Sunday, June 1, 2014

Restore A Brother By Grace in Christ

"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" (Galatians 6: 1)


Before Paul writes to the Galatians about restoring people caught in a sin, he instructs them on the deliverance from the law into grace.

Many Christians today think that restoring people from walking in sin to living in righteousness is all about shaming them with the law.

Yet in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8: 1)

Furthermore, it is the grace of God which teaches us not to sin, not His law.

Consider the following passages:

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." (1 Corinthians 15: 56)

Not only that:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 20)

The Law brings out our sin:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)

When we see men and women caught in a trespass, either they are trying in their own efforts to break free, they have forgotten who they are in Christ, or they are not saved at all.

Let us remember that there are many men and women of God who as they grow in grace, they see more aspects of their lives which need to be turned over to God completely.

So, resting in the idea that a brother caught in a fault is saved, how do you restore that person?

Remind them who they are in Christ. Paul never shamed the out-of-control Corinthians with the law, but with the grace of God:

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6: 9-11)

Then:

"15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (1 Corinthians 6: 15-17)

Three times Paul reminds the Corinthians who they are . .in Christ! That's what restoration is all about!

Paul confirms this new identity as the restoration for drawing us away from sin and into life:

"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)

Then Paul speaks about how we fall from grace:

"1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 1-4)
 
Then comes chapter 6. If a brother is fallen, he has fallen from grace, and needs to see more of the grace of God in Christ.

No comments:

Post a Comment