In light of passages like James 5:19-20, it amazes me that anyone could believe the Calvinistic teaching that once salvation is obtained it could never be lost regardless of one’s obedience and faithfulness to God.  He’s writing to Christians, and in doing so clearly gives the possibility that “any among you” could “stray from the truth.”  It is a Christian whom James describes as a “sinner.”  It is a Christian whom James says needs to be turned “from the error of his way.”  It is a Christian of whom James says other Christians need to “save his soul from death.”  It is a Christian who, as implied by James, needs to repent and thus “cover a multitude of sins.”  If it is true that once one is saved, one will always be saved no matter what, then why is this passage in the New Testament?… Read More James: Restoring Christians Who Stray

Hospitals didn’t exist back then.  When someone got sick, it was customary for friends or loved ones to visit and treat them.  This is a possible meaning of the directive for elders to “anoint” the sick brother “with oil in the name of the Lord” (5:14b).… Read More James: Elders Anointing With Oil and More…

If we want to let someone know that we’re being honest, we might say something like,“Hey man, I didn’t take the money!  Really!  I swear!” as opposed to simply saying, “No, I didn’t take the money.”  We think that adding “I swear!” will communicate to the hearer this idea: “You can trust me this time, because this time I’m swearing that it’s true.”  Both Jesus and James denounced the hypocrisy behind this fallacious thinking by condemning this type of arbitrary swearing (Matt. 5:34-36; James 5:12a).… Read More James: Keep Your Word