I have heard this biblical saying used many times; [the saving of a soul covers a multitude of sins.] Now, men normally refer to this saying in this regard, [if you save a man's soul you will be forgiven for your sin, the act will cover your own sins.] I submit to you that this saying should not be used in that manner when referring to the flock of Christ. Now I would like to state here that Jesus Christ is the central figure in resolving all questions concerning the bible, because he is the central theme of it, and fulfilled the scriptures. Let's examine the scripture...
(My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins). [James 5:19-20]
(1) The passage is a bit perplexing because it starts out by using the term "strays from the way" suggesting to readers today, that the person is saved but backsliding. In referencing Ezekiel 3:20, I am only using this as a reference because Ezekiel is old testament...the person discussed was blameless concerning the law but unsaved, because salvation comes through Christ, who had not been sacrificed at that time. Therefore James is referring to an unsaved person; sinner and unsaved are one in the same in James 5:19-20. We are descended from God and need to be brought back to our creator, or turned back to the truth. Let's look at the passage in another way...
(My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and a saved person in the person of Christ turns him back, let him know that Jesus Christ will save his soul from death and salvation will cover his multitude of sins)[edited mpg remix]
Now by using Christ as the central theme of the bible and only path to salvation, we see that the saved person is acting in the person of Christ, only Christ can lead a sinner to salvation. We also know that it is Jesus Christ saving the sinner's soul from death and this gift of salvation covers a multitude of sins. It is Christ covering all of the repentant person's sin. Now we know that this verse is referring completely to the sinner because the saved person(acting in the person of Christ), which led the sinner to Jesus, is already covered from sin and needs no additional covering; he is already covered by the blood of Jesus. Peter agrees that this substitution is correct because he wrote that love covers a multitude of sins [1Peter 4:8] and Jesus is love.
Now, we know that this passage, James 5, is referring to the benefits a sinner receives when accepting Christ as Lord & Savior. Now I will say that if this passage is used when referring to a minister as the person leading the sinner to Christ, it should be seen in a totally different light; if referring to a minister it means quite the reverse. Explain you say, explain indeed!
