Restoration
10 February 2013 AM – Galatians 6:1 – Scott Childs
Introduction: When we were first married, I restored a rocking chair. I stripped off multiple layers of old paint, reglued the joints, sanded and varnished it, and wove on it a new cane seat. Restoration is not just for broken furniture, it is also for broken Christians.
Transition: This morning as we examine this verse, we will note the Concerns, Commands, and Conditions of Restoration.
I. The Concerns of Restoration
A. A fellow-Christian is overcome by a fault
1. The word translated “overtaken” means “to surprise or overpower before one can escape.” (Eadie) It is being caught off guard by failing to obey Peter’s warning.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
2. The person is not overtaken “by someone else before he can escape, but surprised by the fault itself.” (Vincent)
3. Paul does not specify the fault. The idea of the word is “to step aside” or “to fall down”.
a) In the book context, Paul may have had in mind falling back into Law-keeping.
b) In the previous chapter context, he may have had in mind fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.
c) It can refer to being caught off guard by any sin. It is not speaking of a continual practice.
4. “The phrase points to our own responsibility for our sin but also of sin’s subtle temptations and traps.” (Utley)
B. The fallen needs restoration
1. The first concern is to restore the fallen believer.
a) To “restore” means to repair or mend. “It is used especially as a surgical term of setting a bone or joint.” (Rogers)
b) In Mark’s Gospel, it is used of mending nets.
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.
2. When a Christian falls, he or she needs spiritual help to get back on the right track. As Bob Utley reminds us, “We dare not shoot our wounded!”
3. The last resort may be to exercise church discipline, but that is not the focus here. (See Mt 18:15-17)
C. Helping makes one vulnerable
1. In the end of the verse, Paul warns the spiritual helper of the danger he faces.
2. Helping a friend out of sin may expose you to temptation. This is why the helper must be sure he or she is spiritual.
II. The Commands of Restoration
A. Christians must hold each other accountable
1. We tend to live so independently of each other that if a fellow-Christian is overcome by a temptation, we do not want to get involved.
2. God’s way is one of accountability. We are to help each other stay on track. It is our duty to check on each other’s spiritual condition.
a) Our text says nothing about how serious the sin must be before a spiritual person offers help.
b) The right thing to do is to step in and help when a fault is small to prevent a major fall.
It is like a water leak in your car. You can check the engine water-level regularly and repair any tiny water leaks. Or you can ignore the engine water-level, neglect known water leaks, and wait until the water runs out and the engine burns up.
B. Stay spiritual so you can help
1. You must be spiritual to help. The spiritual person is not one who is sinless, but one who is walking in the Spirit as we learned in the previous chapter.
a) The first requirement to be spiritual is to have God’s Holy Spirit living in you (Gal 5:25). The only way to have the Holy Spirit living in you is to become a child of God – a genuine Christian.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
b) Once God’s Spirit lives in you, then you must yield to his control (Gal 5:16). As we learned, this is not a once-for-all event but a moment-by-moment challenge.
c) Being spiritual is evidenced by a changed life (Gal 5:17) and the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your life (Gal 5:22-23).
2. A person who is walking in the Spirit is qualified to help the person who fulfils the lusts of the flesh.
C. Seek to restore the fallen
1. The phrase “restore such an one” is not an option but a command from God. God wants him restored!
2. We already learned that to restore is to mend or repair as in setting a broken bone. Our goal is to nurse the broken Christian back to strong spiritual health.
a) The fallen person needs a strong friend who will speak the truth in love; who will call sin – sin; who will urge him to repentance; who will guide him biblically; and who will pray rather than gossip.
b) Ignoring a friend’s sin will hurt him and endanger others.
3. Spiritual Christians have an duty to help fellow-Christians who stumble.
III. The Conditions for Restoration
A. Helpers must be spiritual brethren
1. If you are not spiritual Christian, you cannot restore anyone. You must first tend to your own walk with God. Being spiritual is not just a good idea; it is a necessity. This is similar to what Jesus taught:
Matthew 7:5; Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
2. If you are not spiritual, for you to try to help is like the blind leading the blind.
B. Help in a spirit of meekness
1. This second condition is in addition to being spiritual. Evidently, it is possible to be spiritual and yet not help in a spirit of meekness.
2. Meekness is a mild manner. It is gentleness and tenderness. It shows empathy for the wounded by putting one’s self in their situation. It does what is right and best while being as tender as possible.
C. Consider yourself lest you be tempted
1. Like a doctor helping a contagious patient, when we help fallen person, we are placing ourselves at risk.
Good Christians have fallen into sin while trying to help a person addicted to pornography, or a person dabbling in witchcraft, or a person who had been unfaithful to his or her spouse.
2. No Christian, no matter how strong, is immune to sin. Beware! If you let down your guard, you are capable of any sin known to man.
a) That is why Paul wrote this stern warning to the Ephesian believers:
Ephesians 5:3-4 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
b) It is also why he wrote a similar warning to the local church in Rome.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Conclusion: In the Concerns, Commands, and Conditions of restoration found in this verse, we have noted many principles. Before any of them can apply to you, you must be a child of God. Are you 100% positive Christ has washed away all your sins? Are you positive you are on your way to heaven? If you are not positive, let us help you this morning.
If you are a Christian, God wants you to be spiritual. He wants you to restore meekly those who trip, while carefully guarding your own heart. This is God’s prescription for a healthy church.
Perhaps you have tripped in a big way or a small way. Today you need to humbly admit your fault and begin the restoration process. Let a spiritual Christian help you.
Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388