Galatians 6

==galatians 6:1-2:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14: And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

"You who are spiritual" refers to people who choose, everyday, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, and God is love. Not the emotional love that we seem to think is "powerful", but true love as defined by His word. Check 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Anyone who can love someone else in this way will restore someone else gently. This isn't about belief, this is about what you choose and how you live.

The Bible speaks very clearly against Christians passing judgment upon others (Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37-42, James 4:11-12, etc.). While many would choose to make the argument that we are supposed to hold a brother or a sister (or a celebrity) accountable for their sins, providing accountability without judgment is extremely difficult and nearly impossible. Even though we are commanded to correct a brother or sister in Christ when they are walking in darkness, commenting on an Instagram post isn’t exactly the most effective means of doing this. - Bailey Swords

In mercy, we discover God’s pursuit of restorative justice. Justice that is not there to condemn, but to help conform us into the image of Christ.
Justice that is not there to tarnish, but to transform.
Justice that is not there to separate us from His love, but to draw us nearer to Him in repentance and gratitude for His grace. Which means that if the heinousness of an act leads to the hardening of the heart, that’s not true justice. No – the heart softens towards the offender, that in the demonstration of love and modelling of righteousness, the offender might once again see the heart of God – and maybe come to chase after it.
The brother that is caught in sin needs restoration. We help them carry their burdens and in so doing fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
And so we throw not stones at those found guilty, but love. --Salt & Light

October 15, 2024: Caleb Campbell wrote: American Christian Nationalists are caught up in evil, trapped by the seductive yet false promises of purveyors of Christian Nationalists. Like an animal caught in a barbed wire fence, they are likely experiencing powerful emotions of fear, anxiety, and rage. There is increasing concern about Christian nationalism in the American church. While many books have delved into the historical, sociological, political, psychological, and theological aspects of this movement, few have addressed the practical question of what the church can do about it. I believe we should consider American Christian nationalists as a group to reach out to. It can be tempting to see those who embrace Christian Nationalism as adversaries to overcome or heretics to conquer, but taking these stances will only lead to more division in the church. When individuals are consumed by sin, the primary aim for followers of Jesus is not to separate themselves or pass
judgment, but to actively pursue reconciliation and restoration......American Christian Nationalism is a rage-fueled, anxiety-laden movement that seeks to garner political and economic power by propagating hatred and divisiveness in the name of God. We can best serve those who have given themselves over to this movement by practicing the way of Jesus with them, working towards their reconciliation.

July 13, 2022: Christine Loew reported: n the New Testament, the call to care and counsel remained. In Galatians 6:1-2, believers were admonished to “carry each other’s burdens”.Said Dr Tan: “Carry each other’s burdens emotionally, relationally, spiritually and, therefore, fulfil the law of Christ which is the new commandment to ‘love one another as I have loved you’.
“The most powerful apologetics of Christian faith is love.” Love is the character of the church (1 Corinthians 13:13), Dr Tan told the audience
“The fruit of the spirit is love and that brings healing and caring to the church and to the world (Galatians 5:22-23)
Indeed, every Christian is a priest and a minister (1 Peter 2:5,9). So, lay people are as important as the ordained in the care and counselling ministry, said Dr Tan. “Use this verse to affirm and empower the church. Pastors can’t do it all. Equip the saints.” Added Dr Tan: “You are competent to counsel if you are filled with the Word and love (Romans 15:14).” In addition, the Spirit will enable because encouragement is a spiritual gift (Romans 12:8). “If you are good at encouraging, you will make a good counsellor.”

