“What needs to happen if we see others believing lies and living in sin. Verse 1 says: “you who live by the Spirit [as opposed to those who live by the flesh] should restore that person gently [and humbly, implying with much love].” Watching out that we do not start believing the lies we hear from them because then we will be trapped and overtaken by sin. How do we restore them? Verse 2 says: “Carry each other’s burdens,” and so one who is in bondage to sin is burdened down by the strength of temptation and by the weakness of their own flesh and they need someone to come along and to lift some of that load off of them and help them carry it. But how do they do that? Verse 2 tells us: “and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” It is reminding us of what Jesus did when this world was overtaken by sin, when this world was believing lies and languishing in sin. What happened? Jesus came and took that load right off of us. He was made to be sin for us. He was condemned in our place, nailed our sins to the cross and buried our guilt in the grave. So how do we carry each other’s burdens when we are overtaken by a sin? Someone comes to us and points our eyes to Calvary encouraging us to look at Jesus who removed our burdens and set us free. Someone needs to come along and say...:
Cast your care on Jesus today, Leave your worry and fear; Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.
...One example to think about - the woman caught in adultery and she was burdened down by sin and guilt and under condemnation and awaiting execution. And Jesus came to her and stood between her and those who would throw rocks at her and condemn her and stone her, rescuing her from sure death, removing her condemnation and then telling her: “Go and sin no more”. That is how we help others who are overtaken by sin.”