Have you ever had the check engine light stay lit in your car? What do you do? I knew someone who found that pesky little light annoying, and the engine sounded fine to him; So he took a piece of black tape and covered it up. In essence, he denied that there was any problem.
After some time later, another little other pesky light on his panel lit up. it was that little picture of an oil can (real meaning-low oil pressure). “Maybe I’m just over due for an oil change?” Before long, not only did he have a big problem, but everyone around him had a problem. He could not be where he needed to be when he needed to be there, inconveniencing others and we all had pitch in to give him a lift until he could have some very costly repairs done. If he had taken his car to the repair shop, properly diagnosed the problem early on, he could have a much smaller repair bill.
The church is often times like that. A small problem appears, but we choose not to look at it, deny that there is a problem. Before long it it is a major problem and the church as a whole suffers.
Galatians 6:1–5 (NKJV) 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. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
On June 24, 2009, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford confessed: “I’ve been unfaithful to my wife.” Sanford, a professing Christian, and some of his closest friends attribute the unfaithfulness to a lack of accountability. Governor Sanford held himself aloof from accountability to those who could have helped him. Warren Culbertson, who was one of the governor’s best friends, repeatedly warned him about the necessity of accountability. After Sanford was elected governor, Culbertson got together a group of six Christian men to meet regularly with him. The governor never let the group get started. Now Sanford agrees that it would have been a smart thing to do. Sanford also avoided involvement in a local church. During his tenure in the capital, he rarely attended church and had no local home church. Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and former Special Counsel to Richard Nixon, said spiritually accountability in public office is rare. This probably accounts for the increasing number of high profile officials who stumble in the area of morality. [1]
If you remember nothing else today, this is the punchline, the main point of today’s sermon: An important tool in our spiritual toolbox, to help diagnose problems in the fellowship and to keep us on track, walking with the Spirit, it is the tool of accountability. The fact is: we need to be accountable to each other. We must hold each other up to a higher standard.
Galatians 6:1 (NKJV) 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.
Paul starts this section out with the word “Brethren.” He is clearly speaking to the church. These are born again believers. He had just talked to them about Walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit.
"if a man is overtaken in any trespass" The NIV reads “caught in a sin.” The Greek word here for caught or overtaken does not necessarily mean an intentional deviation, and deliberate wrongdoing, but rather the word suggest being surprised by the sin. It’s one who went to test the waters and fell in and found himself caught up in such a way that he could not get himself out. Such a person is often ashamed, and may disappear from the sight of the church. The time when that people needs to be in church the most, they’re gone. This a person that needs help.
Then Paul asks those who are spiritual. “you who are spiritual” Let’s be careful here. Humility is important. Being spiritual is not a competition, as one person is more spiritual than another, or being on a higher spiritual plane than another. He is asking those that are spiritual mature and have shown a consistence walk with the Spirit, consistently being led by the spirit, and consistently being in step with the Spirit. Those who are spiritually minded, that is, those whose lives give evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, have a special responsibility to take the initiative in seeking restoration and reconciliation with those who have been caught in such an error [2]
“restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” Paul is asking these mature Christians to restore one who has sinned. The word restore is the same word use in the Gospels where the fishermen were mending their nets. Those that are spiritual are to mend and restore in gentleness. Remember, gentleness is one the fruit of the Spirit.
This is where many in the church get it wrong. They are legalist. They are quick to point out the wrongdoing and the sinful conduct. They add to the burden of the fallen rather than help ease the load.
Sometimes people fall into things as believers, and they can’t get up on their own. They need accountability, help from others in the church. When other believers, church members, friends get into sin, it is the most unloving thing that we can do to ignore it, and allow it to destroy their walk or their eternity. Remind yourself that confronting sin in the lives of other believer is a loving action, and an instruction from Christ. We need to think of ourselves, not as the sin police, but as a battlefield medic.
Restoration cannot be accomplished without confrontation, and this may require firm words and a stern rebuke. Yet even—especially!—in these cases, Martin Luther’s advice to a pastor charged with setting a lapsed brother back on the right path should be heeded: “Run unto him, and reaching out your hand, raise him up again, comfort him with sweet words, and embrace him with motherly arms.[3]
“considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” It is with great care we rescue and restore those who are fallen. It they fell into sin, so can we, who are spiritual be caught up in the same sin. I read an article about a youth minister who genuinely wanted to help his young people overcome pornography. He didn’t understand the addiction so he unwisely decided to view it on the internet himself. He thought he could handle it. Guess what? He became addicted. It led him to inappropriate activity with one of his youth. I think that is part of Paul’s warning in this text. Don’t get trapped in the sin with them.
Now here is the heart of the matter:
Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Burden here means a heavy and oppressive load, weighted down with the temptations of the world and spiritual failures. We are not to stand off and criticize. Those who do so only add to the burden, and the motivation is pride. They are comparing themselves with those who are burden with the sin, to make themselves look good.
