The Gospel Meeting

 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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.

James 5:19-20

 The Free Presbyterian Church from its inception has been evangelistic.  What do we mean by the terminologies – evangelism, evangelistic, evangelical or evangelist?  These words stem directly from the Greek word euangelion which literally means good news.  This word stems from the Anglo Saxon words Godspel which meant both “good story” and “God’s story”.  The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has truly been the best story ever told.  As an evangelistic church we believe that it is our duty to clearly preach and spread the good news of the gospel in our community.  The Evangelical has an overwhelming desire to win souls that are lost and perishing.  Throughout the history of our denomination the Gospel Meeting and the Gospel Mission have been crucial elements in the lives of our congregations.  The event which propelled the Free Presbyterian Church into life was the mission in Crossgar, 1951, which the Presbytery of Down banned from Lissara Presbyterian Church Hall.  At that particular Gospel Mission 94 souls were converted under the preaching of Rev Ian Paisley.  Such a token of divine favour gave our Founding Fathers all the encouragement they needed to establish a new Presbyterian denomination with the conviction that the work was of God.  It seems to me that where there is liberalism and departure from the true faith the Church’s evangelistic sword is blunted.  Evangelism becomes almost impossible where unsaved men and women hold office and where clergy do not preach the Gospel.  Therefore, Christian people within the apostasy sought an evangelistic outlet in their lives through interdenominational movements such as the Faith Mission and the Christian Workers Union.  They did so and some do so today because their own churches do not evangelise.  We should be joyful beyond all measure that we are part of a church that fully embraces the responsibility given by God to evangelise our fellow man.

James closes his letter with a potent reminder of the importance of soul winning in the life of the Christian.  His is a practical letter dealing with earthy subjects.  Where Paul focuses upon the grand doctrines of God and where John throbs with devotion and love, James concentrates on the practical truths required to win through as believers.  He closes his little epistle with a fitting climax:

 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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.”[1]

 The Church must be engaged in the work of winning souls if the church is to be engaged in the work of God at all.    

The Necessity of Evangelism

Evangelism is necessary because the souls of men and women are in receipt of bad news, the worst possible news.

The sinner is a person who has erred or strayed from the truth.  The Scriptures teach that truth is bound up in the person of Christ.[2]  A Christian has not only received this truth, but this truth fills his heart and soul[3][4]. The unconverted person has wandered from this truth by preferring his own ways, pleasures and habits.[5]  To forsake the truth is to embrace uncertainty and continue on the path that leads to death and destruction.[6]

To be without Christ is to have an innumerable multitude of sins clinging like bloodthirsty parasites.  This is the true picture of a guilty and lost soul in dire need of the Evangel.

The Work of Evangelism

James instructs us that the work of evangelism is the individual labour of every Christian.  Notice the emphasis upon “one” and “he” in these verses. One person can make a dramatic in the lives of others.  The Christian is here described as converting sinners.  While we know that Salvation is of the Lord, we are also taught that God uses tools in the work of saving souls.  We are “labourers together with God”.[7]  God is not obliged to use human instruments, yet He chooses to do so in many cases.  Therefore, we must reach out into our community with; godly lives, printed tracts, personal testimony, radio broadcasts, open air meetings and with organised gospel missions.  God wants us together to reach this mission-field, our locality.

The Result of Evangelism

 James teaches us that when a soul is converted a multitude of sins are covered.  This is a reference to the act of justification in the life of the unconverted person.  The greatest happiness in life is to know that our sins are covered or atoned for, by the precious blood of Christ.[8] Man’s separation from God is the problem which engulfs societies and plagues individuals.  Only evangelism can address this need.

The word “convert” in these verses teach another consequence of evangelism.  While the covering of sin deals with the sinner’s guilt before God, conversion transforms a man or a woman’s moral condition before men.  This is work of the heart which radically alters the life of an individual.[9]

Evangelism delivers souls from death.  Men are women are in the hopeless condition of spiritual death because of their separation from God.  This can only be altered by new life in Christ.[10]  Evangelism also rescues men and women from eternal death.  Men and women are bound for eternal Hell and the church must be engaged in this worthy task of rescuing souls.[11]  It is a great honour for a doctor, a nurse, a fireman or a police officer to save lives.  It is a higher honour for the child of God to be in the business of saving souls.

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[1] James 5:19-20

[2] John 14:6

[3] John 8:32

[4] 2^nd Corinthians 11:10

[5]Isaiah 53:6

[6]Proverbs 8:36

[7]1Corinthians 3:6-9

[8] Psalm 32:1

[9]2^nd Corinthians 5:17

[10] Ephesians 2:1

[11] Jude v23