The other day I went hiking, by myself, in a state park. The trail led alongside a steep cliff, down to a waterfall. There were signs every few feet, warning hikers to "stay on the path!" Those signs are there because the tendency for hikers is to get as close to the edge as possible, supposedly in the name of experiencing the hike to the fullest, or somesuch. This is a great analogy of the Christian walk. While Christians do not dwell in, wallow in sin (or else they are not truly Christians --- Galatians 5:21, for one...) there are times that we wander off the resplendent path. What to do?
I'm continuing on in Galatians, almost ready to finish this Pauline letter. Galatians 6:1-5, our text for this morning, is one of those neglected texts. I have heard very few, if any sermons about it. But, it is an important bit of teaching. So, we are not going to gloss over it today.
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. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.4 Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. 5 For each one will carry his own load.
First, notice that this passage (like the entire letter of Galatians) is addressed to believers, Christians. So, this is not to be applied to non-believers. Regardless of an unbeliever's sin, their highest, greatest need is to enter in to a salvation relationship with Jesus Christ. Trying to apply Galatians 6:1-5 to an unbeliever is like trying to "put lipstick on a pig" (to quote Sarah Palin, who I am deeply disappointed in, but that's another story...). "Brothers and sisters" always refers to those who are Jesus Christ's children and followers, those forever saved by grace.
What Paul is doing here is instructing this young group of believers in how to deal with sin in the church, because Christians will lapse into sin. "You who are spiritual" does not mean "the most perfect person in the church" - - - what a ridiculous concept! It refers to a mature Christian who has examined his or her own work, as directed in verses 1 and 4. We read in verse 2 that the Christian who has gotten bogged down in some sin - - that the situation is a burden to him. Absolutely right! One of the marks of the Christian is that the HolySpirit will not leave him/her alone about a sin, but will pester and nudge and sometimes wallop until the believer confesses it and makes it right with those who have been wronged.
Mature believers who see another believer in a sin must, after self-examination, restore that brother or sister with gentleness. Obviously, this is tricky business.
Sometimes, a brother or sister will confess his or her sin to a fellow believer, because this is scriptural:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16 NIV
In that case, the restoring brother/sister will listen with gentleness, comfort with gentleness, and advise with gentleness and pray for the other person. It is a great blessing to be chosen by another believer in this way. It is a sign of tremendous trust. God promises His healing when we restore each other in this way.
At other times, believers do NOT realize their sin and go confess it to God and then to a fellow believer. At still other times, believers DO realize their sin and don't want to confess it ... or give it up for that matter. It is at those times that a loving brother or sister in the faith should prepare his or her heart and speak to the other person privately and gently about the matter.
What about that fellow believer who stubbornly refuses to confess and repent? That's the subject of another blog post. But, here are a couple of relevant scriptures for you to study:
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
And, if you want to read an excellent, thorough treatment of this subject, I highly recommend John MacArthur's commentary on it, which you can find here:
https://www.gty.org/resources/print/bible-qna/BQ081012
Here is where we fall down as the Body of Christ. We simply do not do Galatians 6:1-5. Let's just 'fess up, here. We make all kinds of excuses to avoid doing it. Here are a few:
"It's none of my business."
"If I'm honest with myself, I'm doing the same thing...or something worse." (There's a real stinger!)
"It will ruin our relationship if I mention it."
"It's 'judging' ". (total hogwash, and worthy of an entire blog post in the future! See the MacArthur link above, as a starting point.)
Let's consider for the moment the repercussions of not doing Galatians 6:1-5, of not examining ourselves, routinely confessing our own sins, and holding our fellow Christians accountable.
The number one, major result of this is a sin-filled church that not only doesn't win others to Christ, it propels them AWAY from our Savior! A sin-filled, self-centered, hypocritical church is offensive to "the unsaved world", and it should be equally offensive to us, His Own. Then, obviously, the sin is hurting the Christian who is sinning. If we love our brothers and sisters in the Lord, we should long to see them restored.
In closing, let me emphasize that these matters MUST be bathed in fervent prayer. Don't fire off the gun of your mouth with the hammer "half-cocked", as the expression goes. When God lays on your heart to speak to a brother or sister in the spirit of this Galatians passage, hit your knees first...and stay there a while, listening to the Spirit give you wisdom and direction. Then, proceed with gentleness, as the Scriptures command.
Father, first of all, make me even more diligent about allowing Your Spirit to root out my own sin, before I even notice the sins of my brothers and sisters. On those occasions when you want me to speak to someone else, to share Your words with a burdened believer, fill my mouth, Lord. Don't let me say one ungentle word, one unloving word or one word that is contrary to Your desires. In Jesus' name, amen.
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