Galatians 6:1-5

Third safeguard. If things become bad and a Christian falls into open fault, loving Christian friends (acting as individuals rather than as a church? But, on any view, the verse is an important contribution towards a theory of church discipline) may restore him again. The only thing which could hinder this would be self-righteous pride, which thwarts all good. By thus bearing each other's burdens, we fulfil Christ's true law if we are humble. If, however, we think ourselves too good to sympathise with our stumbling brothers, we are deluded. Let us look closer into our own hearts and lives! It is quite true that, in the end, every one is to answer for himself to God (cf. Romans 14:12) and to bear his own load (mg.; a different word from that rendered burdens in Galatians 6:2; not that anything is to be made of this except that Paul varies the word when he varies the idea). We may now help to make our neighbours better. But at the end God will judge us all one by one, each just as he is. May we throw back our thoughts to Galatians 5:10?