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James 5:20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Now we can bookend this with yesterday's verse about judging with mercy. There's no way that we can do this verse without the Anakrino type of judging. If we sat back and went with the "judge not" idea, we would be actually doing the Krisis type of judging, because they just may be blindly headed to the edge of a cliff and if we don't warn them, with mercy, we're the one who's guilty. Just like the watchman in Ezekiel, who's told: if the watchman sees the enemy coming and warns the people and they don't heed his warning their blood is on their own hands. But if the watchman fails to warn them, and they are slaughtered, the blood is on the watchman's hands. How many pastors have congregations that they know their sheep are living in blatant sin and not doing what Jesus said to do: go to the person and tell them. If they don't listen, take a few congregants and talk with them. If they still don't repent, take them before the church. If they still don't repent, kick them out. That's what was going on in the Corinthian church. Everyone was so proud of how tolerant they were when a man was sleeping with his step mother. What did Paul tell them to do? He told them to turn him over to the devil that his soul may be saved. Our country is in the shape it's in today because the church has diluted itself to where it looks like the world...having the "illusion" of godliness, but denying the power of God. Galatians 6:9 tells us that A little leaven leavens the whole leaf. Now, the big challenge here is to do this with mercy. If someone is attending the church and they aren't born again, the most important thing we can do is to present the gospel to them and give them the opportunity to receive the free gift of eternal life. When they do that, they receive the actual power to overcome sin. Jesus said the He's the vine and we're the branches and apart from Him we can do nothing, zilch, nada! But if we abide in Him and He in us, we can do ALL things thru Him who gives us strength. Papa God, please forgive us for our sins of not doing life the way you laid out for us in Your precious name. Show us how to exercise the balance of grace and truth iJna.

That's a huge weight, a soul in your hands, one way or the other, leading it to heaven or leading it to hell, "the Great Commission, indeed.

never give up on sinners.,God will save them if they seek forgiveness..

This does not say we are to judge others or condemn them for their ways but we are to live in a manner that others will see the light of Christ. We are to speak to the one who has turned away and turn them back around.

THANK YOU JESUS, FOR WASHING MY SINS AWAY. AND FOR ALLOWING OTHERS TO TURN ME AROUND WHEN I STRAY.

The last two verses in this chapter are an example of how we need to look out for each other and if we realize a slip by a brother or sister in Christ we need to warn them so that they may be turned back to the truth and the path of the Lord. I believe we need to do so in a gentle and loving way and not in a judgmental way. God is forgiving and patient and so should we, as believers in Christ.

We should always be prepared to witness, and are actually called to share the gospel, especially to the nominal Christians.