Constant Coulibaly

The question of how to deal with fellow Christians who have fallen into sin finds a straight and clear answer in Galatians 6. The Apostle Paul, author of the book of Galatians, says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

This apostolic command to restore a fallen brother or sister is of great importance in Christian living. It implies that each individual saint has the obligation to actively engage in the well being of other believers. The admonition here demands that we remain attentive to the need of brethren fallen into sin to be restored to the faith, and that we respond to that need with the proper attitude of love for the fallen ones’ souls. Remember, the ultimate goal of restoration is saving a soul. We restore saints for the purpose of saving their souls.

This teaching fits within the central message of the book of Galatians which is that not only do followers of Christ have certain privileges by virtue of their new birth in Christ, such as the privilege of being children of God (Galatians 3:26), but they also have the obligation to care for one another. The Christian life is not merely about enjoying the blessings of salvation. It is also about taking on the duties that come with being a member of God's household. This responsibility is to be understood as an individual one, rather than a collectively organized work of the church. This is evident from the language used in the chapter, which employs words like "he," "every one," and "us," referring to individual members of the church, rather than the church as a whole.

After discussing matters related to Paul's apostleship in chapters 1 and 2, and then doctrinal issues in chapters 3 and 4, Galatians offers practical advice in chapters 5 and 6. In chapter 6 (the first part of it), the advice concerns the restoration of a brother “overtaken in a fault,” that is, one who walks according to the flesh. Some Bible scholars claim that the final section of this chapter was written in large letters by Paul's own hand (v. 11), suggesting that the first part of the epistle (the first five chapters) was dictated by him and put in writing by an assistant. If this view is correct, it would make Paul’s injunction regarding restoration a point of great emphasis.

The word "restore" means to fix or repair something that has been damaged or broken. Christians who have stumbled into the sins of the flesh often feel guilty. They may feel mentally or spiritually broken because of the guilt brought on by transgression, and they need to be restored.

The importance of the spiritual work of restoring those who have sinned is seen in the fact that sin can be an overpowering force. In view of the statement “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), it is fair to say that a sin that overtakes a Christian can become a burden on their conscience or a moral ailment.

The term "burden" is used to translate a variety of different words in both the Old and New Testaments. When used literally, it denotes something that is placed upon someone to be carried, which is easily understood. Used in a figurative way, "burden" can refer to "responsibility" (as in Matthew 11:30) or "sorrow" (as is the case in Galatians 6). In a spiritual sense, a burden places demands on one's mental and emotional resources.

While it is true that some disciples of Christ deliberately choose to walk according to the flesh and err, more often it is a matter of a saint being caught unawares and falling victim to sin. In either case, the individual has been “overtaken” by sin, meaning sin now reigns in their life. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the works of the flesh that can overtake Christians, ranging from adultery to drunkenness.

Paul goes on to provide a guideline to help us in the restoration process. Restoration is to be done through teaching and admonition by “ye which are spiritual.” This refers to those in the church who walk according to the Spirit and “have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). Determining who is truly spiritual can be done by observing the fruits of the Spirit manifested in the lives of individual members of the church. Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 7:20 when talking about false teachers. He said, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Indeed, Christians can be identified as spiritual persons by the evidence of their fruits, that is by what they do and say.

Galatians 6 also teaches that we must be careful, as we try to restore our erring brother or sister, not to conclude that we are superior to them. Rather, we need to approach them with humility, bearing in mind that we too can potentially fall into sin. We are warned against self-righteousness. Criticizing a brother who has succumbed to sin or making them feel bad about their mistake, even in a subtle way, may reinforce their own sense of guilt and self-defeat. Instead, we should approach them in a spirit of kindness, concern, and consideration, with a genuine desire to help.

The restorer, as Paul would advise, should always keep their own limitations in mind. Just because one is not a victim of the particular sin the erring brother is faced with, it does not mean they are spiritually stronger. Nor should they imagine they are immune to temptation. It is crucial not become so focused on helping others that one neglects their own need to pray and read the Bible regularly, in order to guard against temptation. The apostle's warning is very clear: "considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."