Paul spends most of Galatians celebrating God’s grace—how Christ set us free, how His love replaces law, and how faith works through love. But in chapter six, Paul moves from theology to relationships. He begins addressing what love actually does in real life. You want to know if someone truly walks in the Spirit? Watch how they treat people who fall. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” That verse separates the spiritually mature from the spiritually obnoxious. Some believers treat fallen Christians like predators treat wounded antelope on the Discovery Channel—easy prey to criticize, condemn, and devour. But not Paul. For him, restoration—not humiliation—is the goal. The word he uses for restore was used in medical terms for mending a broken bone. You do that carefully, gently, and with compassion—not with a sledgehammer and duct tape.
Many say Paul is talking about restoring someone who slipped into some moral sin listed among the “works of the flesh” earlier in chapter five. But I wonder if he also has the Judaizers in mind—those legalists who had thrown the Galatians off track with their “Jesus-plus” gospel. Maybe the ones causing the problem are also the ones who need restoration. Whether it is moral failure or doctrinal confusion, Paul says the response must be the same: go get them and bring them home. Gently. He does not say, “Ignore them,” or “Tweet about them,” or “Use them as a sermon illustration.” He says restore them. And notice—he says “you who are spiritual.” Translation: Not everyone should volunteer for this assignment. The proud, harsh, and hypercritical need not apply. My wife always tells me, “If I agreed with everything you said, I would not be needed.” That reminds me God gives us people who challenge, correct, and restore us—not people who flatter our egos.
Paul adds a warning: “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” Nothing produces gentleness faster than remembering that you, too, are a member of the Sinner’s Club, fully capable of failure. John Butler tells the story of a pastor who needed to visit a fallen church member and asked each deacon if he could ever fall into such a sin. Most said, “Absolutely not!” But one replied, “I cannot be sure. Under the same circumstances, I might have done the same thing.” The pastor chose that man and said, “You are the one who must go with me—because you are the only one humble enough to help.” Paul would have smiled at that.