the penitent believer.
James's purpose in these closing verses is to encourage Christians to make an effort to bring the wanderer back. A return by the “sinner” will “justify” their profession of faith with the promise that all their sins can be forgiven. We Calvinists are fearful about embracing the warnings of Scripture, but that should not be the case. Indeed, it is only those who persevere who show they are one with Christ. “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:14, ESV). And again, “And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”[8]
So, I conclude that James is telling us that even though we have been saved by the grace of God and once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, we are still sinners living in mortal bodies who have a tendency to wander off like silly sheep. So, we are to watch out for each other and return each other to the truth of the Christian life, knowing full well that if an erring congregant fails to respond in repentance the consequences are dire.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love:
Take my heart, oh, take and seal it
With Thy Spirit from above.
Rescued thus from sin and danger,
Purchased by the Savior’s blood,
May I walk on earth a stranger,
As a son and heir of God.
[2] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (Jas 5:20). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[4] “Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis
CD-ROM:James/Exposition of James/XII. Miscellaneous Exhortations (5:7-20)/D.
Concerning the Wanderer (5:19-20), Book Version: 4.0.2
[5] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (Jas 5:20). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
[6] Zondervan. The NIV Zondervan Study Bible, eBook: Built
on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message . Zondervan.
Kindle Edition.
[8] The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version. (2016). (Heb 3:6). Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Bibles.
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