Galatians 6:1-4 – Helping A Brother Out – Bible study

Galatians 6:1-10 Help A Brother Out Galatians is a very important book. It is one of the New Testament books which helps us in understanding why Christians are not obligated to keep the Old Testament law. Two others would be Romans and Hebrews. Three times in this book, Paul spoke of our liberty \#Gal 2:4, 5:1, 5:13\. In 15 verses, he mentioned the Holy Spirit. The two go together. Three thoughts we need to keep before us: Liberty is not the freedom to do anything we want. Liberty is not even the freedom to abandon the Old Testament Law. The liberty that the Bible proclaims is the liberty to obey the Bibleboth Old and New Testamentsunder the direction of the Holy Ghost. Simply put, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we have the liberty to obey the Word of God. There are some advantages to that and some dangers. One of the dangers is that without a detailed list of rights and wrongs, some people are get into wrong. They are going to get too close to sin and get pulled into it. In this chapter, Paul tells us what to do to help them back out. I. \#Gal 6:1\ The command is to restore. It involves two people. Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one. A. The first is a saved person with a need – Paul described the possibility of a Christian getting into sin and needing help. 1. This is not what we do for lost people. a. Certainly we would want to help anyone who is in sin, but you cannot restore a non-Christian to a place they never had. b. Lost people need to be introduced to a Savior. 2. Fallen Christians do not become lost people. a. Many believe that when a Christian sins, he loses his salvation. b. Then there is no such thing as a brother who has fallen for as soon as he fell, he ceased to be a brother. B. The other is a saved person with an opportunity – Paul described the possibility of a Christian helping the other. 1. The work of restoring fallen Christians requires Spirit- filled believers. a. To restore means to bring them back to a place where they can: (1) Fellowship with God (2) Know they can obey God (3) Be used of God. b. This can be a difficult task as sin is both: a. Addictive b. Damaging c. The believer who helps will need wisdom, endurance, firmness, patience, kindness – all under the control the Holy Spirit. 2. It would take a Spirit-filled person to accomplish that. II. \#Gal 6:1-10\ What are some of the characteristics of the Spirit-filled Christian? A. To be a Spirit-filled helper requires compassion. 1. Compassion is the first requirement to help another. Gal 6;1 in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2. This is why Paul spoke of having a spirit of meekness. a. It means to be gentle. b. The problem is that we can be: (a) Impatient of those who fall. (1) Why dont they just do right? (2) Theyll never learn. (b) Condemning of those who fall. (1) They did this to themselves. (2) They knew better. What did they expect? (3) Serves them right! (4) I told them so. 3. Compassion comes more from the heart than the head. a. Helping the fallen is not a matter of figuring out what they did wrong as it is helping them where they are. b. Some are have a compassionate heart. Some do not. c. Perhaps it is the way we were raised. d. Perhaps it is just the way we choose to be. e. But no one can help another who cannot put themselves into the position of the fallen. 4. Compassion without firmness is dangerous both to the helper and the one needing help. a. People have to want to help themselves and they have to move in the direction of help. b. If they do not want help or will not move in the direction of help, they will not only do more damage to themselves but may hurt the helper as well. c. The helper must be firm enough to make some goals, demand some progress, and deal with those who will not help themselves. d. But all of that still falls under the umbrella of compassion. B. To be a Spirit-filled helper requires obedience. 1. At least three times in this section, Paul commanded the Christian to help the fallen. (I think you could actually make the case that there are more than that.) Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. Gal 6:2 Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 2. Interestingly, nowhere in this section did Paul give a command to the fallen. a. Paul did not command the fallen to try harder, to obey the helper, or even to get right with God. b. Not that those things are not important, but Pauls emphasis here is on those of us who think we are right with God. 3. God has commanded us to do everything we can to bring a fallen brother or sister back into the fold. a. That does not mean that we are to empower them to do wrong. b. We must be wise and firm, but compassionate and obedient. C. To be a Spirit-filled helper requires empathy, or a self- emptying. Gal 6:2 Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 1. The word "bear" means to pick them up and carry them. 2. To bear another pretty much requires that you empty yourself. 3. The damage sin causes can be universal. (1) Mind (2) Family and social life – They may be all alone with others fed up with them. (3) Finances (4) Health 4. These kind of situations are not simple with quick solutions. (1) While we are working to restore, we need to help take some of that load off of them. (2) Of course Jesus is the One who must shoulder the majority of the load, but we are His body and want to do what we can to help. D. \#3\ To be a Spirit-filled helper requires humility. Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 1. The "FOR" tells us that this is another requirement of helping restore the fallen Christian. 2. The characteristic is a type of humility but it is specific. 3. If you think yourself too good to help a fallen Christian, then you are not spiritual at all. From the depths of his pit of despair, Christians cry for help filled the air. A second Christian went over to see, But was convinced, Such things could never happen to me. Suddenly the ground under his feet gave out, He hit the bottom with wonder and doubt. There is a moral to this mans slippery slide, He fell because he stood on the banks of self-righteousness and pride. E. \#6:2, 4-6\ To be a Spirit-filled helper requires responsibility. 1. Two selections of verses speak of the responsibility necessary. a. One speaks to the responsibility of the helper and the other the responsibility of the helped. b. While they may seem to contradict one another, together they show us the wisdom that is required to help the fallen. 2. The first commands the spiritual Christian to carry the fallen Christian. Gal 6:2 Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3. The second tells us that we are each responsible for ourselves. Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 4. How do these two seemingly contradictory statements go together? a. Even though we are helping the fallen, they must help themselves. b. We can bear some of the fallens load, but they will always be the ones responsible. c. It is their life and they must live it and give an account to God for it. d. Spiritual helpers are responsible to get this truth to the fallen and help them get up under their own responsibilities. Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. F. \#6:7-9\ To be a Spirit-filled helper requires wisdom. 1. To restore a fallen Christian, we must see things as God sees them. 2. Not only do we need wisdom, so does the fallen. 3. It is possible that the reason they have fallen is because they did not yield to the Holy Spirit. 4. Two principals need to be understood both by us and those we are trying to help. a. \#7-8\ You will reap what you sow. Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (1) Paul used a parable to teach truth. (a) Like with seeds, you will reap what you sow. i. There are only two types of life to be lived. ii. A life lived for God will reap a godly harvest. iii. A life lived for self, pleasure, and the devil, will reap a corrupt, sinful harvest. iv. Lets make it simple and straight forward. aa. Good relationships dont come with sinful people. bb. Good experiences dont come out of sinful places. (bars, dance halls, night clubs, back seats) cc. A good life doesnt come from sinful actions. (Lying, stealing, drinking, drugs, lazy) (b) Like with seeds, you will reap more than you sow. (c) Like with seeds, you will reap later than you sow. (2) Then God adds that if sinful seed did not bring a sinful harvest, God would be mocked (made fun of). (a) God is not going to let that happen. (b) So you and I can rest assured that if we sow sinful seed, we are going to reap a sinful harvest. b. \#9\ To the godly, dont quit before you reap the good you have sown. Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. a. Like with seeds, you reap later than you sow. b. Even strong Christians can become discouraged. (1) Our prayers and efforts do not appear to be making a difference. (2) Bad things happen even though they have tried to live right. c. If strong Christians can get discouraged, how much more so fallen Christians? d. They will need constant encouragement and you will needs some too.