Gal. 6:1 ... "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted."
As long as we live in this world we are subject to temptation, because Satan inhabits the world with us and has the goal to corrupt morally each of us. The warning of I Pet. 5:8 is serious, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Although we must always be alert to detect his presence, withstand his tactics, and resist his advance steadfastly in faith, we must confess we are not always successful. Every one of us will at some time fail and be "caught in a trespass." The devil sets a trap for us that we do not see, and before we realize it, we have sinned. Or, we may sense the existence of the trap, but the bait is so alluring that we let down our guard and rush to seize it. Whatever the circumstances of our fall, it will happen that sooner or later every Christian will be found guilty of a trespass. Like the lead text above, I Jno. 1:8, which is directed to Christians, states that "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."
What should be done when a brother or sister in Christ is involved in sin? The response, all too common, is to censure them and avoid them scornfully. Usually, the criticism is administered behind the person's back rather than, as Mat. 18:15 requires, in their presence in an initial private meeting. Our usual approach only aggravates the situation, making it more difficult for the guilty one to confront his sin and repent of it. Christians must discipline themselves to avoid this approach and follow the one taught here in Gal. 6:1.
Those "who are spiritual," that is, Christians who "still walk by the Spirit" and "do not carry out the desire of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16), are to come to the rescue of the one who has fallen into the hands of the devil. It is their spiritual duty to "restore such a one" to his former condition of purity and innocence. The word translated "restore" was then used in two ways: (1) in carpentry to repair something which was broken and (2) in medicine to nurture a sick person back to health. Either meaning may apply in the present context. The errant Christian had his spiritual defense broken when he fell to the temptation and now needs the help of faithful brethren to repair the breach and restore his integrity. The errant Christian has also fallen spiritually ill with the invasion into his life of the virus of sin. He needs the healing ministry of concerned, sympathetic brethren with their wisdom, counsel, and prayer. When this approach is taken by the other members of the Christian fellowship, the prospects of restoring the fallen brother or sister are at their brightest.
It is very important, however, that those who minister to one who has sinned, do so "in a spirit of gentleness." It is so easy for those who have survived Satan's recent attacks to be somewhat insensitive to the condition of the erring brother. It will do more harm than good to "rub it in." Once the person has confessed his fault, there is no further need to discuss the details and torment the individual with greater feelings of remorse. The arrogant attitude that conveys the message, loudly though perhaps unspoken, "You sinned, but I resisted!," must be carefully avoided. None of us are immune to temptation, and there is the admonition at the end of v.1 to be "looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." The "spirit of gentleness" will keep reminding us that "there but for the grace of God am I." Today you may be spiritual and able to rescue a fellow Christian "caught in a trespass." But tomorrow you might very well be the one who has committed the transgression and need the firm, but gentle assistance of others whose spiritual defenses have not been violated. This kind of reciprocal assistance in dealing with sin enables us to "bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ," (Gal. 6:2).
