Gentle Restoration!

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are somethingwhen they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.

In closing his letter to the Galatians, Paul instructs what the church today when someone is "caught in a sin".  The term "caught" has the same type of meaning as "falling into sin".  Or, caught in sin's trap.  This is not so much a doctrinal error as an unwitting wandering into the weakness of the flesh.  

The word restore means to "put back in order", "to restore to its original condition."  And importantly it says to do so with a brother or sister, "gently".  Not the extremes of sweeping sin under the table and harsh and excessive punishment are avoided.  When we restore someone we realize, "If not for the grace of God there go I!"  

Luther has this to say about the restoration process,

“Let the ministers of the Gospel learn from Paul how to deal with those who have sinned. ‘Brethren,’ he says, ‘if any man be overtaken with a fault, do not aggravate his grief, do not scold him, do not condemn him, but lift him up and gently restore his faith.” (Luther)

The fact is all of us will "fall into sin" at one time or another.  We don't need to be beaten but restored through the grace of God as administered by another believer. Jesus says,to, "Be careful not to judge other. You will be judged wit the same judgment you use."

In this matter we should remember the greatest man who ever lived. The One who was without sin did not condemn the woman caught in the sin adultery.  He said to her, "Are there any here who condemn you?  Neither to do I!  Go and sin no more." If Jesus who was without sin extended such grace, then we can only but do the same!