GALATIANS

THE MAGNA CARTA OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

Chapter 2:1-10Howard Buck

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

Chapter one:

We know the author, Paul (1)

His title, apostle (1)

We have a statement of the gospel (4)

The problem, following false teaching (6)

What happens to false teachers, let them be accursed (8,9)

Chapter one:

Where the gospel came from, God (11-12)

Paul’s background, a zealous Jew (14)

Paul’s call from God, (15-16)

His travels (18-22)

Remember that Paul said he got his gospel directly from God and not from any man:

1:1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

Now, even though Paul was not influenced by any man in relation to the source of his gospel, in

chapter 2 he will actually go to Jerusalem to see if a harmony exists with the gospel as professed by

the other apostles..

2:1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus

along also.How many years had Paul been preaching before he went to Jerusalem searching for this gospel harmony?

17 (1:18 = 3 and 2:1 = 14)

What is the ethnic make-up of the group?

Paul/Barnabas are Jews and Titus is a Greek (gentile)..

Jerusalem in Paul’s time

Most probably Paul’s trip was two fold:

1. To confirm the gospel harmony

2. To present issues from the churches to the apostles..

This council Paul requested was brought about by the false teachings of the

Judiazers. They taught that all gentiles must be circumcised to be a Christian.

As we will see in more detail, Paul believed this tied them to the Law of Moses which

was actually fulfilled at the cross..

If you read Acts 15 you will see that the other apostles completely agreed with Paul.

In fact, they sent Paul with an apostolic letter confirming our separation from the law

All they dictated is that the people restrain from certain practices that kept them TIED to the pagan

world:Fornication, eating food sacrificed to idols, ETC..

2:2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach

among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be

running, or had run, in vain.

Who sent Paul to Jerusalem to present his gospel and deal with the church issues?...

God!!

…I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles,

Paul submits, or lays out the gospel message which is his theological understanding of the gospel..

but I did so in private to those who were of reputation,

Why in private?...

He wanted to know what the other apostles believed before speaking in public at the council.

Note the sarcasm, “of reputation” this is directed at the Judiazers since these men are in complete agreement

with Paul!!

for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

What do you think he means here?...Paul wants to make sure the other apostles are in agreement with what Paul believes is the true gospel of God and if they do not agree, it could undo his 17

years of ministry!Why is Paul so confident of his gospel?...

Because of all of the years studying with the Holy Spirit!!

The question here is:

Are you confident of your belief in God, your gospel?..

Do you hear someone out in order to correct their theology or possibly to correct yours?

Do you pray and study to strengthen your belief or simply go to church to find out what you believe?.

2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Why mention the lack of circumcision?...

It proves that the other apostles are in agreement with Paul or Titus would have been ordered to be

circumcised.

The sign of Judaism is circumcision… agree?.

What would you say is the sign of Christianity

(not symbol but sign)?...

 John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of

this the world hates you. 

A true believer is hated by the world

Does the world know you are a Christian?.

 2:4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have

in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

Who are the false brethren?...

The Judiazers

What had they infiltrated?..

The church

Why?...

To return Jews to the bondage of the law and hopefully discourage Gentiles from the faith..

liberty which we have in Christ Jesus

What are we liberated from?..

The law and the bondage of sin

We do not need to keep the law for our salvation nor are we slaves of sin!!!

Free from the law = we do not need to earn our salvation

Free from sin = we don’t have to pay for our sin,

there may be consequences but the payment is made..

Does Christian liberty allow for sin?

Romans 6:18 - 19

18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 

19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented

your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness,

resulting in sanctification.

Galatians 5:13

13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

 1 Peter 2:16

16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 

(Dr. Sam will elaborate on our Christian liberty in April)

2:5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would

remain with you.

Did Paul give in to the false teachers?..

NO!!!

Why not?...

For the sake of his spiritual children..

2:6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God

shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me

Looks a little harsh doesn't it?..

Who is Paul referring to here?...

The original 11 + 1 apostles (of high reputation)..

Why does Paul say: what they were makes no difference to me?...

Because:

God shows no partiality

Remember, Paul’s authority has been called into question here by the Judiazers and he is simply

putting himself on the same level with the “pillars” of the church which he will later name as

James, Peter and John..

God shows no partiality (NAS)God does not judge by external appearance (NIV)

If God doesn’t judge by externals should we?...

NO:

2 Cor. 5:16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh…

Black, white, pretty, homely, good hair, bad hair, ETC..

those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me

This also sounds harsh, what does Paul mean?..

He has already stated that the gospel He preaches came directly from God and not man, any man apostle

or otherwise.

This is simply a statement of fact not a put down!!

7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just

as Peter had been to the circumcised 

Explain please…

Peter was charged from God to minister to the Jews whereas Paul’s commission was to the Gentiles..

8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked

for me also to the Gentiles), 

Who is the He?...

The Holy Spirit

What does this say about God?...

His gospel is unchanging, His message consistent. Remember, Paul was preaching for 17 years before

he compared notes with the church leaders..

9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed

to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the

Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Paul’s victory statement to the Judiazers.

He came, they talked, compared notes and agreed that they were on the same page representing the same

God..

Who are the pillars?...

James, Peter and John

Why did he use that title?..

They were highly respected?...

What proved that they accepted Paul as an apostle?..

The right hand of fellowship..

10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

The only discussion outside of the gospel (the meeting with Paul, not at the council meeting) deals with the

poor and again everyone is on the same page!!

Next week: Paul confronts Peter in an all out

apostolic showdown!!!!!!!!!!

What do we take home?

1. One gospel fits all

2. A true Christian is hated by the world

3. We are:

Free from sin

Free from the Law

4. God is not partial..