The book of Galatians up to this point has spoken about the concept of faith based salvation, not salvation by works or by following the Law. Paul explained that the law was like a custodian to watch over us until our faith based salvation would set us free. Christ’s sacrifice set us free from slavery, and that slavery is the sin that we were dead in. Jesus Christ is the only thing that can set us free, because of the perfect life that he lived, the atoning death that he died for us, and the miraculous resurrection that proved that everything he declared was for real. Once we became free, instead of being dead IN our sins, we were free to be dead TO our sins. Christ allows us to be free FOR certain things. Chapter 5 explains that we are to use our freedom in order to serve one another, not to serve ourselves or our sinful nature. If we use our freedom to indulge our sinful nature, we end up running back to the things that enslaved us before. Those things that enslaved us are firstly, our sin itself, and secondly, our idea that our justification, or our standing before God, is based on works, or how good we are.

The weird point Paul makes is that although our salvation is in no way based on how good we act, how good we act IS a result of whether or not we’re living in the Spirit or in the flesh. If we belong to Christ, we are living in the Spirit and have crucified our flesh (Galatians 5:24). This concept tells us that our behavior is an indicator of our heart (for more discussion of our Heart, see this post). We are not under the law, but we weren’t freed in order to gratify the desires of our flesh either.

So what does it mean if you see a person who is living a life of gratifying the flesh? It COULD mean that they don’t belong to Christ like they think they do. Remember, Galatians 5 explained that if we belong to Christ, our flesh should be crucified. Obviously, this doesnt mean we are without sin, but we are part of a process where our flesh and it’s desires are being put to death. If this is not happening in any discernible way, then that person might not belong to Christ. However, we are not called to judge people’s hearts either. To be honest, with our limited knowledge, we just don’t know. The sin that we see in another person’s life could be their true God. In this case, they never belonged to Christ, because they’ve always been enslaved to their flesh and they’ve always loved their sin more than the savior. On the other hand, this sin that we see in another could be a source of pain and sorrow, pulling them away from their true Love, who is Christ. In that case, this person is your brother or sister, and they are truly struggling. When we see another person who claims to be a Christian struggling with sin, what is our role here as Christians? This is kind of where Galations 6 begins

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

First, Paul addresses the readers as “Brothers and Sisters”. We can tell just by this address that he is speaking to people who belong to Christ. We have all been adopted as sons and daughters into God’s family, so we are all brothers and sisters. The local church is a part of our immediate family, and the global church that spreads across the globe and spans the history of time is our extended family. He also says “you who live by the Spirit.” This means he is talking to people who belong to Christ, because of Galatians 5:24. Those of us who love Christ as our Savior and Lord know that this passage is directed toward us.

Paul tells us what to do if somebody who is caught in a sin. In this translation, it’s not clear who is doing the “catching”. Are we catching somebody doing something wrong? Or is the sin the thing that catches the person, like a net catches a fish? Other translations say “overtaken” or “trapped” and then another says “if someone is detected.” I think the sin is what is doing the catching. It’s not our job to be sin police, trying to catch other people’s sins like a police officer catches criminals. In this context, the sin is what is trapping the person. The other thing to note the verb “is caught” is written in the passive voice, so this isn’t a search and destroy mission to find and eradicate sin in other people’s lives. We can definitely treat our own sins in that way, because we know our own hearts. However if we start treating our brother’s and sister’s sins that way, we overstep our bounds.

Sometimes another person’s sin becomes apparent to us. This could happen a number of ways. First, they could tell us, and confess it’s something they are dealing with. Usually in this case, they are asking for either help or prayers or forgiveness for something they’ve done. This is a bit easier to deal with, because the other party is seeking you out. Another way people sins become apparent is we may witness their actions or words directly, in repeated and various settings. We don’t want to make a snap judgement from a one-off or isolated situation, and we definitely don’t want to make some sort of assumption that someone is sinning based on what somebody tells us either. At this point we still haven’t done anything to confront the person who is caught in a sin yet. This passage tells us that before we do anything, we need to make sure that we are doing this in all gentleness (other translations say meekness). It’s easy to do far more harm and sin even more in response to a sin we see in somebody. That’s like fighting a spark with fire. What I mean is sometimes our response to a sin is worse than the sin we are responding to. Christians need to understand this passage, but sadly they don’t. There are people who bomb OB/GYN offices that provide abortions. There are people that hold anti-gay protests at military funerals. All in the name of Jesus. But they didn’t read Galatians. If they did read it, they ignored this part. They don’t understand how to restore a person gently or with meekness. And to make it worse, they are trying to bring a person out of their sin or change people’s behavior and thoughts before they are even invited to. People that they don’t even know, or have any sort of connection to. It’s not surprising how ineffective or counterproductive this type of moral persuasion is.

