Restore them in a spirit of Gentleness

Galatians 6:1-5

In the Life Essentials Study Bible Gene Getz gives this insight on the flesh.  In the Galatian churches there were serious problems of bondage to the flesh.  “There were believers who were still in bondage to the flesh.  To be “caught” (6:1) does not refer to being discovered, but to being overtaken and entangled or trapped.  Today we often classify these behaviors as addictions.” (page 1621)

It seems we should examine these verses more thoroughly; “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.” (Galatians 6:1-2)  Paul is using the plural you, and we would be very wise to adopt this game plan when working with a brother or sister who is in bondage to their form of flesh.  We should as followers of Christ pay close attention to this instruction in Romans 15:1,  “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” We are instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”  If you take this on in the Spirit, it is going to be hard, it’s going to take time, but if you attempt this in the flesh, it’s going to be a disaster.  And that is why the Spirit is using the plural and not the singular, others who are walking in the Spirit will be needed to support, admonish, and encourage you in this task.

It would be wise of us to pay careful attention to these words; “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”  Gene Getz gives this insight, “This is because the process is difficult, and also because even godly Christians who have been entrapped in certain sins in the past can be tempted to fall back into their previous addictions.” (page 1621)  Many unwise men have been taken captive by not following God’s instruction on letting the older woman in the faith council the younger woman, and in the same way a woman should never attempt to council a man, it is outside of what God has instructed, and we have seen the results. 

Shall we look into the latter part of verse two: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  If service is not part of your life, and yes, I am talking about keeping the house, mowing the grass, taking out the trash, and fixing dinner for the family, and doing it with a heart attitude of love.  Now it is more than just doing for family, but that is a big part of it, and it should flow to our neighbors, at work, and in the market place.  If we go back to Galatians 5:14, we find the meaning of the verse above; “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The longer I live the more I grasp how my particular form of the flesh gets out of control, for I have flesh that is insecure, wants to be noticed, and desires to be first, and the battle to make it submit to the Spirit is on going.  It is not going to get better that is unless I die to it’s desires, and walk in the Spirit, then my life will be free to love my neighbor as myself.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice