How Should the Church Restore Someone Caught in Sin?
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. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
Paul closed the last chapter talking about the battle between between the flesh and the Spirit. The sinful nature seeks to please itself at the expense of others. The spiritual nature seeks to please God and love others.
In chapter 6, Paul addresses how the church should deal with someone who has been caught in sin. This is someone who has allowed the flesh to rule their lives in a way often that is disruptive within the community and a bad example to those outside the church. Paul gives several principles of how to confront a brother or sister in Christ when they have fallen. Here are a few of them:
1. "You who live by the Spirit". There are levels of spiritual maturity in a congregation. But as Paul will teach it should be a spiritually mature person who gently restores a brother or sister who has gone astray. Why? Spiritually mature people are less likely to get prideful and/or be led into the same temptation.
2. "Restore that person gently". The purpose of going to a brother or sister caught in sin is to restore them, not shame them. A spirit of gentleness goes a long way in helping the restorative process. It should not be done harshly but with grace realizing that none of us are immune to temptation or falling into it.
3. "Carry each other's burdens". Later Paul will say each person should carry his "own load". A load is like a "backpack" that a person can easily carry. But the word for burden is something so heavy that it is too much weight to bear. Someone has said, "The church is the only place where they shoot their wounded". What a terrible thing to say. Yet unfortunately it is true sometimes. But for the Galatians who were caught up on "legalism", Paul says that if you really want to fulfill the Law bear each other's burdens.
This is one area the church needs to get right. The church usually errs in one of two ways. Either a church is way to lenient with sin, often sweeping it under the carpet. Or, it is harsh, judgmental and exhibits to grace to the one caught in sin. That is why Paul says the "spiritually mature" one should do it to avoid this extreme. This is often the "elders" of the church as they have exhibited spiritual maturity.
Finally, let's remember that it is only by the grace of Jesus that we are saved, and it is by the grace of God we continue to live out our faith. Since we all are caught in sin from time to time, pray for a spiritual brother or sister that can restore you gently and in a way Paul prescribes. That is a true friend of inestimable value!
Paul closed the last chapter talking about the battle between between the flesh and the Spirit. The sinful nature seeks to please itself at the expense of others. The spiritual nature seeks to please God and love others.
In chapter 6, Paul addresses how the church should deal with someone who has been caught in sin. This is someone who has allowed the flesh to rule their lives in a way often that is disruptive within the community and a bad example to those outside the church. Paul gives several principles of how to confront a brother or sister in Christ when they have fallen. Here are a few of them:
1. "You who live by the Spirit". There are levels of spiritual maturity in a congregation. But as Paul will teach it should be a spiritually mature person who gently restores a brother or sister who has gone astray. Why? Spiritually mature people are less likely to get prideful and/or be led into the same temptation.
2. "Restore that person gently". The purpose of going to a brother or sister caught in sin is to restore them, not shame them. A spirit of gentleness goes a long way in helping the restorative process. It should not be done harshly but with grace realizing that none of us are immune to temptation or falling into it.
3. "Carry each other's burdens". Later Paul will say each person should carry his "own load". A load is like a "backpack" that a person can easily carry. But the word for burden is something so heavy that it is too much weight to bear. Someone has said, "The church is the only place where they shoot their wounded". What a terrible thing to say. Yet unfortunately it is true sometimes. But for the Galatians who were caught up on "legalism", Paul says that if you really want to fulfill the Law bear each other's burdens.
This is one area the church needs to get right. The church usually errs in one of two ways. Either a church is way to lenient with sin, often sweeping it under the carpet. Or, it is harsh, judgmental and exhibits to grace to the one caught in sin. That is why Paul says the "spiritually mature" one should do it to avoid this extreme. This is often the "elders" of the church as they have exhibited spiritual maturity.
Finally, let's remember that it is only by the grace of Jesus that we are saved, and it is by the grace of God we continue to live out our faith. Since we all are caught in sin from time to time, pray for a spiritual brother or sister that can restore you gently and in a way Paul prescribes. That is a true friend of inestimable value!
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