What does Galatians 6:1 mean by the spiritual restoring of a brother who has been overtaken by a fault?
Let’s read that valuable and instructive verse. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” I think if we break this verse down into sections, we can get a very good understanding of it.
BRETHREN, IF A MAN BE OVERTAKEN IN A FAULT – We often think of one being overtaken by something that comes from behind and overwhelms the one being pursued. Perhaps this is one who is being tempted to sin but is trying to get away from the temptation because he realizes his own weaknesses. The Greek word for ‘fault’ is also translated as ‘trespasses’ (2 Corinthians 5:19), ‘offence’ (Romans 5:17), and ‘sins’ (Ephesians 1:7). So, the point being made is that a believer is trying to escape some particular sin, but it has overtaken him and rendered him weak and indulgent of his sin.
YE WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL – This instruction to help a fellow believer is addressed to those who are spiritual. Who would this be? Who would consider themselves to be spiritual enough to try to minister to one who has fallen into sin? This is not to say that those who have greater spiritual gifts than others should be the one to address this distressed brother, but one who has his eye upon the Lord. One who feels the burden of this one who has been overtaken. One who realizes the importance of maintaining fellowship with the Lord and senses the Lord leading him to speak to his brother in the proper tone. One who is able to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15). This would be the spiritual one the Lord wants to use to help this person.
RESTORE SUCH AN ONE – The Greek word for restore means to adjust or mend. It is the same word that is translated ‘mending’ in Mark 1:19, “And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship MENDING their nets.” This has the idea of restoring someone back to the state of spirituality they once had before being taken over by sin in their lives.
IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS – How important this is. If we approach someone with a haughty attitude, acting as if we are better than they are, they will surely refuse to listen to us. As a representative of Christ, we must behave in the same manner of Christ who said of Himself, “…I am meek and lowly in heart…” (Matthew 11:29). No one should attempt to rebuke, correct, or admonish another who cannot do it in the spirit of meekness. Meekness is a gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), that will be manifested in us as we seek to follow the Lord and be led by His Spirit.
CONSIDERING THYSELF, LEST THOU ALSO BE TEMPTED – There is no sin that can overtake another believer that cannot also overtake us. We must be humble and meek, realizing we are also in the flesh and can be tempted just as other believers can. When witnessing a fellow believer partaking in a sinful deed, we can never truthfully say, “I would never do that.” It is when we understand that we can also fall into sin that we can truly reach out to those in sin and compassionately seek to help restore them to the Lord. We all are liable to fall, and if we do, we would be glad to receive the same gentle restoration.
What a wonderful responsibility the Lord has given us to watch out for and seek to minister to each other. We have a connection with every believer for we read in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Ephesians 4:25 teaches us that, “…we are members one of another.” May the Lord give us all hearts to seek to minister to each other as He leads us. (CC) (628.2)