“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.” Galatians 6:1.

The first five verses in Galatians chapter six provide a great deal of information for the keeping of peace in the church and among brethren. It is important first off for Christians to grow in Christ and to love one another. Consider these things carefully.

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass”, brethren are Christians.

The man who is overtaken would be another brother who has been taken by surprise by some sin which they escaped from when they accepted Jesus as their Savior and turned from their sinful ways.

An alcoholic may begin drinking again, drugs may be taken again, adultery, or gambling may take over their life again. For the Christian such things will not make them lose their salvation, but it will ruin a healthy Christian life and make them lose rewards in heaven.

“…you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Note first here that the Greek words for, “restore such a one” have the idea of restoring a dislocated shoulder, or knee, or such like indicating that this person has returned to a condition which they had before. The spiritual Christian must, in love use patience, care, and forethought when dealing with this fallen individual.

It is important that the one who has pity on this person be mature and gentle. Impatient, angry, judgmental Christians need not apply, in fact standing on the sidelines and gossiping and judging them anyway are sinful practices too.

The mature, spiritual Christian is also given a warning here, “considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Though it may seem likely that the mature Christian may be immune to something, the deceitfulness of sin is a dangerous pit.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2.

Let us begin with the last phrase above, “and so fulfill the law of Christ.” It is kind of confusing to read that we are not under law but under grace, then we are told to fulfill the law of Christ.

But what is the law of Christ?

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.

The words above are a direct quote by Jesus, it is a commandment, it is for us to love one another, it is that we should love one another as much as He loves us (consider that carefully), it is that the world will know that we are His disciples.

“For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Romans 13:9.

I love the crazy logic of this verse. Think of it, if the thief loved his neighbor, he would not steal from him, if the adulterer loved his neighbor he would not seduce his wife, if the one who covets loves his neighbor he would be glad for them when they were blessed in some manner, likewise this would be true for all the criminal acts mentioned in the above verse.

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2.

Having considered the second half of the above verse, let us go on to examine the first half, “Bear one another’s burdens…”. There are many folks around us who are heavy-laden with troubles, this also goes for your brethren in church.

Many of us go to church or through life without noticing people in need, however, often we will see a need that we can help with, perhaps a lonely person that we could visit, or go for a cup of coffee with. For the carpenter, a widow whose porch needs repair, or a plumber who can repair a leak. If God has blessed you with some extra money, food or clothes for a needy family.

There are many ways we can help ease the burdens of those around us, if nothing else, invite them to a Bible study, or help them to get into a Christian Rescue Mission, many of these also have safe places for women and children in crisis. If there is no way to help them, put them on your prayer list and ask others to pray.

Let us always fulfill the law of Christ and love one another.

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:3.

Now here is a real personal problem that most Christians can fall into, the idea that we are hot stuff.

Someone who leads the choir or the worship team, or teaches before the whole church, or leads Bible studies, or even the pastor can begin to think that they are superior to the many faces before them listening intently to their words. You are there before your brethren who have been given into your care by the grace of God, you can be replaced in an instant.

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3.

“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12.

“But ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’ For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18.

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Galatians 6:3-4.

Now that we have examined verse three in the above passage, let us go on to the next verse, Galatians 6:4.

Having seen that God wants us to treat our brethren with respect, and not to compare ourselves with other Christians. It is God’s intention that we compare ourselves with His Son, Jesus Christ, not others.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.

Every Christian is, “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son”. God wants to look into our eyes and see Jesus. However, how quickly we become more like Jesus in our life depends on how much we seek Him.

Every Christian is indwelled by God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides Christians into the truth as we study the Scriptures which teach us more about Jesus. Below is a verse that shows how God changes our heart through reading and meditating on the Scriptures.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Christians are not saved just so they can buy the fire insurance. Too many true Christians are under the impression that one just accepts Jesus as their Savior and go on with their life.

God has a plan for every person who comes to Him as their Lord. His intention is for us is to come to the full measure of a man in Christ Jesus. This comes by dedication and study of God’s word.

However, the Scriptures are a mirror that shows the face of Jesus and the more we peer into that mirror the more we see Jesus and the more we come to be like Him.

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Galatians 6:3-4.

As we have seen so far in Galatians 6:3 above is that we are not to have an overblown view of ourselves. Galatians 6:4 continues with a warning by God to examine our own work.

Not how we compare against other Christians, but rather how are we following in the footsteps of Jesus, this is the true path to righteousness.

Notice now how Galatians 6:4 ends, “But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

When we examine our own work, we are not competing with another, and do not become puffed up by how smart we are compared to others, then we will rejoice in our own hearts instead looking for the Super Christian award of the year.

“For each one shall bear his own load.” Galatians 6:5.

We will all fail at one time or another no matter how hard we strive to follow Jesus, we may not recognize some sinful imperfection or become angry and say things we ought not.

We must always confess our sins to God, sometimes we do not. These imperfections soon become a load to bear, some we will confess, some we will make amends for, and many will become a load we will wrestle with all our lives.

“He has shown you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you: But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

Love One Another taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 3-15-25 ck.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.