Turning a sinner from the error of his way.

I woke up very early this morning thinking about a particular passage of scripture, trying to relate it to Satan and the other fallen angels. The scripture is James chapter 5:

James 5:19-20

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁹ My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

I've had some discussion with my wife before about who's sins are covered here. I thought that the sins covered were the sins of the one who turns a sinner and my wife thought it was the sins of the sinner.

My wife had a very funny dream the other night. She works in the administration side of HISD. In her dream, she arrives at work to find a bunch of kids there and her boss was confused and beside herself. My wife asks her boss, "What's wrong?" Boss says that one of the little girls has to do a number 3 and she couldn't figure out what the girl needed to do. When my wife told me here dream, she also did not know what a number 3 was. I immediately knew that the girl had to pee and poo; a number 1 and a number 2 = number 3.

It was odd that my wife had this dream at this time when I was again pondering over the answer to my question of whose sins were covered; maybe it's a number 3, both people.

If Satan and the other fallen angels repented and then turn the world's lost to the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, wouldn't a multitude of their sins be covered for each person they turned? When you think about it, a multitude times several billion people just might cover all their wrongs they've done throughout their existence.

I know this sounds crazy and I have no idea if they could even repent. If they can be afraid I would think they could also feel grief and sorrow for what they've done. Repentance is the only way for us humans to have peace and joy; to experience love, happiness, to be able to laugh. These are things the fallen angels have never experienced before. Could they not also repent?

Well, I guess if we start seeing a lot of people turning from their wicked ways and to the Father and His precious Son, then maybe they are able to repent. Wouldn't that be an extremely joyous occasion?

How should we treat or think of God?

This question is a real puzzler for us humans and, I believe, the angels as well, at least the fallen ones. We read, "fear the Lord. " What does this mean? Are we to be afraid of Him; stay away from Him?

I know in the times I felt in His presence, I've felt a calming effect. Oh sure, I believe at the first, I was fearful but my feelings of fear would turn to peace. Thinking about the times in the Bible when someone (human) came face to face with Him, wasn't it always, fear not, don't be afraid?

I've thought quite a bit about this subject lately.The angels are very powerful created beings. Some have fallen from God's grace, whatever that means. Now they use their power for harm and not for good. When Jesus was here on earth and He came in contact with someone with a demon, the demon was certainly afraid of Him. All I remember that Jesus did with demons was to drive them out; tell them / him to come out.

I was reminded of the following scripture:

Matthew 8:28-32

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men

²⁸ When he (Jesus) arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,^[a] two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, if you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.
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Does Satan and the other fallen angels believe in this everlasting hell too, a place of unending torment? I know God has ever right to do this to us, but we call Him "Father." It makes no sense for Father to torture His children forever!

Have you ever noticed a family that you really admired and thought, "Wow, wouldn't it be wonderful to be a part of that family!" The father is so kind and gentle with his children and the children are a reflection of the father.

I keep thinking about Jesus saying that all things would be restored before He returns.

Mark 9:11-13

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 

Matthew 17:10-11

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.

Cross references:

1. Matthew 17:11 : Mal 4:6; Lk 1:16, 17

Acts 1:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

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Was Jesus foretelling that all would repent, even the fallen angels, before His return? Repentance would be the only way for this to happen; all of us will have to look at ourselves in the mirror and grieve over what we see.

Something or someone just told me to return to some notes I had made a while back having to do with "Restoring the Kingdom". I came across these scriptures:

Malachi 4

New International Version (NIV)

Judgment and Covenant Renewal

4 ^[a]“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire, ” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. ² But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. ³ Then you will trample on the wicked; (could this be our own wicked fleshly bodies?) they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

⁴ “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

Other scriptures to ponder:

Ephesians 3:14-21

New International Version (NIV)

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Romans 11:25-36

New International Version (NIV)

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, ²⁶ and in this way^[a] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷ And this is^[b] my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”^[c]

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, ²⁹ for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[d] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³² For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and^[e] knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”^[f]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”^[g]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen

