THE LAW OF CHRIST

Gal 6:1-2 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. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The desire of every faithful Christian must be to use their god-given talents and abilities to the fullest extent in order to fulfill the law of Christ, and that law is found in the words of Jesus, Himself. He told His apostles, and, at the same time, tells all of His followers today: A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34). It is this law of Christ that will lead one Christian to bear the burdens of another Christian. In the previous chapter, Paul gave the Christians of Galatia this admonition: by love serve one another (Vs. 13). This spiritual teaching is the very core; the most central obedient act that brings one to the fulfillment of the law of Christ.

The fault, or the sin, referred to in the lesson text, which overtakes a man or a women, is one that is not premeditated; it is not a sin that is schemed, planned beforehand, and afterwards, committed. By their nature, Christians are not perfect in the sight of their Creator. Oftentimes they, who fully intend to do well and lead a moral life free from offenses toward God, are caught unawares and give in to worldly sins. All Christians, who fully understand the tenuous, seductive, and alluring path, in which one walks while here on earth, must also be aware of the fact that they are just as susceptible to commit similar sins. The person that recognizes sin and its temptations, will have the compassion and understanding for all others that may be overtaken in a fault.

It is the godly duty and responsibility of all Christians, which are spiritual, that is, those that have not been overtaken by the worldly nature of sin, to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. Here, in the lesson text, each Christian finds the obligation, not to abandon, or to render severe judgment against erring brothers and sisters in Christ. Rather, meekly, tenderly, compassionately, and lovingly, they are to lead them back from their erring ways. Severe and harsh scolding of a sinner rarely results in their restoration to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. To severely censure or angrily rebuke a sinner using abrasive and contemptuous language will, more often that not, be spiritually unprofitable, and may even be harmful. The restoration of a sinner, to be successful, must be done in the spirit of meekness.

How do those, which are spiritual restore sinners, that is, to bring about their repentance, encourage and help them to return to God, and convince them to lead an obedient life in Christ? Paul tells us in the lesson text. It must be done with patience and humility. It must be done by considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. We must fully realize that, as Christians, we are human - we are not infallible. We too, are subject to the temptations that surround us. We too, due to the uncontrolled passions and desires of the moment, may give in to, and be overtaken in a fault. Compassionately considering the plight of a degenerate sinner, this phrase is often referred to: "But for the grace of God, there go I." The apostle Paul stated this thought very plainly in his letter to the church at Corinth. He reminded each of them, and all Christians today, of the susceptible nature of giving in to sin. He wrote, Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:12). Only when this fact is fully realized, can a Christian effectively restore a sinner back to God.

The final verse of the lesson text says, Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Christians should, yea, they are even required, to help their brothers and sisters in Christ in times of distress, need, and temptations. Members of the body of Christ are to sustain each other. When a Christian sees one about to stumble under his or her burden, they are to hold them up with the mighty power of prayer, comfort, consolation, and understanding. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom. 15:1a).

The temptation to sin is a heavy burden. It is a burden that often cannot be bourn and overcome alone. We must be righteously indulgent to the sins of our fellow Christians. We are not to condone the sin, but sympathetically offer an understanding concern, and godly direction in order to restore ...one (to God, through Jesus Christ) in the spirit of meekness. In doing so, faithful Christians will fulfill the law of Christ, which tells us assuredly, that we are to love one another; as I have loved you (John 13:34b). This is the God-given duty of every child of God in Christ.