Back Slider?

Galatians 6:1
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

When a brother or sister in Christ falls into a pattern of sin, we generally immediately turn to an attitude of correction with that individual. Allow me to explain. Imagine a brother who has become consumed with an extramarital affair. Obviously, this is not acceptable behavior for a follower of Christ. We would classify such behavior as ‘sin’.

Unfortunately, when something like this happens we take it upon ourselves to correct this person’s lifestyle through the use of scripture as a beating stick. It’s not necessarily wrong to point out the fact that adultery is against God’s rules (specifically the 7th Commandment), but what effect, if any, does it have on this particular brother? In some cases it could cause a change in behavior; in other cases it can drive the person further into the relationship.

Pointing out the flaw usually brings about a spirit of guilt, regret, unworthiness, and condemnation. How is that going to ever bring about healing and restoration? As a Christian, this person should already know “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1), and if they don’t, they need to be reminded! It is not our responsibility to convict (in a spiritual sense) someone of their sin, but to restore someone caught in sin. (Remember the job of conviction is the Holy Spirit’s, not ours--John 16:8.)

Restoring an individual caught in sin is completely different from correcting a person caught in sin. In order to restore, we who have been restored must remember what restoration is and how we received it. We have been restored to a righteous relationship with God through the blood of Christ. How did we become restored? By hearing the Word: Jesus Christ and His grace. If that is how our restoration came about, wouldn’t it be safe to say that that is also how the restoration of a fellow believer who backslid will also come about?

This verse tells us, specifically, to consider ourselves, lest we too should become tempted or backslide. We need to consider that our restoration came about through the work of Christ on the cross. It was brought to us by the grace of the Lamb, not through the conviction of, or our fulfillment of, the Law. If we forget or overlook that truth, we are subject to a reliance on our own self-righteousness, which we know is worthless (Isaiah 64:6). We will become like the Pharisees.

Friends, restoring a brother or sister in Christ is the same as bringing the lost to Christ. Restoration is not accomplished with spiritual scourgings or Biblical beatings; it is only accomplished through the clear cut teaching of Christ crucified, forgiveness of sins, and grace for all. By reminding our back-slider of God’s Grace through the cross, we are reminding ourselves as well. The result is a two-fold blessing: one, the restoration of a believer; two, the reinforcement of your own faith!