Restoring Erring Brethren James 5:19-20 Galatians 6:1

James 5:19-20 “19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins”

Galatians 6:1-2 “1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”

Introduction In this lesson we will consider the Divine teaching concerning… Who are erring brethren? What is the spiritual condition of erring brethren? Our responsibility toward erring brethren 1 Jn. 4:17-21 - Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Gal. 5:4 - For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Who are Erring Brethren?

Those overtaken in a fault - Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” Erring brethren are

Those walking disorderly - 2 Thessalonians 3:6 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” Erring brethren are

The sexually immoral et al - 1 Corinthians 5:11, NKJV “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person” Erring brethren are KJV - I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Those who neglect their duty and sin willfully - Hebrews 10:25-26 “25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins” Erring brethren are

Those who will not work and provide for their own - 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 Erring brethren are

Those who are tale-bearers & idle - 1 Tim. 5:13 “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not” Erring brethren are 1 Pet. 3:10 - For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Those again entangled in sin - 2 Peter 2:20 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” Erring brethren are 2 Pet. 2:21-22 - 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Those who depart from God - Hebrews 3:12 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” Erring brethren are

Those who are factious - Titus 3:10 “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject” Erring brethren are

Those who cause division - Romans 16:17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” Erring brethren are

Those who forsake Christ’s cause - 2 Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia” Erring brethren are

Those who “sin a sin unto death” - 1 John 5:16 “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it” “sin unto death” - sin one persists in “sin which is not unto death” - a sin one is forgiven of Romans 6:16, 23 Erring brethren are Rom. 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What Is The Spiritual Condition of the Erring?

Is Lost - Matthew 16:26 The soul of the erring “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” The soul of the erring

Is not in fellowship with God - 1 John 1:7-9 “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” The soul of the erring 1 Jn. 1:5-6 - This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Is shipwrecked - 1 Timothy 1:19-20 “19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” The soul of the erring

Is in a “worse” condition - 2 Peter 2:20-22 “20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. The soul of the erring

What Is Our Responsibility Toward the Erring?

Go to the erring - Matthew 18:15-17 “15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican” Our duty to the erring Go to him Tell him is fault If he hears, you have gain or recovered a sinful bother If he will not hear, take witnesses If he continues to not hear, tell it to the church If he will not hear the church, reject him (send out away)

“Restore” them in meekness - Galatians 6:1 caught, taken in sin who? “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” - NKJV Our duty to the erring self-examination mild, meek repair, strengthen

“Bear one another’s burdens”- Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” Vs. 2 – “burden” (baros – Gk) = a weight or load The burden of shame for the trespass – vs. 1 Vs. 5 – “burden” (phortion – Gk) = a task or service Individual accountability / responsibility 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12 Must show love, compassion and sympathy to a fallen brother - 2 Corinthians 2:4-11; James 5:19-20 This action fulfills the law of Christ Matthew 22:37-39 Our duty to the erring Gal. 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 2 Cor. 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Rom. 14:12 - 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 2 Corinthians 2:4-10 -READ Jas. 5:19-20 - 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. Matt. 22:39 - 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind 38 This is the first and great commandment 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Warn the unruly - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men” Our duty to the erring

Admonish as a brother - 2 Thessalonians 3:15 “Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” Our duty to the erring

Not fellowship them - 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14 “6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” “14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” Our duty to the erring

REVIEW CONCLUSION Who are erring brethren? What is the spiritual condition of erring brethren? Our responsibility toward erring brethren? REVIEW CONCLUSION Restoring the erring shows our love toward them We are responsible to attempt to restore the erring God is not willing that any perish 2 Pet. 3:9 -The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Galatians 6:1-2, 10 Our duty to the erring “1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” Our duty to the erring

“…what shall we do?” Acts 2:37 Alien sinners must… Hear the Gospel – Romans 10:17 Believe – John 8:34 Repent – Acts 17:30 Confess Christ – Matthew 10:34 Be baptized for the remission of sins – Acts 2:38 An erring child of God must… Repent and Pray for Forgiveness – 1 John 1:7-9 Christians must be “faithful unto death” Revelation 2:10 “…what shall we do?” Acts 2:37 Acts 2:37 - 26 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Rom. 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Jn. 8:34 - I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Acts. 17:30-31 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Matt. 10:34 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 1 Jn. 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.