THE SOUL WINNER’S REWARD

JAMES 5:19,20

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Psalm 3:8  “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.”

 

But in effecting the salvation of men, the Lord is pleased to employ the instrumentality of human king.  To this instrumentality the Scriptures ascribe great importance.

 

Compare:  I Timothy 4:16  “Both save thyself and them that hear thee.”  Preacher saving.

 

Compare:  I Corinthians 7:16  The wife the husband; the husband the wife.

 

Both the Lord and the instrument, the men.

 

      A.  A man about to walk over a cliff.  Another, seeing him, calls to him.  He turns and is saved.  Testifies:  “I would have fallen to my death, but for this man who called me, saved me.”  Testifies:  “I would have fallen to my death, but God in heaven who watches over men, watches over me.”

 

 

I.  THE GREATEST TRAGEDY

 

“Suffer the death of the soul; covered with a multitude of sins.”

 

“Life” in scripture, not existence, but life with God.

 

“Death” in scripture, not non-existence, but existence apart from God.  Ephesians 2:1; I Timothy 5:6.

 

Did first death - separation of soul, lonely.

Did second death - separation of soul from God.

 

Terrible beyond degree:

 

“The fire not quenched.”

“The worm dieth not.”

“Weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth.”

“Smoke of their torment ascended forever.”

Torment of the flames.”

 

Salvation so great; the Savior so worthy.

 

The dreadful hell we shall not know.

The wrath of God we shall not feel.

The banishment from God shall not happen to us.

 

II.  THE GREATEST WORK

 

3:20a  “Let him know” explain.  Let him realize this...ponder...

 

Compare:  Manning the life boat, saving from the storms at sea...

 

Compare:  Plunging into the fire, rescuing the hopelessly trapped...

 

But this greater...

 

      a.  To Lyman Beecher, “What is the greatest thing any person can do for another?”  Without hesitation the famous preacher-scholar replied:  “to bring another to Jesus the Savior.”

 

            1.  He spoke the judgment of the Scriptures:

 

Proverbs 11:30 

 

To be wise in our own conceit.

To be wise in the judgment of men.

To be wise in our God, heavenly benediction.

 

Daniel 12:3

John 20:31; II Timothy 4:5

 

            2.  He spoke the example of our lord, the Apostles.

 

John to Andrew, John.

John to James; Andrew to Simon Peter.

Jesus to Phillip - Phillip to Nathaniel.

Paul, I Corinthians 9:19-22.

 

            3.  He spoke the teachings of the Savior.

 

Mark 8:36,37 

 

What compare with the worth of the soul?  Every man has this priceless treasure in himself.  No words can express the loss.  Loses his soul, loses himself.  Like the merchantman, shipwrecked, all goes down at sea, himself and all his treasures.

 

Matthew 10:28  “Fear him, destiny both soul and body in hell.”

 

            4.  Jesus cannot destroy death, to put away sin.  In saving a soul, we do both :  save from death, cover sins.

 

III.  THE GREATEST BLESSING

 

5:19b  “and one commit him.”

 

The one who win’s, one what?  A minister?  An evangelist?  Does not specify.  Anyone.

 

Notice the singular member: “any” “the sinner”  not plural.  Speaks of the one.  Luke Luke 15, one sheep, one coin, one boy.  Would aspire to be a Whitefield, Moody, Spurgeon, Truett, swaying the thousands.  No.  Just one.  Does not even describe the one person; anyone.

 

            1.  A child, youth, one before falling.

 

“Hide a multitude of sins.”

 

To reclaim the prodigal, good - but to keep him from being a prodigal.

 

To bring back the thief, good - but to keep him from being a thief.

 

Practically all servants of God, early in life.

The church’s Joseph’s, Samuel’s, Daniel’s.

 

If the child sick.

If the child hungry.

How much more; his soul.