Whose responsibility is it to restore a Christian who has fallen into sin?
The responsibility rests on spiritual believers, especially church leaders and those in church authority. They are to go to the fallen believer and do all they can to restore that person to fellowship. It is not a matter for joking or light treatment; the church should be burdened and pray for the one who has sinned.
Les explains that Paul addresses “brethren,” meaning believers, and the term is generic, so it includes both men and women. If a man is overtaken in a fault—a rather gross sin—those who are spiritual, as the church leadership, are to restore such a one. Les contrasts this with the average church’s tendency to make light of sin, joke about it, or laugh about it. Instead, when believers hear of a Christian who has fallen into sin, it should break their heart, and they should be burdened and pray for that person. He then makes the responsibility specific: if a person is in a place of church authority or church leadership, regardless of denomination, it is their responsibility to go to that person and do all they can to restore them into fellowship.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
More Questions
How should a spiritual believer restore someone who has fallen into sin?
A fallen believer is to be restored in a spirit of meekness, not in a spirit of arrogance and pride.
How should the church respond to a believer who has been caught in sin?
When a believer is caught in a fault, those who are spiritual are to restore such a one in the spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1).