How to Rescue a Brother or Sister in Christ
(September 21, 2026)
A friend of mine, I’ll call Harry, is a believer, who recently lost his wife. Harry has
become involved with an unsaved woman. She has moved in with him and there
is every reason to believe that they are sexually involved.
My friend, Harry, needs to be rescued. He is caught in a sin, as Galatians 6:1 says,
and is inviting God’s discipline if he doesn’t repent. Verse 2 says that a spiritual
man is to go to Harry and gently restore him back to right living, considering
himself lest he also be tempted, which is what has been done. But Harry is not
receiving the wise counsel. What now?
According to 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Paul counsels the Corinthian believers to
confront the offending believer who is living immorally and expel him from the
church if he will not repent. Verse 11 says, “But now I am writing to you that you
must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually
immoral, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
While no time frame is given in these verses as to when such action should be
taken the implication seems to be that once the offender is confronted a
reasonable time is to be given for the person to respond. Then once that person
has given their final answer and no repentance is demonstrated, the disciplinary
action is to be carried out.
It goes without saying that the whole process is to be bathed in prayer. This is
spiritual warfare at its most basic level. The Holy Spirit must do the work of
convicting and drawing to repentance the wayward believer.
It is important that the offending believer be told ahead of time the steps that will
be taken by the church if biblical wisdom is ignored and they continue in
unrepentant sin. It should not be done on the spur of the moment and certainly
should be done without rancor or condemnation on the part of the church
leadership.
Handling things God’s way gives the erring believer the best chance of repenting
of their sin and returning to the Lord and the fellowship of the body of Christ.