James 5:20 "let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death ..."

Wanderers are in twofold danger. They are in error and need to be turned back to the truth. Should they not be turned back they face inevitable soul death.

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They Are Going The Way Of Danger - Someone Needs To Turn Them Back

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Wanderers need to return by seeking

To turn them back to truth by seeking their repentance. The call for repentance is often the missing note in both evangelism and in attempts to turn back those astray from the truth.

Repentance is a change of mind

'Metanola' - repentance, a change of mind consequent to after knowledge, which by enlightenment brings godly sorrow over the wrong course pursued, and it is a change of mind from evil to good or from wrong to right. The Lord illustrates this aspect of repentance in:

Matthew 21:28,29 "'But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' ²⁹ 'He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went."

Repentance is a change with emotion

As the psalmist confessed his iniquity, he was deeply troubled by his sin, (Psalm 38:18 NIV). There was deep emotion when the tax collector repented - he beat his breast and cried to God for mercy (Luke 15:21 ). The prodigal returned with the deep feeling of being no longer worthy (Luke 18:13 ). To the repentant, sin is no longer an indifferent matter, sin is grievous and against God, brings deep feelings of being personally unacceptable and unworthy. This emotional condition can only be remedied by the compassionate welcome of the Father, and the full reinstatement by grace.

Repentance is a change in direction

The one wandering in his own way has second thoughts and like the psalmist can say:

Psalm 119:59,60 "I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. ⁶⁰ I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments."

It is a turning from transgressions and ruin (Ezekiel 18:30 ). This turning away is by a change of heart and mind away from self and sin, towards God and reliant, dependant faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21 ).

Repentance is a change of conduct

	Like Zacchaeus, the lust to get is changed to the love to give (Luke 19:8 ).
	Like Saul of Tarsus, changed from a persecutor to one who pursued Christ (Acts 9:1- 6 ).
	Like the jailor, changed from prisoner securer to practical server (Acts 16:13-34 ).
	Like the proud who strayed for God's commandments (Psalm 119:21 ) to steadfast practice and delight in the Lord's testimonies (Psalm 119:22,24 ).
	Like Onesimus who was unprofitable but became profitable (Philemon 10-11 ).

Someone can turn back the one straying from the truth by changing their mind and heart and direction that will be seen in changed conduct. To turn them back to the truth by seeking their return.

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Wanderers need to be returned to their senses

2 Timothy 2:25,26 "in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."

All leaders and Christians are to be servants of the Lord, who do not quarrel either among themselves, nor become quarrelsome with wanderers. Rather they are to be prepared and able to teach patiently and gently and in humility, so as to turn the straying one back to truth (2 Timothy 2:24 ). Teaching so as to lead to repentance, a change of mind, to expose the snare of the devil, to deliver from the devil's captivity, to bring about their escape by coming to their senses.

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Wanderers need to be returned to their Saviour

When the one who has erred and strayed from truth comes to his senses and sees his sin, there is no need to be overcome by fear because of what has been exposed by the Word and the convincing Holy Spirit, because all can be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. The promise to those returning to the Saviour is

Matthew 1:21 "... [for He will save His people from their sins.] "

It is true that Jesus came to save the lost (1 Timothy 1:15 ). It is equally true that He is the Saviour of believers who return from straying. Paul tells us that the living God is the Saviour of all men

1 Timothy 4:10 "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."

Returning in true repentance, pleading the merits of the Saviour's righteousness and efficacious blood, the desperate erring one is cleansed and loosed from the guilt and ensnarement. We have in Jesus both advocate and propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:1-2 ).

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Wanderers need to be returned to the scriptures

Straying from truth is because the Scriptures are not known and understood.

Mark 12:24 "Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, (marg: deceived) because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?"

By turning back to the Scriptures and away from our own opinions and those of others, we will not be deceived and will know and understand God's mind and revelation. There is safety in returning to the Scriptures as the seed.

Luke 8:11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

To grow and mature and become fruitful in righteousness it is essential to receive the precious seed in abundance both morning and evening.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 "In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good."

	Return to the Scriptures as the sword and experience victory and dominion: Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" We have the example of Jesus who used the Scriptures to vanquish Satan in the wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:1-11 ).
	Return to the Scriptures as the hammer to break any hardness, and fashion in Christlikeness: Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? " Isaiah 44:12 "The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint."
	Return to the Scriptures as the fire to destroy error and disobedience, and to refine, cleanse the lifestyle: Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Psalm 39:3 "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned (Marg: meditating): then spake I with my tongue,"
	Return to the scriptures as a lamp to illuminate your path and guide your steps: Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
	Return to the scriptures as a mirror to see yourself as you are in Christ:: 2 Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
	Return to the scriptures as the water that washes clean: Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," John 15:3 ""You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

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Wanderers need to return to the saints

All believers are "saints" through their spiritual union with Christ.

Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, [To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,] with the bishops and deacons:"

Set apart in Christ, believers stand in the holiness of Christ as to their objective status. They possess the merits of Christ imputed to them by faith. In their daily experience their conduct should increasingly correspond with their standing in Christ. "Someone" should turn back the straying one to the company of saints.

	The returned one identifies with those who are standing in Christ. As justified (Romans 5:1 ); As sons of God (John 1:12 ); as heirs (1 Peter 1:4 ); as a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:5-6 ); as perfect ( Hebrews 10:14 ); as glorified (Romans 8:30 ). Now, we and the one we have turned back, need to possess actively in our daily living, what we are in Christ.
	The returned one is to be, with the saints, strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. " The Lord Himself is the mighty storehouse of power and might. The weak can know unfailing strength by drawing on the inexhaustible supply.
	The returned one is to join the saints in putting on God's protective armour. Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Protection is needed from real foes (Ephesians 6:12 ). With the armour of God on, the protected ones are equipped to stand (Ephesians 6:13-17 ).
	The returned one can unite with all saints in all prayer that is victorious (Ephesians 6:18 ). To be with the saints, even a few in prayer, is to be assured of the Lord's special presence and unlimited answers (Matthew 18:18-20 ).

Someone needs to turn back those who have strayed, back to their senses, to their Saviour, to the Scriptures, to the saints - that "someone" should be you!

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They Are Going The Way Of Death - Someone Needs To Save Them

James 5:20 "let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."

This statement cannot be construed to mean premature physical death. It is specifically stated to save the soul from death. What strong motivation to reach out to sinners. We must strive to save them by turning them to Christ who alone can deliver their souls from death.

Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Those who practice wickedness are deserving of death (Romans 1:32 ). Those who are deceived that a particular way of sin is safe for them, cannot save their soul from death (Proverbs 14:12 ). There is a punishment for unrepentant, willful sinning that should cause fear.

Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

The death that the soul needs to be saved from is described by Jesus as going,

Matthew 25:41 "... into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"

To save a soul from death is to save that soul from the second death (Revelation 20:14 ). What impelling motivation, to be occupied in saving souls from death.