Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Application:
In Galatians chapter 6, Paul continues his exhortation to the Galatians to love their neighbor (see 5:14). Their submission to the law, prompted by the Judaizers’ false teachings, had promoted selfishness and strife (5:15, 26). Instead, they were to walk by the Spirit (5:16) so that they might bear the fruit of the Spirit (5:22–23). They were to cultivate their relationship with God by cultivating their relationship with one another.
Lone Ranger Christians who are disconnected from the body of Christ are not walking in the Spirit. The New Testament frequently urges Christians to practice the “one anothers”; for example, we are to “love one another” (John 15:12), “serve one another” (Gal 5:13), “forgive one another” (Eph 4:32), and “encourage one another” (1 Thess 5:11). Such concern for one another promotes harmony in the church and ensures God’s work on our behalf.
Paul calls on Christian brothers and sisters to watch for a fellow believer who is overtaken in any wrongdoing—that is, caught in a sin from which he can’t free himself. Paul urges those who are spiritual to restore such a person. The word translated “restore” is used of setting a bone to its former usefulness. Since the pronoun is plural, it refers to more than one person being part of the restoration process.
If you’re trapped in something that doesn’t please God, you need help from someone who can act on God’s behalf. This is one of the reasons believers are to be united with a local church. If you need help, a faithful church is where you can find those “who are spiritual.” Think about it. When you’re sick, you don’t want a quack doctor prescribing bad medicine. Likewise, if you’re “overtaken in any wrongdoing,” you need someone who can provide God’s assessment of the problem according to his Word and counsel you with God’s solution.
When you help a fellow Christian in trouble because of a sin from which they can’t free themselves, you must do so with a gentle spirit. Gentleness doesn’t mean soft-pedaling the diagnosis or the prescription. We’re not to compromise the truth. Instead, we are to treat the person as we’d want to be treated—with patience, care, and kindness —restoring them with the least pain possible. But be careful. Watch out that you aren’t tempted as well. The tempter who wreaked havoc in your brother’s life has his eye on you, too.
Reference: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1213.
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To God, be the glory!
Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25
Disclaimer
When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may occur. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother, In-Christ, Ricardo
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