Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

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  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is interesting. Th

Final Exhortation - Notes on James 5:19-20

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 We have learned from our prior study that two essential parts of the believer's life is prayer and praise, whether in times of joy or times of sorrow. (Ponder on Romans 8!)


As we focus on the last two verses of James' epistle, we find a final exhortation-- that is, for believers to bring back one who is among them, if he wanders from the truth.


What is the "truth" referred to here? God's word as the truth? (John 17:17) Jesus as the truth? (14:6) The Gospel as the truth? (Eph 1:13). John 1:1 and 1:14 make clear that Christ is the living Word, he is the truth, and the reason we have the Gospel.


To stray from the truth, then, is to be led away from Jesus, His word, from the Gospel that we are to proclaim and live out.


Concerning the "one" who is led away, two trains of thought can be examined. Could James be referring to one who is a part of the assembly but is really not a genuine believer, as described in 1 John 2:18-19; or is James thinking of one, who although a genuine believer, is living a life that is inconsistent with the truth? If the latter, such a one can be described as one who is no longer walking in a manner worthy of his calling (See Eph. 4:1-3).


Based on James' repeated call in his epistle for "brethren" to show their faith by their works, the straying one that James refers to here is more likely a genuine believer who needs restoration. Indeed, we find a similar exhortation in Galatians 6:1-4 during which Paul calls for the spiritual to restore a brother who is caught in any transgression. Also, in the case of Peter, we find an example of a genuine believer being restored by Christ himself. 


What James says next is an encouragement to the one who restores a wandering brother-- that is, "he will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." Heb 9:11-14 is clear that it is through Jesus that we are saved, which reminds us that we need to be continually dependent on the Lord. By His grace and through the enablement of the Holy Spirit, we can obey His command to watch for and care for each other. Let us, therefore, encourage one another and when one strays, let us pray for and work towards his or her restoration.


Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let that goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it

Seal it for thy courts above.

-Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

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