Cross references:

1. Romans 11:25 : Ro 1:13; 1Co 10:1; 12:1; 2Co 1:8; 1Th 4:13
2. Romans 11:25 : S Ro 16:25
3. Romans 11:25 : Ro 12:16
4. Romans 11:25 : ver 7; S Ro 9:18
5. Romans 11:25 : Lk 21:24
6. Romans 11:26 : Isa 45:17; Jer 31:34
7. Romans 11:27 : Isa 59:20, 21; 27:9; Heb 8:10, 12
8. Romans 11:28 : Ro 5:10
9. Romans 11:28 : Dt 7:8; 10:15; Ro 9:5
10. Romans 11:29 : S Ro 8:28
11. Romans 11:29 : S Heb 7:21
12. Romans 11:30 : S Eph 2:2
13. Romans 11:32 : S Ro 3:9
14. Romans 11:33 : S Ro 2:4
15. Romans 11:33 : Ps 92:5; Eph 3:10; Col 2:3
16. Romans 11:33 : Job 5:9; 11:7; Ps 139:6; Ecc 8:17; Isa 40:28
17. Romans 11:34 : Isa 40:13, 14; Job 15:8; 36:22; Jer 23:18; 1Co 2:16
18. Romans 11:35 : Job 41:11; 35:7
19. Romans 11:36 : 1Co 8:6; 11:12; Col 1:16; Heb 2:10
20. Romans 11:36 : Ro 16:27; Eph 3:21; 1Ti 1:17; 1Pe 5:11; Jude 25; Rev 5:13; 7:12

All Sin

In the book of Romans, it tells us that every person is a sinner. Not one of us has obeyed God's teachings and therefore there is no peace.

Some people have already gone through the healing process. Their eyes have been opened to their guilt; they have accepted there guilt through many trials and tribulations; they have turned to God in repentance and have accepted the free gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Because God the Father has laid our grief, pain, and sorrows upon His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, we no longer have to bare them; they are taken away. There is great joy. (I think that a lot of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have forgotten this. Revelation 2:4)

Some day all peoples, both the living and the dead (those who have fallen asleep, the ones we call dead), will have our eyes opened when God writes His laws within us and upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). This is the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. We will see all the horrible things we've done (the un-repented ones; those not taken away by Jesus) and will have to bare the grief and pain ourselves. This is the great weeping and gnashing of teeth, our hell.

Pray that God will open our eyes now and send His chosen to them, so they too can have God's free gift.

To God be the glory, honor, and praise! He has truly done it all!

Romans 3:9-18

New International Version (NIV)

No One Is Righteous

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹ there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”^[a]
13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”^[b]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”^[c]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”^[d]
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶ ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”^[e]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”^[f]   

Jeremiah 31:30-34

New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

³¹ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
³² It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to^[a] them,^[b]”
declares the Lord.
³³ “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
³⁴ No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

Isaiah 9:1-7

New International Version (NIV)

9 ^[a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

² The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
³ You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

What is?

What is sin? -- Sin is the destroyer of peace. When I sin against someone, I've done or said something to them or about them that destroys peace between us. Sin against God accomplishes the same thing, destroys that peace between me and God. How we sin against God is a little more complicated. God gave us, through Moses many many years ago, what evangelicals call the laws and what the Jews call the teachings. If I obey every one of them, I will have peace with everyone and with God. The problem is I don't, I sin, and therefore peace is broken.

What is death?  -- Death is separation. Because I sinned against someone, we no longer like each other so we separate, we die. When I sin against God, I run from Him, I try to hide, we separate and I die.

What is the wrath of God?  -- It is God's way of getting me to recognize my sin and take responsibility for it. Yes I did that; I wish I hadn't of done that but I can't take it back now; if only I didn't say those horrible things; why did I steal those things; how could I have let my rage get the better of me and I killed him?  (These are examples; I have not killed anyone.)

What is Repentance? -- Repentance is the restorer of peace.  Oh wretched man I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!