Paul wrote, \u201cBrothers, 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\u201d (Galatians 6:1-2, ESV).<\/i><\/p>\n
Okay, this is where someone has committed an external, outward sin. This isn\u2019t walking around, looking to rebuke everyone because you thought you saw something wrong in them. I grew up for a short while around that kind of stuff, really pride \u2018spirituality.\u2019 A person\u2019s done nothing outwardly, but you have people who come up to them and say, \u201cI see a spirit of jealousy in you. I rebuke you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other person says, \u201cWhat did I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know, but there\u2019s jealousy. Now I want to try to restore you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, no. Don\u2019t restore me. Restore yourself, and get away from me.\u201d But this kind of response would bring judgment, and we\u2019d have a big rebuking contest on our hands. Everybody rebuking everyone else for what they perceive to be a shortcoming. We should just have a big dose of humility because we\u2019re not all that ourselves.<\/p>\n
What Paul\u2019s talking about is someone caught in open sin, and he orders believers to restore them gently<\/i>. The word \u2018restore\u2019 there is the same sort of meaning as mending a bone. You don\u2019t amputate every time something breaks! Remember, believers are members of the body. This is a body we\u2019re talking about. When someone falls into sin, you don\u2019t get angry with them. If I fell and skinned my knee, would I start yelling, \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with you, knee? Let\u2019s amputate this knee!\u201d No. You don\u2019t do that. You take extra good care of the wounded member. You try to help them.<\/p>\n
Paul is saying that this is what Christ wants us to do in the church, and he commands this to those of you who are living by the Spirit, you know, the mature believers. This is why he wrote, \u201cSo then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith\u201d (Galatians 6:10). <\/i>Brother and sister, let\u2019s get better at this gentle mending of bones.<\/p>\n