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Biblical Restoration - a study in Galatians 6:1-8.
CONTEXT :
The context principal of hermaneutics of Galatians 6 is that Paul is addressing the spiritual believers in the church to restore
those who have been infected by the Judiazers. Now the Judiazers were those who mixed the law with grace. It resulted in causing
many to leave the path of life and enter into sin and failure.
The dispensation of the law ended in the book of Acts chapter 2 at Pentecost and the dispensation of grace began with the
advent of God the Holy Spirit. We are presently in the dispensation of grace (The Church Age).
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW CONSIST OF TWO THINGS :
1. By asking the Lord Jesus into our heart and trusting Him to be our personal Lord and Savior by grace through faith in
His Finished Work of Redemption on the Cross (John 19:30) , (Eph.2:8,9).
2. By loving the Lord thy God with all our heart and loving our neighbor as our self (Matt. 22:37-40) , (Rom. 13:10).
GALATIANS 6:1...
"Brethern, if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted".
BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT THE LAW...
1 Corinthians 15:56 : The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
Romans 7:8 : But sin, taken occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law
sin was dead.
Romans 7:11 : For sin, taken occasion by the commandement, deceived me, and by it slew me.
We must always remember that the law is a school master that convicts us that we can never be righteous by it. but, the law
leads us to Christ Jesus and the cross (Gal. 3:24). For when we receive Him as our personal Savior we are made the righteousness
of Him (1 Cor. 5:21). We still live by the principal's of the law , for it is our defence, but by keeping it we can never
be saved.
THE ISSUE OF SIN HAS BEEN DEALT WITH ONCE AND FOR ALL :
Jesus cried out; "It is Finished". Jesus paid for all of man's personal sins on the cross. Who offered His pure blood
that met the righteous demands of God's Holiness by which God declared us "Not Guilty". The issue of sin is dealt with and
is no longer the main focus. What God desires now is intimate fellowship with His children.
STEP ONE - "CONSIDERING OUR SELF"
When we see a precious brother or sister that has been overtaken in a fault (sin) don't be surprised. When a child of God
sins God does not get surprised and fall off His Throne. Not at all, because God is spiritual all the time. Therefore, the
heart of God is that such a one be restored back into fellowship with Him.
When we see a precious brother or sister in a fault the first thing we need to do is apply to ourselves Romans 12:1,2. Now
if the perfect will of God is to go and restore such a one, it is imperative to be filled with the meekness of God. Why ?
So that we are not tempted.
If we DO NOT CONSIDER OUR SELF (applying Romans 12: 1,2), and not filled with the Holy Spirit we will not have the spirit
of meekness that is so essential in restoring such a one.
Now if we don't go in the spirit of meekness we have entered into TEMPTATION. What is temptation ? It is being in the spirit
of LEGALISM. Legalism is a demander, it is a controller, and a correction officer. It demands that you repent and get right.
Legalism produces frustration which is a product of the flesh. Legalism pushes such a one far off the path of life and sometimes
to the point of no return (to the precious fellowship with God). A legalistic person always wants justice and will not be
content until such a one has repented.
What is the temptation ? Legalism, a person that is focused on sin and not God's heart of restoration.
GOD'S WAY OF RESTORATION : WHEN WE SEE A BROTHER OR SISTER IN A FAULT :
STEP 1. Pray : For them and for your self. Apply Romans 12:1,2 to prove what the perfect will of God is for this situation.
STEP 2. If God does not want you to go to them, "DON'T GO". (Proverbs 17:28)
STEP 3. If God wants you to go to them :
a. Pray and ask God for His heart for them.
b. Consider yourself, because you could fall at any time. How would you like others to treat you when you are overtaken
in a fault ? Remember, love covers a multitude of sins (Provb. 10:12), (1 Peter 4:8), (Provb. 25:2), (Romans 5:8).
c. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), therefore receiving the spirit of meekness (gentleness) which is the
essential part of restoration (Galatians 5:22), (Ps. 18:35), (2 Samuel 22:36) which is from Christ Jesus in 2 Cor. 10:1.
d. Always remember that sin is never the issue. Restoration is the issue. Restoring them back to the precious fellowship
with God is the goal.
e. Always having an attitude of love toward them (1 Cor. 13:4).
f. Help them turn back to God (James 5:19,20). "Convert them" in the greek is : epistrepho = to revert, to return again,
root word is epi = restore to a place in time, and strepho = back again to the place of strength.
PAUL'S ANALOGY :
Is that of a Doctor who is gently restoring a broken bone to its original position. He considers the pain, and that the area
around the break is very sensitive. He tends and loves the person until he is healed and restored. Just think about the pain
that is involved. A legalistic , frustrated attitude is not the Godly way.
"Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted". Gal. 6:1
My friends, when we follow these guidelines, we will gain our brothers and sisters, fulfill the Royal law of Love in
Christ and glorify our Father in the bond of peace, unity and love. (Jas. 2:8)
God bless you in His love,
Jeffrey P. Boisclair
Sharing Our Faith
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