The way to become righteous is not to try to keep a set of religious rules and regulations, but to have a changed character which, by nature, does not want to sin. When a person becomes a follower of Christ, his old self is crucified by being baptized into Christ’s death and he is resurrected as a new person. From that time forward, God’s Spirit lives in this new person and directs his life. A person who is directed by the Spirit has both a godly character as well as a godly lifestyle.
Does this mean that a follower of Christ never sins? No. While those who have the Spirit in them will turn away from a habitual lifestyle of sin, it is still possible for them to become entangled in occasional wrongdoing. God’s Spirit never forces a person to do what is right. We must choose to allow the Spirit to guide and direct us. We must allow the Spirit to renew us and mold our character to be like that of Christ. Scripture is clear that we can resist the Spirit. When we do so, and follow our fleshly desires, we will sin. In addition, learning God’s will and learning what is right is an ongoing process. Until we learn, we will keep sinning – even though it is not our intention.
This raises a question. What should our response be to those who do sin? How should we treat them? The Apostle Paul provides us the answer while writing to the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia. In the first 10 verses of chapter 6 of his inspired letter he says, “Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor. For each man will bear his own burden. But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches. Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.”
We have a natural tendency to lash out in condemnation when we catch someone in a sin. But Paul writes that we should treat such people gently. It should be our purpose to restore those who have sinned, not to punish or destroy them.
Perhaps one reason why we are quick to condemn those who are involved in a sin which we have not committed is that it gives us a feeling of superiority. Since we are not involved in their sin, we must be better than they. However, this kind of pride can lead to our own downfall. We are not immune to temptation. We might not be prone to the same weaknesses and sin as the other person, but we have our own areas of vulnerability. Instead of looking down on someone else who has a problem with sin, we should do what we can to help that person overcome it. They in turn can help us in our areas of weakness. When we all help to bear each other’s burdens in this way, we all will be stronger. It is this mutual caring and helping one another which should be one of the distinguishing characteristics of the followers of Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)
Paul writes that each person should have an accurate evaluation of himself. When we begin to compare our strong points against the failings of others it can easily lead to false pride. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are better than we are. On the other hand, we should not underestimate or denigrate ourselves by comparing our weaknesses to the strengths of others.
Though Paul said that we should bear each other’s burdens, he also writes that we should carry our own load. His meaning is that we should not make excuses for our shortcomings by comparing ourselves to others. We cannot excuse our failings by pointing out the failings of someone else. Our standard is not other people, but Christ.
One manifestation of spiritual pride is to think that we have achieved our level of spiritual growth on our own. The truth is that we have had the help and influence of many to arrive where we are. Perhaps it is for this reason that Paul writes that we must share all good things with those who have instructed us. Those who have taught us God’s word have often sacrificed much to meet our spiritual needs. It is our responsibility to help meet their needs as well.
In the rest of this section, Paul reminds his readers of an eternal principle. We will reap what we have sown. If a farmer plants wheat seed, he will grow a crop of wheat. If he plants potatoes he will harvest potatoes. Similarly, we will reap the consequences of the kind of life we have chosen to live. Our eternal destiny will be in harmony with that choice. Have we chosen to satisfy our flesh and the desires of our sinful nature? Then, we will reap destruction. Have we chosen to turn away from sin and to accept the leading of God’s Spirit? Then we will enjoy eternal life. What choice have we made?
Sometimes it is difficult to see the results of our choices. We try to live for Christ; we sincerely try to follow the leading of God’s Spirit. We choose to do what is good. Yet, we still struggle with sin. We encounter hardship and persecution. We may be tempted to give up. But Paul reminds us that there is a proper time to reap a harvest. A farmer does not plant his seed and gather the harvest the next day. It takes time for the crop to grow and mature. The harvest is sure if we do not grow weary and quit.
Because the harvest of eternal life is sure for those who continue to live by God’s Spirit, Paul encourages us to take advantage of every opportunity to do good. Our primary responsibility is to fellow believers in Christ, but we must do good to all whether they are fellow believers or not.