“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”
Although the believer is free from the Mosaic Law, he is nevertheless not free from the law of Christ, the law of love (6:1-10). We show love by extending compassion toward those who fall. Legalists deal with others by censoriousness.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass,
The word “overtaken” means to be run down by sin. The “if” indicates that this is a hypothetical case of Christians who attempt to flee from a sin but they misjudge its speed and power, so sin overtakes them before they are spiritually prepared to deal with it. The idea is not that these believers did not sin deliberately for every sin is deliberate.
“Trespass” carries the idea of stumbling or falling beside. Believers who stumble over a sin that they did not anticipate or that they underestimated. They flirted with sin, and it rose up and quickly bit them. They make a false step spiritually, and the fault will expose them. Be sure your sins will find you out.
Principle:
Sin will sneak up on us if we are not alert spiritually.
Application:
Sin sneaks up on us from behind and will catch us in its trap. The Devil sets booby traps for every Christian. Christians should always stay on guard against sin. Circumspection is a Christian value.