Another problem that could arise is the sin that is trapping our brother has the potential to trap us as well. We need to watch ourselves closely throughout this whole process. If they are dealing with something that has the potential to tempt us, we should refer them to somebody else that might have an easier time with it. As an example, I learned that in Alcoholics Anonymous, they have a structure where former alcoholics bring people who currently struggle with alcohol out of their addiction through a process that involves mentoring and faith based study. Often times, people who went through the same thing that you are going through have a powerful and unique role in helping to bring you out of sin. It takes somebody who knows what you are going through to help. But in a situation where the current alcoholic in a place and is surrounded by liquor, the reformed alcoholic might think its wiser to send a different person to help. The situation might be too tempting for the reformed alcoholic.

It’s important to know our own weaknesses throughout the process of helping others, and to step back when it’s getting too tempting or distracting to us. But before we tell somebody’s problems to a third party, we need to make sure there’s permission from the person who needs the help.

The Bible here says that we are to carry each other’s burdens, and doing that will fulfill the law of Christ. When we are called to restore our brothers and sisters from their sins, we are always supposed to help using our love for them as our motivation. People like the motto “Hate the sin, love the sinner.” but an even better motto is, “Help the sinner love the savior.” That’s the most loving thing you can do for somebody. The Bible tells us that God already hates the sin. But when the sinner falls deeply in love with Christ and learns about God’s nature, the sinner will start to realize that his or her behavior dishonors the God that he or she loves. Sins have consequences and they can be burdensome. When we help people out of their patterns of sin, it is often burdensome for both parties, but God’s provision and his blessings are poured out on both parties too.

3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Chapter 3 reminds us that even if we are helping someone who is struggling with their sins, it’s not us that will change their hearts. We have a role here, but it’s limited. When “we who live by the Spirit restore someone gently”, It isn’t the case of a saint helping a sinner. It’s a sinner helping another sinner. It’s important to remain humble throughout the whole process. If I counsel somebody, and they start to change, this is not something I should take pride in. As a helper, you can only do so much and say so much, but the person that you are helping needs to want to change themselves. You can’t spend 24 hours a day with them, helping them with their burdens; at some point they will need to carry their own load. The process of sanctification and putting to death the flesh is something that takes different levels of discipline for each person. A person who struggles and grows in their walk with God can take pride in their own accomplishments, but not the counselor or the helper. In the End, we know it is God who changes hearts and gives us discipline, and He should get all the glory. With that in mind, the person who receives instruction should share their joy and their accomplishments with their instructor, so that all can be encouraged in God’s greatness.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The next few verses explain why dealing with sins is so important. We are called to sow and plant seeds that please the Spirit. In contrast we are called to crucify our flesh. God created a world that has order. It honors God’s reason and gives glory to His wisdom to have an apple tree come up when you plant an apple seed. Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. God did not create an insane world. God created the world to work the way it does. I truly believe that God is sovereign, and there is no such thing as free will or creating your own destiny. But I do understand where those people get that idea from. God created a world where if you work very hard, you see results. If you spend your time and effort practicing a skill or craft, you will see results to your labor. In Ecclesiastes 10:18, it says, “If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.” You see fruits to your effort, and you reap the things you plant. God made the world that way. When you expect to see blessings or results that don’t logically follow from your actions, you actually are Mocking God! If you sow the seeds for satisfying and gratifying your own flesh, you will reap destruction. If you spend your time entertaining yourself and pursuing distractions, you will be successful in finding happiness in things that distract you from God’s glory. The reason we focus on the sowing is because God tells us that how we sow will influence what we reap. We are called to do good, especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ, our family of believers. The Bible tells us not go grow weary in doing good. But the reason we do good is not so we can go to heaven. Only Christ can justify us and make us righteous before God. The reason we do good is because we love the God that loved us first, and we know that His nature is Glorified when we honor Him with our lives. We aren’t looking to do good so we can boast about it. A few verses later, after Paul discusses the topic of circumcision that was plaguing the Galatian church, he writes:

14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

No matter how hard we try, we cannot crucify our flesh alone. We can’t successfully fight our sins without the help of Jesus Christ. Paul says the only thing worth boasting about is the cross of Jesus Christ, where the sins of all who believed were taken up by Jesus nailed to the cross with him. The cross is the way to crucify the world to ourselves and the way we crucify ourselves to the world. This is the only way the flesh is crucified and we are free to live by the Spirit.