My theme for this devotional is difficult themes in the Bible.
There are some verses in the Bible that seem difficult to understand. I came across one the other day. James 5: 20. “Let him know that he which converts a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Let us start though by reading James chapter 5, verses 7-20.
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
Does then verse 20 mean that we can forgive sins? No. For when it comes to our salvation, only God can forgive sin, which we gain through Christ’s death upon the Cross. We are of course called to forgive each other, as Jesus instructed after giving us the Lord’s prayer.
So what is this verse saying? There are many different ways to interpret it. however, I found the following helpful.
There is a sense that we can convert others to the Lord. There is a sense in which others must turn and convert themselves. Or, to put it another way, we are called to share the Christian gospel, and the sinner’s role is to respond to the presented truth. However, it is God’s providential grace that graciously overrules the whole conversion event.
Let me encourage you that when you come across a difficult to understand verse or passage, first ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding, and secondly, do not take that verse out of context.
We see then it is God, by the Holy Spirit moving alongside them that convicts people, but we do our part by presenting Christ to them. We must leave it to God, but given the opportunity, we can lead them to receive salvation.
1Corinthians chapter 3, verses 4-9. “For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
So what can we conclude? God has made it possible in Christ for all men to be saved. We that are saved are to be the channels proclaiming that truth. Accepting we can be part of that chain that leads others to Christ, fully excepting it is God who saves, and that he must receive all the glory.
Prayer:
Lord, let us seek to lead others to Christ, that they might know you. We acknowledge we cannot force them to repent, for they must turn willingly from their sin. And only you can convict, and then forgive them. Amen.