Second idea, When the above happens to someone in the church, the spiritual are to restore him. That lets us know that there are persons in every church who have grown to a point where they should be helping other people. Notice, leadership is not mentioned, though we would hope that the leaders and the spiritual would be the same. The word here is pneumatikos, and refers to the non-carnal or non-fleshly. Those who have taken Paul's advice in chapter 5 would be of this caliber. They walk not according to the flesh, but they walk in the Spirit as He fills and completes their own spirit.

Third idea, that restoration, when done by a truly spiritual person, will be gentle and kind. Fruit of the Spirit will be evident in the process. The harsh members, critical, angry, punishing, judging, are not spiritual, but carnal.

Fourth, we are told that even the spiritual can be tempted to fall, especially if they are blind to their potential weakness when restoring the brother.

Ironside says, “It is no evidence of spirituality to give way to harsh judgment… a hard, critical spirit will drive the failing one deeper into sin and make it more difficult to recover him at last. “

Our attitude should be that of one of the Fathers quoted by Luther, who, when dealing with a backslidden brother said, “He fell yesterday; I may fall today.”

As Paul says here, “Looking to yourself” .

In the context of restoration of a brother we are told to bear his burden, for he has truly made a huge mistake and he knows it. This could refer to other burdens that people carry, but it is encouraging to know that, yes, God's people do have burdens, but no, they are not asked to bear them alone. Here is Jesus inviting us to come to Him, via the Body, when we labor and are heavy laden, and He Himself will give us rest.

Paul again brings the subject matter back home when he suggests that here is a way to be keeping Christ's law, the bearing of burdens. His law, as well as what He gave to Moses, is love, and the Spirit within us guides us eventually there (6:2).

Fulfilling the law of Christ involves interdependence on the Christ manifested in the Body, the Church. Without this networking of love, a brother is on his own, and if he should score a temporary success, he begins to think he is something. In fact, without the Christ of the Body, He is nothing. It will not be long before a charcoal taken from the fire will burn out. Alone (6:3).

Are we to bear each other’s burdens, or are we totally responsible for our own burden?

But there is a deeper meaning to verse 3 as we go on to the next 2 verses. In one way it looks as though Paul reverses himself in verses 4 and 5. If these two ideas had been found in two different epistles, the so-called "higher critics" would be telling us that one of them was not genuine Pauline teaching. Thankfully, they came out of his heart within seconds of each other.

Bear one another's burdens, be involved in the body, we need one another, that’s the word of verses 1-3.

But, says Paul, we will bear our own burden. Examine yourself. Rejoice in yourself alone, not in someone else's estimation of you. Independence!

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How does it fit together? Try this paraphrase.

“Condescend to help your brother to be restored if he messes up. Don't think of yourself as too good for this, and don't treat him in a holier-than-thou manner. If you think you are so good, you have some surprises in store. In fact, you need to examine yourself to be sure all is well there, so that his life is not the focus of your growth and perfection, but your own life. Though you should help this brother, eventually you will stand before God, not on his behalf, but on your own behalf. “

This puts a different light on "you who are spiritual." Who would volunteer for the task of helping such a brother now? Paul calls us all to examine ourselves thoroughly, to be sure the Spirit is doing the work in us which He ought to do, and that we are receiving it.