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Looking into Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10
Skip down anytime to read Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10 on this page.
There are actually two types of sinners in the church. You know?
Type One, are the actual “brothers” and sisters who have sinned.
Type Two is the “so-called brother”, the regular attender who lives a sinful lifestyle.
See more about this type here:
How do you treat Christian brothers and sisters who have fallen into sin?
Scripture calls for differing treatment. Here, let’s look more at The Type One Brother who has sinned.
The type one brother…who has sinned
These are key words in Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10 for understanding how to treat your sinning brother or sister in the Lord. Basically Paul tells us: If you see a Christian brother or sister sin, if you are spiritually strong in the Lord — then gently, with great tact, go help restore that one. Be a friend.
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1 “Brothers…
Have you been treating actual “brothers” and sisters like the world does when they catch a sinner? Scripture calls for us to “restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness” – not snub and drub MerWeb: snubbing – harshly criticize or reprimand.
What what what?! Treat them quick and harsh? Get down and slander and gossip about them to others? Put down, slap down? Not scripturally.
A moment of failure
The Christian who, in a moment of failure – falls… is not to be classified as “an immoral” person. It could be that some day you are that fallen one. A “one-n-done” sinful experience. Then what would you want your brothers and sisters to do?
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2 “if anyone is caught in any sin…
If you catch them – help them.
Believers can fail and be very ugly. Paul calls them in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 – that one who is
“…out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], …the timid [who lack spiritual courage], …the [spiritually] weak….”
What do we do?
…admonish, encourage, help, be very patient, control your temper, and per Galatians 6:1 be careful not to fall with them.
Full verse: “We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:14
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3 “you who are spiritual…
Lets face it: Some of us are not all that spiritual (as in “biblically spiritual”). Go ahead: admit it. God knows.
So Paul says to you “pray for one another”. That’s better than jumping into a mix of trouble when you are not spiritual enough to handle it well.
We are either “spiritual”, not so much “biblically spiritual”, or we are quite “indifferent”. The Christian norm should be this: “keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].
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** INDIFFERENCE
If we look inside ourselves and can admit we have “spiritual indifference”, like what all the world exhibits, we can see we are not “spiritual”.
** Somewhat Spiritual but not so much “biblically spiritual”
or
** SPIRITUAL
If we see that we “keep wide awake” (not “woke”!) — then we see in ourselves a certain quality of “alert and cautious” and we are vigilant to “be sober, self-controlled, calm, and wise” per 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6.
Paul tells us:
The brother or sister caught in a sin — is never an enemy. “Keep admonishing him as a [believing] brother.”
“…not seeking my own benefit but that of the many….”
– 1 Corinthians 10:33
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“3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility”
– Philippians 2:3-5
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4 “restore such a person…
Paul is quite astute, wiser than I by far. He tells us, if you maintain an attitude of seeking the best for others (1 Corinthians 10:33) — you will NOT brand that fallen brother or sister “as an enemy”, as an “immoral person”, but you will “keep admonishing him as a [believing] brother”.
The “one-n-done” sinner
There is no excuse for sinning. However, a Christian who falls for a sin, is not to be branded as an “immoral person” —
“…a sexually immoral person, or a greedy person, or an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or habitually drunk, or a swindler…. – Verse 11 of 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
The “immoral person” here is one who sins “habitually” (like “habitually drunk”). The other kind is the “one-n-done” sinner. Both: sinful. But one lives it habitually, whereas the other tripped and fell. Very different types.
“Show him his fault in private”…If your brother sins
It might be applicable here to use the principles from Matthew 18:15 about if you have something against a brother.
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.”
Luke 15:32 “But it was fitting to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was [as good as] dead and has begun to live. He was lost and has been found.’”
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Romans 14:7-10 7 None of us lives for himself [for his own benefit, but for the Lord], and none of us dies for himself [but for the Lord]. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For Christ died and lived again for this reason, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge].
See larger context here: Romans 14:7-23.
“Why do you criticize your brother?” – verse 10
Instead of putting down… go help restore that brother who has been caught in a sin.
Paul says this about that:
…you yourselves
are full of goodness,
amply filled…
competent to admonish
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1 Thessalonians 5:14
We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].
Help me forgive
“Create in me a clean heart,
renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.”
(verse 10 of Psalm 51:1-10)
– a heart of love for all peoples,
especially those I tend to
look askance upon.
No one is a lacky MerWeb in Your eyes.
All are equal – one human race.
No one deserves my hate.
You love them, died to save them.
Thank You for Your love.
Thank You for saving me.
Give me Your eyes, to not look down
scornfully upon another life,
to not work against another brother, sister –
with spoken gossip, arrows of hate,
disapproval, and distrust,
with darts of suspicion and of doubt.
Help me forgive,
be merciful,
be kind to all around me.
In Your strength I will be accepting,
say true words of encouragement, and
be sincere and truthful in my heart.
– Source: Hating is life changing – eternal life changing. Scary thought.
Learn how to treat a practicing sinner… here: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.
Learn how to treat the brother who fell… here: Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10.
FOR MORE:
Have you been treating actual “brothers” and sisters like the world does when they catch a sinner? Scripture calls for us to “restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness” – not snub and drub MerWeb: snubbing – harshly criticize or reprimand. What?! Treat them quick and harsh? Get down and slander and gossip about them to others? Put down, slap down? A Christian who, in a moment of failure – falls… is not to be classified as “an immoral” person.
**For more about “How to treat a practicing sinner”…1 Corinthians 5:9-13, go here:
How do you treat Christian brothers and sisters who have fallen into sin?
Sinners, versus living in sin Excerpt:
We are all “sinners”. All of us are failing God in many ways – disobedient, time and time again. However, the born again believer does not accept sin in their life. They fight it! Though born again, changed into a new creation, they are still sinners, forgiven, yes, but still struggling against sinning.
On the other side, non-believers, sinners also, have made decisions to accept sin in their life. Whatever the sin may be (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) the “not-truly-saved” person has accepted a normalcy which reveals their true heart.
The So-Called Brother…the so-called brother or sister
Different reactions to God’s work on earth in believers Excerpt: “Funny”, the different reactions to God’s work through believers (“funny” as in: odd). God truly is at work on earth in believers, like through Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point USA. True Christians who walk in faith — stand strong in His Spirit. But rejectors? They “were filled with jealousy and resentment”. What is your reaction to God working His will through believers like Charlie Kirk? Is He working in your life?
Our put down, slap down ways…we have developed slap-down cultures in our little social media pass-time, get immediately gossipy,
Taking hate to Holy Heaven? Your ways, your views?
Hating is life changing – eternal life changing. Scary thought.
Being wise in a very unwise world during these End Times
Do Justice, Be Kind, and Walk Humbly with your God
Being unselfish, more thoughtful and gracious to others
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
You are here in the post dealing with Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10: Forgiving and restoring the brother caught in a sin
Passage for this post: Galatians 6:1-5, 9-10
Bear One Another’s Burdens
6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. 2 Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. 4 But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable [a]without comparing himself to another. 5 For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible]….
9…Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. 10 So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
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