Remember the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax collector? In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus told about the Pharisee standing on the steps to the temple who boasted before God how good he was. He tithed, at church every time the doors opened, and did all the right things. He was not like that despicable Tax Collector. Now the tax collect, off to the side, not even looking up, beat his breast and begged God: “Be merciful to me a sinner.” Rather than assist a brother burdened in sin, the Pharisee berated the Tax Collector rather than help ease the load.
Bearing one another burdens. That is mutual accountability. We cannot live this Christian life alone. There are no “Lone Ranger” Christians anywhere in the Bible. Look at the first word in this verse:
“Bear” In the Greek it is in the Present Active Indicative tense. It is a command, not an option. We are to do so now, not later.
“one another” This is all inclusive of all in the church. We all need to be accountable to each other. It matters little who you are. We all need to be accountable and bear each other’s burden.
I need accountability. The deacons need accountability. The Sunday School Teachers, and every member of this body of Christ needs accountability and help one another with our burdens. With us watching out for one another, we can see when that “Check Engine” first comes on. We can take care of our problems, wrongdoings, and sin before they become a disruption to the fellowship. Because all Christians have burdens and since none are sufficient unto themselves to bear their burdens alone, God has so tempered the body of Christ that its members are to be priests to one another, bearing one another’s burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ.[4]
“and so fulfill the law of Christ.” And just what is the Law of Christ? Of all that Jesus Christ commands, there is one command that stands out:
John 13:34 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
1 John 3:23 (NKJV) And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
And we covered this next verse last week:
Galatians 5:14 (NKJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
It is all about love in the church, and how we spread it around. But getting involved in one another’s lives, holding one another accountable. Bearing one another’s burdens can be messy. Anytime sin is involved, involvement is messy. Talking to someone else about their sin MUST, MUST, MUST be motivated by love. And the two of them must not be parted. Please hear this. This is vital in our discussion.
Accountability with a love for people but without a love for God ends up with unwise counsel. It leads to self help therapy and tolerance (That’s okay….your okay in your sin).
Accountability with a love for God but not for people ends up in self-righteousness, judgementalism, and condemnation of people. I think that was the problem of the Pharisees. They loved God a lot, but didn’t care much for people. Both ideas turn splinters into logs in our eyes.
God illustrated the perfect kind of love in accountability. If you read the Scriptures, you will see that mankind is sinful. Yet even in the midst of His anger about sin, God dealt with it in love. It’s the story of Jesus. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. (John 3:16) [5]
We cannot handle sin alone. Its like putting the black tape over the Check Engine Light. But with accountability comes a warning:
Galatians 6:3 (NKJV) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
An old saying, first recording in mid 16th century by John Bradford. He said, “But for the grace of God go John Bradford.” He said this in reference to a group of prisoners being led off to their execution.[6] This was a paraphrase from:
1 Corinthians 15:8–10 (NKJV) Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
The fact is, each one of us could be overtaken by sin. “But by the grace of God.” We are not to place ourselves above others spiritually or otherwise. It is with humility we seek to restore others.
Galatians 6:4–5 (NKJV) But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
We need to step back and objectively measure ourselves, not against other, but against Jesus. See where we have fail, know where we need improvement.
“For each one shall bear his own load” This verse is not in contradiction with verse 2, to bear one another’s burden. The Greek word for “load” here is the the word describing a pack carried by a marching soldier’s. We have our own load that we alone must carry. "Burden" in verse 2 deals with cargo or freight or a crushing load.
The fact is, one day, we will all appear individually before the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is not a judgment for punishment, but a reckoning for rewards. There was a judgment seat at the early Olympics games, for deciding what honors to bestow based on the skill and competition of each player. We will each answer for what we have done in the body. How we each handled the responsibilities each has been given. These responsibilities are not shared, but born by each of us alone.
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
However we each can do more together than apart. We each can hold one another accountable to the individual responsibilities God has given us.
Being an active part of Sunday School or Bible study group goes a long way in being accountable. Remember accountability, bearing one another’s burdens is one of the key Spiritual tools in our Spiritual toolbox. Or are you trying to gut it out on your own? Being part of the body of Christ is not an option. God has called us together. He has placed us in the body as He wills. And Jesus command is clear: Are we loving one another?
[1] Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell, “Mark Sanford’s Lack of Accountability,” in 300 Illustrations for Preachers, ed. Elliot Ritzema (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015). Jamie Dean, “Giving account,” http://www.worldmag.com/articles/15617.
[2] Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 410.
[3] ibid., 412.
[4] ibid., 414.
[5] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/4-diagnosing-the-check-engine-light-john-sears-sermon-on-discipleship-182795?ref=SermonSeriesDetails
[6] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/there_but_for_the_grace_of_God_go_I
