Galatians 6:1,2 “Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
There are some Christians who have the uncanny ability to turn on their brother or sister at the very time support and encouragement are most needed. John Wimber used to say, “The army of God is the only army in the world that shoots it’s own wounded.” We need to heed the counsel of scripture when a member of the Body of Christ sins.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The Pharisees imposed burdens, Jesus came lifting burdens. Are we lifting burdens or imposing them?
In Galatians 6, Paul is telling the church that when a saint sins, their job is not to punish and be vindictive, but to forgive, heal, and restore.
It was the church’s responsibility corporately to be redemptive in their ministry to the fallen.
While the sin is undefined and unexpected, it was not habitual, but an unexpected moral failure. So the church had an assignment to proactively redemptively help. This was not a license for the saint to be a busybody or validate their nosiness. But the concern was that the sinner not be overwhelmed by guilt and lost forever, or not be so intimidated by the power of sin as not to deal with it. The church is to help the fallen do what they cannot do by themselves.
The word “restore” means to mend a net or to set broken bones for healing to begin. It is in the present imperative tense. This means it is a mandate, and it is an ongoing process. It is the same word used in Ephesians 4:12 as the word “equip.” It clearly means creating a climate for repentance, forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
Restoration is to be carried out in a spirit of gentleness. This means the church must be careful not to cause further injury. This is not because we are to be soft on sin, but because we are to rescue the sinner. It’s the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
We are not guaranteed a sin free life as saints. 1 John 1, makes that clear. But we are promised grace for the trial and cleansing for the repentant. That is also why Paul gives a warning to the those who are restoring to be careful. No one is ever as vulnerable to the evil one as when they think they are above sinning themselves. Spiritual pride opens the door to failure. Those who are “spiritual,” are those who walk in humility, obedience, and love before God and before other saints. They say, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” They are willing to give the same grace to others, that God has extended to them.
Matthew 7:1-5 “Do not judge so you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge, you will be judged, and the measure you use, will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own eye.? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye,” while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye.”
Judging is a boomerang. What goes around, comes around. It’s the law of sowing and reaping. Let’s live life on God’s terms. God’s way is the best way. We are free to choose any way we want. But we are not free to avoid the consequences of what we chose. If we have made bad choices and we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May the church always be a safe haven for the fallen and be proven in maturity by our ability to restore the fallen.
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