Paul, an apostle: This emphasis on Paul’s apostolic credentials is important. Paul had strong words for these Galatians, and they had to understand that he wrote with authority; indeed, apostolic authority. Paul expected that Christians would respect his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ. [SOURCE: Enduring Word

Because the behavior of an addict is so negative, it’s easy to believe that they must not really know the Lord. However, that person, even a child of God, is influenced by a system that is rooted in the kingdom of hell. Thus the effects of their lives look as such. Once brought back, that same person will be able to love and serve God. We are encouraged to help a brother who has stumbled with a firm warning (Gal 6:1-3)

The law of Christ is love of the brethren, of the community of faith (John 13:7, I John 3:23). The burdens can be distress or problems, physical, mental, or moral. Our Lord was spoken of as one who bore the physical infirmities pf those whom He healed: Matthew 8:17, "He bare our sicknesses." The meaning is that, as very man of very man, He regarded our sicknesses as His own, and ministered to them as such. In this same sense, we are to regard the infirmities of our fellow believers as our own, as members together of Christ, and to work to help one another, even as Christ bore our burdens and redeemed us. Redemptive power is not ours, but sanctifying grace and patience are.
The decline of community means also the rise of totalitarianism. In every era of a decline of freedom, there is "the same fatal combination of individualism and political power." The less community there is, the greater the custodial powers pf the state. Totalitarianism thus is seen by many as freedom, because the irritating ties of man to man are replaced by the impersonal functioning of a statist bureaucracy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment. Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. James 2:13

June 16, 2021: John Piper wrote: Now, here’s what I think despise means — “Why do you despise your brother?” (Romans 14:10). I take it to mean: don’t treat your brother scornfully without brotherly affection. You roll your eyes, and you cluck your tongue, and you turn your head, and everything about your body language is despising and scornful and belittling and disdainful, and there’s nothing brotherly about it.
And so, I think the word brother in Romans 14:10, repeated those two times, is meant to awaken affection that mellows and softens and sweetens any correcting that we need to do of each other. The command is clear: don’t judge; don’t despise your fellow believers by treating them as unbelievers or being critical of them without brotherly affection. In other words, when judgment is needed, do it the way Paul said to do it in
Galatians 6:1–2. And do it the way Jesus said to do it in Matthew 7:5. Let me read those again. Here’s Paul’s way of interpreting Jesus’s command: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression” — so, there’s reason to correct here. “You who are spiritual” — and you might think spiritual
will puff you up. That’s not spiritual to be puffed up. Watch the effect of it: “You who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). In other words, watch out for the log in your own eye. And here are Jesus’s words: “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). If you want to invest some emotional energy in conflict, deal with yourself 99 percent of the time. You can save a marriage that way.

...restoring one another requires a recognition of sin. Galatians 6 tells us, “If another believer is overcome by some sin…” (v.1, NLT). The word “overcome” (prolambano) means to be caught, trapped, overtaken, or enslaved. Everyone has sin they struggle with, it’s a daily or weekly fight. It’s a temptation you wrestle with, most of the time you win but sometimes you lose. But when a person is  “overcome by some sin”  it’s dominating their life and causing them to make irrational decisions that don’t honor God or others. It has become an addiction or obsession.
Notice carefully, the Bible is talking about a believer who has become overcome by some “sin.” What type of sin is this talking about? If you back up a few verses to Galatians 5:19 we are given a sample of possible sins. Galatians 5:19 says, “When you follow the desires of the sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these” (NLT).
When the Bible says “If another believer is overcome by some sin…”  referring to a sin they cannot break free from. They may be caught in an addiction. It could be obvious, like an addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography, or illicit sex. The Bible calls these things sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, drunkenness, and wild parties.
But then you have sins like hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition and envy. These can be just as hurtful and controlling of your life as the other sins.
Whenever a person’s dependence on an activity begins to control their lives. Just as someone can be controlled by drunkenness, they can also be controlled by jealousy, selfish ambition, or envy. Regardless, they have been broken or torn and need to be restored by God.
Whatever the case, God’s Word is referring to something that has bound them and will not let them go. They are hostage to it. That’s what it means to be  “overcome by some sin.” When restoring one another we have to recognize sin as sin. We should not down play it. When you are helping someone you and them must be able to say, “Let’s overcome this sin of ________ together.” You need to name it. --Truth Applied

==galatians 6:3-6:

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
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.

