Galatians #12 - Galatians 6:1-5 - The Very Practical of a Christian Life

 

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin,

you who are spiritual

should restore him gently.

But watch yourself,

or you also may be tempted.

Galatians 6:1 (NIV, 1978)

If you have an opportunity to listen to this sermon, you will not only hear me with a very raspy voice from recovery of the Rhinovirus and acute bronchitis but you will also hear the overlay of some other Scriptures onto this verse.  I take the Parable of the Good Samaritan of Luke 10, the woman caught in adultery of John 8, the Galatian account of being caught between Peter and Paul of Galatian 2, and the passage about church discipline from Jesus of Matthew 18.  It was a great exercise to take the principles of this one verse and see it played out many times.

2 people are involved here.  The one caught in a sin and the one who is spiritual.  Interestingly, the bulk of the instruction in this verse and the following ones is for the one who is spiritual.  Paul is instructing those who are walking with, being led by, and keeping in step with the Spirit rather than focusing on the one caught in the sin.  The in-person service ended in a great time of response to surrender and act according if we have sinned or if we have not handled the situation as those walking in the Spirit.

The commitment of those who are spiritual is great.  We are going into the situation with the attitude that we will help carry the burden which at this point is too heavy for the one caught in sin to bear.  We will have an attitude and action of humility to the other with no elevation of self.  We will continually test our attitudes and actions according to no one other than Jesus Himself and then only will we be able to give praise and glory back to Him because we have followed His example.  Lastly, we will always remember that there is a load that we are carrying for we are continually being shaped into the likeness of Christ.

Sometimes you get a Sunday morning verse to add in and mine was 1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NIV, 1978) when Paul displays this type of humility and recognition of how God has used the most unlikely to be utilized as His instrument to reach others for Christ.  The one who persecuted Christians was now being used of God to preach Christ to those who don't know Him.  (underline mine)

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

Paul is in awe of how God is using Him and it is only because of God.  It was God who showed mercy and God who displayed His unlimited patience and God who grants eternal life.  May we also who are spiritual never forget where our salvation has come from and how much it cost.  This should be a help when we are called upon to be God's instrument in helping a brother or sister in Christ who is caught in a sin and given the task to restore them gently.

Adam