Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted.2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2

Carry One Another's Burdens  (Galatians 6:1-2)

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This week, Mike continued our GAME CHANGERS series, where we investigated the importance and role of community in the life of the believer.  

God created us to live in community with others. In community, we have others with whom we can celebrate successes and mourn losses (Romans 12:15). We have help when times are hard (Ecclesiastes 4:9- 10) and someone to spur us on if we get complacent (Hebrews 10:24). We can get wise counsel for hard decisions (Proverbs 15:22) and resist the temptation to isolate and hide our own poor choices (Proverbs 18:1). We also sharpen each other and grow in our walks with Christ (Proverbs 27:17). -WaterMark Community Church

Today's passage, Galatians 6:2, highlights the role of Christian accountability!  It has two primary parts.

First, we hold each other to a standard of holiness, that if a Christian brother or sister is caught in sin, that the Christian is to RESTORE them. The greek word for restore, katartizete (καταρτίζετε), is the same word used to describe setting broken bones and mending broken fishing nets. We as brothers and sisters in Christ are commanded to help set right what is broken and mend what has frayed when those we are accountable to have sinned.

Secondly, we bear each others burdens. We provide RELIEF. When the load gets heavy and the road gets steep, we lift people and speak life. We shoulder the load!

When we restore and provide relief, we fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? It is the principle of LOVE. (Galatians 5:14)

This is what it looks like to be living in the context of Christian community, we restore and we provide relief!