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How to Restore the Fallen
Galatians 3: 1-5
Tonight I felt that we needed to discuss a very touchy subject. What do
we do when a brother or sister is caught in some sin? That's an
important question for us here at New Hope as we begin this year of
evangelism, and restoration.
Every one of us in this room has been deeply affected by the failures of
people we loved and thought better of. We have all asked the question,
"Why?" Why did this have to happen? Why did they act that way? Why
didn’t they trust me? Why did they try to hurt me?
In the midst of the why’s? comes the next round of questions "What can I
do?" “Where do I start?” “Who do I turn to?” “Where do I go from here?”
“What does the Bible have to say about what happened, and how I am
supposed to react?”
I believe that we who believe in Christ always have to get back to the
Bible and see what it says. And it’s important because there are those
who have chosen some rather abusive ways of dealing with brothers and
sisters who struggle with sin.
A brother told me once about a kind of "search and destroy" mentality,
where "those who are more spiritual" would expect me to confess my sins,
adopt their program for my renewal, then demand that I "voluntarily"
make myself accountable to them. Besides being terribly unfair, it is
blatantly unbiblical. But how and what do we do?
Tonight, I want to bring this issue into a conversation with the book of
Galatians. It seems to be tailored to exactly this issue.
When the Galatian churches faced these kinds of problems it appears they
tried to deal with them by turning back to the law, which makes sense
since the law is very comfortable. What does the law say? Let's take
down the book, line everybody up, and see how we're doing. Let's hold
their feet to the fire. Let's remind them of the judgment of God and the
requirement of right living. Let's be sure that everybody understands
that if they are going to make it with God and with this church they've
got to get their act together and live right. After all, if God is going
to bless this church it will be because we are living his will. If God's
spirit is going to be present in this church it will be because we
carefully observe the law. If God is going to work any miracles among
this motley crew it will because we know the law and do it.
Does any of that sound familiar? I mean really have you ever heard
preachers, Elders, Bible School teachers say things like that? I have,
but tonight I want you to look at how Paul responded to that reasoning.
Turn with me to Galatians 3: 1- 5 and let’s read: O foolish Galatians!
Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was
publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you
receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you
so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by
the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in
vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among
you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
Do those who lie and gossip know they are sinning? They may find ways to
rationalize, but their rationalization only serves to condemn them.
Do those who betray their families know that betrayal is a sin? The
secrecy they try skillfully to maintain confirms that they are aware of
their wrong.
Do those who violate the will of our Father know they are out of step
with God and his family? Their absence from the assembly and withdrawal
from the fellowship demonstrates their awareness.
Their motives may have been good ones at first, but Paul called their
attempts to solve a spiritual problem with legal solutions foolishness.
So as we reach out to those who have fallen away, we are faced with the
question: what do we do when a brother or sister falls?
In chapter six, Paul turns to the only solution that will work. Like
most real solutions, it doesn't happen over night. It may not do much if
anything to undo what has already been done. But what Paul describes, if
implemented, will create an environment in this church that will be
conducive not only to bearing the burdens of those who struggle, but it
will also create an environment that invites the honest confession of
sin. Let's read the text, then examine it. Read Galatians 6:1-5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are
spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on
yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so
fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he
is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and
then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his
neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
The situation that Paul envisions is right out of life. A brother or
sister is "caught in a sin." That could mean one of two things. The
brother or sister is quite literally "caught" or suddenly discovered in
his/her guilt. That's possible.
The other possibility, and the one I think Paul envisions, is that the
brother or sister is "trapped" in their sin. The word he uses means to
be "taken by surprise, overtaken, or entrapped." How do we respond
biblically to those who have fallen out of step with the Spirit?
First, Paul says the goal is restoration, not punishment. In verse 1 we
read "Restore such a one."
We are not called to organize a trial. Now I must admit, my human
reaction is one of anger. My human desire is to harshly, coldly
confront. My natural tendency is to see justice done. To be present when
the judge declares the offender guilty, to hear the sentence, and to be
present at the hanging.
But we are not called to do what is natural, but what is spiritual. And
the spiritual thing is to restore. We are called not to witness the
trial, verdict, and execution, but to see to the restoration of the one
trapped in sin. It may help us all to remember that the guilt of sin,
any sin, has already been paid. Jesus did that at Calvary. He did it for
me and for you and he did for those among us who fall. The goal is
restoration, not punishment.
Second, Paul says the spirit with which we do this restoration is one of
gentleness, not harshness.
It is significant that in the Greek, the word Spirit or its likeness
appear twice in the first verse.