==galatians 6:7-8:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Paul begins with a stern warning against deception. The phrase "God cannot be mocked" underscores the inevitability of divine justice. To mock God is to treat Him with contempt or disregard His principles, but Paul assures his readers that such attempts are futile. God’s moral order is unchangeable, and His justice is certain.
"A man reaps what he sows."
This statement encapsulates the essence of the principle. It is a straightforward yet profound truth that our actions have consequences. Whether in the natural or spiritual realm, the seeds we plant through our thoughts, words, and deeds will yield a corresponding harvest --What is the meaning and significance of Galatians 6:7-8?

Charles Stanley

"The corruption Paul mentions has nothing to do with hell. He is talking about the consequences on this earth. If a person--believer or nonbeliever--makes decisions according to their impulses and desires of the flesh, the result will always be corruption--a wrecked and ruined life. Those persons who have not comes to grips with the concept of forgiveness have by their very nature of unforgiveness set themselves uyp to walk according to the flesh. When that happens they are losers every time. By withholding patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and the rest, the individuals held hostage by the flesh and thus: is the ultimate loser." --Charles Stanley "Forgiveness" p19-20

Matthew Henry Files

Many excuse themselves from the work of religion, though they may make a show, and profess it. They may impose upon others, yet they deceive themselves if they think to impose upon God, who knows their hearts as well as actions; and as he cannot be deceived, so he will not be mocked. Our present time is seed time; in the other world we shall reap as we sow now. As there are two sorts of sowing, one to the flesh, and the other to the Spirit, so will the reckoning be hereafter. Those who live a carnal, sensual life, must expect no other fruit from such a course than misery and ruin. But those who, under the guidance and influences of the Holy Spirit, live a life of faith in Christ, and abound in Christian graces, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. We are all very apt to tire in duty, particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and guard against. Only to perseverance in well-doing is the reward promised. Here is an exhortation to all to do good in their places. We should take care to do good in our life-time, and make this the business of our lives. Especially when fresh occasions offer, and as far as our power reaches. --Matthew Henry; Galatians 6:7-8

==galatians 6:9:

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

One of Hooker Hendon’s most cherished verses is Galatians 6:9 — on page G for Good — which came in clutch this season. He transferred from Virginia Tech to Tennessee but was beaten out by Joe Milton for the starting job to start the season.
Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Hendon was patient, worked hard in practice and eventually got his opportunity. He had a standout season as one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks.
“That verse is his story at Tennessee,” his dad said. “He kept showing up. He kept being a good teammate. He rooted Joe on. He remained a good example on the team.
“He didn’t give up. He kept doing good things.” -Knox News

Caroline Harries

“Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
WEARY = The command to “not grow weary” warns us that succumbing to weariness will be a temptation while waiting. For more see Luke 18:1, 2 Cor 4:1, 2 The 3:13
IN DUE TIME = Just like for any farmer, there is a proper season to reap a harvest after planting seeds. There is a process including planting, watering and more!
HARVEST = The harvest is produced from the seeds sown. You are responsible for what you produce based on what you sow. For more see Galatians 6:7-8.
IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP = “If” indicates the harvest isn’t guaranteed. Growing weary and giving up will prevent the harvest from happening. --Caroline Harries; In Due Time

==galatians 6:14:

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."

Paul did not regard adjustment to this world as a sign of spiritual well being.

We all bear some responsibility for the well-being of those around us. We must be ready to share ourselves with others, even if it is only a friendly ear. I could offer many similar commentaries from my more than 40 years of law enforcement, but I trust that my point has been made. One closing thought from Galatians 6:2 is this: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - Keith Throckmorton

==galatians 6:18:

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are out of the household of faith.:

When one starts to think of excuses for not giving, he automatically moves out of the sphere of grace giving. Grace never looks for a reason, it only looks for an opportunity.