Am I a sinner who needs to turn to God?
Yesterday
We LOOKED at the last group in the church, those who stray from the truth.
Today
We want to understand such ones are sinners, whose ways are in error.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
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Let’s Pray
Lord, You have preserved this letter for us to learn, know and understand. Please help us today as we come wanting to grasp hold of what You are saying. May we be willing to receive Your Truth and live out what You show and teach us today.
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha guide you.
Open the LOOK Section
How will you get underway?
READ God’s Word
Read James 5:19-20 again.
Let’s focus on verse 20, asking the 5W’s and H.
Keep LOOKING and REASONING
Incorporate All Our Strategies
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Fine Tune Your Ears!
In verse 20, what does James call the wanderer?
What’s the next clue they don’t have true faith?
. . .he who turns a sinner from the error of his way. . .
Don’t miss it, the person who strays from truth is called a sinner!
THINK: It only makes sense that when someone strays away from Truth – away from God, Jesus, the Word, the gospel – they go into error. The way they live will give evidence that they have turned from God.
Let’s do some digging.
Sinner, hamartōlós; to deviate, miss the mark. (I) As adj., erring from the divine law, sinful, wicked, impious. Oblivious to the consequences of sin, guilty and exposed to punishment; Despisers of God; ungodly persons deserving of punishment.
Error, plánē; A wandering out of the right way. (III) Of conduct meaning perverseness, wickedness, sin (Rom. 1:27; James 5:20).
His way, hodós, (III) Metaphorically meaning way, manner, means. (C) Way of thinking, feeling, acting, manner of life and conduct (. . .quoted from Is. 59:8; see James 5:20).
. . .he who turns the sinner (ungodly, despiser of God) from the error (perverseness, wickedness, sin) of his way (life and conduct).
Understand: There are people among us, in the church, who have wandered, strayed from the Truth – from God, Jesus, the Word, the gospel – into a conduct that is in error, a wicked, sinful lifestyle.
Let’s Camp on Sinner and Their Way
1. Do you remember what James has told us about sinners?
a. Jam 2:14-26
Sinners were those with dead faith, NOT saved. (Jam 2:14-26)
b. Jam 4:8
Sinners, are the double-minded who need to draw near to God to be cleansed and purified. (Jam 4:8)
2. According to Romans, who is a sinner?
Rom 3:23
ALL are sinners because ALL have sinned and are in need of righteousness. (Rom 3:23)
I would encourage you to go back to Ch 1 to review Sin>
You might be like I once was –
I was not willing to acknowledge that I was a sinner, after all I hadn’t murdered anyone. Thus, I was trapped in an easy believeism, a dead faith, actually arrogant enough to think God was lucky to have me on His team. Praise be to God He opened my ears and eyes!
I am praying if you are stuck in a dead faith like I once was, that the Truth will set you free!
LISTEN. . .
Have I refused to acknowledge that I am a sinner?
Or, When did I realize I was a sinner in need of righteousness?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
3. The first place we see sinners in God’s Word is in Genesis.
Who does God view as sinners? Who do they sin against?
Gen 13:13; 19:5
The homosexual men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against the LORD. (Gen 13:13; 19:5)
We see: These men were sinners and their way (their lifestyle) was wicked, in error!
LISTEN. . .
Do I struggle with same sex desires?
How can I fight these desires?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
4. Who else does God regard as sinners?
1Ti 1:9-10
Realizing the fact that the law is NOT made for the righteous but for those who
are lawless and rebellious,
for the ungodly and sinners,
for the unholy and profane,
for those who kill their fathers or mothers,
for murderers, and
immoral men and homosexuals and
kidnappers and
liars and perjurers, and
whatever else is contrary to sound teaching. (1Ti 1:9-10)
Do you see any of the 10 Commandments here?
We see: The sinners way is in error because it is contrary to sound teaching!
LISTEN. . .
Is my lifestyle contrary to sound teaching?
Are any of these characteristics a habit of my life?
Am I lawless, totally rejecting and disregarding God and His holy laws?
Do I enjoy being rebellious?
Am I profane?
How do I really treat my mother and father and others?
Am I a murderer? Who do I hate?
Am I immoral?
Am living with someone outside of marriage, fornicating?
Am I an adulterer?
Am I living a homosexual lifestyle?
Do I steal?
Do I lie? What about little white lies?
What can I do?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
5. Why are they referred to as sinners?
1Jo 3:7-9
Because they practice sin, thus are of the devil,
no one born of God practices sin. (1Jo 3:7-9)
LISTEN. . .
Am I of the devil because I practice sin?
What sin is holding me in bondage?
Or, am I born of God, set free from sin?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
Let’s stop and finish LOOKING at sinners tomorrow!
Take a Breath!
You have heard God speak!
Were you quick to hear?
How has God moved you? Stirred you?
Contemplate all that He is teaching you.
Oh, talk to the Loving Father!
Record Your Discovery in Your Notes
You can’t remember everything,
So highlight key points and details that might otherwise slip your mind.
Then you can go back and review any time.
Besides, you never know when God will have you share these vital Truths to others!
Get them under your belt!
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Turn What We Have LEARNED Into Prayer
Perhaps. . .
FATHER GOD, THE GOD OF ALL TRUTH, WHO SPEAKS NOTHING BUT TRUTH, and LORD JESUS WHO IS THE WAY TO THE FATHER, IS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FATHER, AND IS LIFE WITH THE FATHER we bow before You and praise You who are our Masters. Thank you HOLY SPIRIT, SPIRIT OF TRUTH, for convicting each one of us of our sin and righteousness, (Joh 16:8), leading us and guiding us into all Truth. We thank you for Your Word of Truth, being right at our very fingertips, to explain to us who You are Lord God, and what You require of us. May we have ears to hear and eyes to see! Father, if anyone is hearing Your Truth from James, now realizing they are a sinner, in need of Your righteousness, may they this day, right now, turn from their sin to You in repentance and true belief, so their sins will be forgiven, and they will be born again. Thank you! We ask this in Your name Lord Jesus! Amen!
Next: We will continueLOOKING at the ‘sinner’.
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