September 18, 2011
Evening Service
Galatians
2
Review:
- This
morning Paul told us some things after his conversion. He went and spent
some time in Arabia, came back to Damascus of Syria, then 3 years later
went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, spent 14 days there, and while there,
he met James the Lord’s brother, who eventually becomes leader of the
church in Jerusalem.
- He
told us that his ordination came directly from God, and the gospel he
preached came by revelation of Jesus Christ.
- We
finished chapter one with the people giving glory to God for his
conversion.
As
we look at chapter two, Paul continues to enlighten us on his travels, and
ministry.
The gospel of grace is approved:
Gal 2:1-21 Then
fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus
with me also. (2)
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I
preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest
by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
- Went
up by revelation. Even though the Apostle was with the church at Antioch
of Syria, it was God that told him to go to Jerusalem, to the meeting.
- Told
it to Christians lest some of the non believing Jews would kill him. This
council is recorded in Acts chapter 15.
(3) But neither Titus, who was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
- False
teaching Judaizers who would pervert the gospel of grace would have
required Titus to be circumcised in order to be pleasing to God. But
there was none there.
(4) And that
because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
bondage: (5) To whom we gave place by
subjection, no, not for an hour;
- There
were some of the teachers of the law brought in, but we did not bend to
their teachings on keeping the law.
that
the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
- Paul
stood his ground on the gospel he had received from God. Why wouldn’t he?
(6) But of
these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to
me: God accepteth no man's person:)
- God
is not a respecter of persons. Whoever does His will, will be accepted by
Him.
for
they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
- No
matter who, or what office these men held, it would not surpass his
revelation of the gospel he had received from God. It didn’t matter who
they were.
(7) But
contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed
unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (8)
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the
circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
- These
men at the council was true servants of God, and recognized God’s working
in Paul’s life.
(9) And when
James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was
given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that
we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (10)
Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
- As
a matter of fact, and we have pointed to it many times, there was only 4
things gentiles were to abstain from: Act 15:29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from
things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves,
ye shall do well, Fare ye well.
The gospel of grace is vindicated by
rebuking Peter:
(11) But when
Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be
blamed.
- Paul
rebuking Peter? The one who had the keys to unlock the gates of heaven. Something
we should acknowledge is that just because a person has a certain degree
of authority, they can still make mistakes, or sin. And to sin is to miss
the mark, and Peter misses the mark in this case.
(12) For before
that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were
come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the
circumcision.
- This
was wrong, and Paul will tell us why here in a moment.
- Notice,
one who is of great authority can also lead others to miss the mark.
Jesus speaking of the Jewish teachers of Judaism said, “the blind shall
lead the blind and they both shall fall into the ditch.”
- Peter
is leading these Jewish Christians into a ditch, and Paul is going to pull
them out.
(13) And the
other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was
carried away with their dissimulation.
- Even
Barnabas? I have always had great respect for Barnabas, but this shows
the superior intelligents of Paul.
(14) But when I
saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said
unto Peter before them all, If thou,
being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why
compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
- I
hope you can see this picture in your mind. Paul was a small bald man,
and Peter a tough rugged fisherman.
(15) We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
- Meaning
that the gentiles didn’t have the laws of God to live by.
(16) Knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by
the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified.
- Paul
expounds on this teaching in the Roman letter, chapters 3 – 4.
- You
will find he touches on most of his gospel in all his letters to one
degree or another.
(17) But if,
while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God
forbid.
- The
idea being if the gospel of Christ received by Paul teaches a man doesn’t
have to keep the laws of Moses, because transgression of the law is sin,
then Paul’s gospel teaches men to sin, and Christ is the author of Paul’s
gospel.
(18) For if I
build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (19) For I through the law am dead to the law, that
I might live unto God.
- Rom 6:3-8
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? (4) Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life. (5) For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6)
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe
that we shall also live with him:
(20) I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21)
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
LORD HELP US TO SEE HOW MARVELOUS THIS GOSPEL
REALLY IS.