"You who are spiritual" and "restore such a one is a spirit of
gentleness."
Nurses are some of my favorite people. Doctors are great, but it is the
nurses who provide most of the day to day, hands on care for the sick,
those trapped in ill health. Among the many adjectives that could be
used to describe them gentleness seems most appropriate. Next time you
get a chance, watch a nurse’s face as she ministers to a patient. It is
as if she feels the patient’s pain with him.
I think we are called to do spiritually, what nurses and doctors do
medically. Gently, empathetically minister to those who are spiritually
sick. The goal is restoration, the spirit is one of gentleness, and ...
Third, the effect is fulfillment of the law of Christ, not legalistic
observance.
In verse 2 we read "in doing so you will fulfill the law of Christ."
The Galatians were particularly concerned about observing the law. It
may have been the moral and ethical failures of many of their church
that prompted them to seek a legalistic solution. But Paul wants them to
know that in gently restoring those who fall, they really are fulfilling
the law - the law of Christ.
Look back at what Paul writes in Chapter 5:13 - 15.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom
as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For
the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you
are not consumed by one another.
The Galatians had been relying on a legalistic approach: One focused on
performance and achievement. An approach characterized by harshness,
severity, and sternness. What was the result of that approach? In
Galatians 5:15 Paul says they were "biting and devouring each other".
The effect of gentle restoration is the fulfillment of the law of
Christ. Here, I think it is interesting that Paul does not say that the
effect will be the actual restoration of the erring brother or sister.
He simply says, "the thing you will accomplish is the fulfillment of the
law of Christ." Perhaps that means nothing. But I believe that it means
that our responsibility is simply to make the effort. The responsibility
for responding belongs to the one who has fallen.
Finally, Paul describes the attitude with which we are to gently restore
those who have fallen. The attitude is one of humility, not pride.
Read verse 1 again: 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.
What does Paul mean, "but watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."?
What is so tempting about helping those who have fallen morally or
ethically? Well, quite honestly, the real tempting thing is to feel
proud that we ourselves have NOT fallen.
Notice verses 3 – 4 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is
nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and
then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his
neighbor.
First, Paul warns about thinking more of yourself than you ought. Then
he warns against making comparisons. This, I think, may be the most
important part of our study. Paul is telling us how to create an
environment that is encouraging to the sharing of burdens and confessing
sins. The attitude that most contributes to that kind of environment is
humility. The attitude that most pollutes that environment is pride.
It is easy and tempting to use another's fall to advance my own
righteousness. "Father I thank thee that I am not as others are. I'm
faithful to my family, regular in my attendance, generous in my
offerings, and honest on my taxes." If we are going to create an
environment in which burdens can be lifted, humility must be the
dominant attitude, pride must be destroyed.
That's why legalism does nothing to root out sin. Where
performance-based Christianity prevails, pride is sure to be found.
Where we all recognize that we are saved by the grace of God in spite of
who we are or what we offer, humility is cultivated. Where there is
pride, there is no confession of sins. We are all either too proud to
admit that we have failed, or too afraid that if everyone finds out how
poorly we've performed they'll think less of us. And if sin can't be
confessed we can't be healed.
James 5: 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is
powerful and effective.
If sin can't be confessed, we can't be forgiven.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
What we need is a dose of good old fashioned reality. Let's be honest.
Do you think you are the only one is this church with lust in your
heart? Do you think you are the only one nursing a fantasy - a fantasy
in which the characters are you and someone you are not married to? Lust
is a wide spreading problem.
Do you think you are the only one feeding a hatred? Does the very
mention of someone’s name make your skin crawl and your stomach flip? Do
you think that you are the only one who has ever watched someone die in
your mind? Hatred is in the heart of many people.
What about harboring a prejudice? Or holding a grudge?
Christians are not people who are called to be perfect. We are called to
be honest. But where there is pride and performance oriented
Christianity, honesty dies. Where there is gossip and behind-the-back
information sharing, confession withers.
Where there is grace and humility, honesty thrives. Where there is love
and openness, confession blossoms into healed emotions and renewed
spirits and then and only then can we really begin being better people.
But tonight if the sin and the guilt is still inside you, you will never
get any better. You've got to get it out.
What do we do when a brother or sister falls? Sometimes, honestly,
sadly, there isn't anything we can do. We can gently try to restore, all
the while watching for ugly pride, unfair comparison, and sinful
arrogance. But in the end, the best solution to the problem is
prevention. Let's work to create an environment that invites honesty,
openness, and sharing.
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