INTRODUCTION: Here in this chapter, Paul continues in his defense of the apostleship granted to him, the same way that he received the Gospel: not by man, but from GOD Himself, the Word made flesh. He relates the events that transpired since he was confronted by the risen Christ and all that these events entail.
He also relates an incident where he confronted Peter, who was perceived as the leader of the apostles in his fault when he visited Antioch. This shows that Paul wasn’t subordinate to the Twelve, but one of equal standing. Who else could confront an apostle on any error except another apostle? This also demonstrates Peter’s continued heart of humility by receiving such correction.
In broader terms, any Christian is qualified to confront any pastor on an error (or perceived error) they may commit by teaching something unbiblical. The standard by which all are judged is the Word of GOD.
Being accountable in this way, beneficial things may happen:
The pastor may perceive the error when presented with the appropriate Scriptures, humble themselves and make corrections before his congregation.
The Christian approaching the pastor might themselves be misapplying the Scriptures they cite which seems to contradict (but don’t) what the pastor was teaching, and this provides the pastor the opportunity to clarify the Scriptures they are presented with for the Christian.
The Christian approaching him may learn that they misunderstood the pastor’s teaching, or perhaps the pastor didn’t present their case clearly enough and this provides him the chance to clarify the issue.
So we continue with Paul’s ‘travelogue’ …
PART ONE -
GALATIANS 2:1-2
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.
By this time Paul had completed his first of three missionary journeys and by this point was nearly completing his second with Barnabas (ACTS 15). This was the occasion of the Jerusalem counsel which dealt with the question, Do Gentile Christians have to obey the law of Moses and be circumcised? In other words, some were contending (Pharisees who professed Christ) that Gentiles could only become true Christians through Judaism, and not become Christians directly from pagan cultures. Paul was insistent on the Gentiles not being obligated to follow the Law of Moses (including the rite of circumcision) and was prepared to make his case before the counsel.
The conclusion of the matter was settled upon in ACTS 15:24-29 (take note that this decision was ratified by the Holy Spirit (vs. 28). One would think this would settle the matter in today’s church, that Christians are not obligated to follow the Law of Moses in order to be saved, or to maintain salvation, but rather by the Holy Spirit we are enabled to fulfill the righteousness of the Law without obedience to the more than 600 laws GOD gave to Israel in the Tanakh (ROM 3:20-22; note esp. vs. 21; 4:13-16; 8:3-6; 9:30-33; 10:3-10; also GAL 3:21-25; PHIL 3:4-9).
The apostle communicated the Gospel to those of Philippi and to Thessalonica (PHIL 2:16; 1 THESS 3:5) “but privately to those who were of reputation”, in other words, he approached people personally (perhaps after he had made a public address to the people in general) who were thought of by Paul to be the most receptive to the Gospel. But perhaps even more applicably, Paul was referring to those “who seemed to be something” (GAL 2:6) in reference to apostles Peter, James (the half-brother of Jesus) and John. In that private conference Paul understood that everything he practiced in his preaching of the Gospel was no different than what these others practiced; they “added nothing to me” (vs. 6b).
GALATIANS 2:3-5
3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Titus – a Greek Christian, was likely with Paul in his visitation at Jerusalem, and there were some that supposed the apostle brought him (and other Gentiles) into the area of the Temple reserved for Jews only, which created quite the ruckus (ACTS 21:27-29).
There was no submission on Paul’s part to concede to the imperatives made by these “false brethren” (this was the same sentiment made by other Jews regarding Gentiles and the Law in ACTS 15:24).
We can equate false brethren with “tares” – they are convincing in their appearance (as tares are with wheat) but lack any fruit. These are they that operate by stealth, that is, subtlety (as with their father; GEN 3:1). These are the sort that say, “LORD, LORD” in MATT 7:21-23. Notice that there is no case in which the LORD said, “Once I knew you, but I know you no more”. He declares that He never knew them, all the while they were claiming Him as LORD.
The LORD Jesus Christ’s mission was to set us free from the bondage of the Law that would only condemn sinners. We will examine this in detail once we get to Chapter 5:
GALATIANS 5:1-6We are set free from “the spirit of bondage to fear [of death]” and have become the (adopted) children of GOD, calling Him Abba (ROM 8:15; GAL 4:5-6; HEB 2:15), as opposed to being children under bondage to the Law, that we might learn the valuable lessons this “school teacher” would teach us: that we are spiritually bankrupt (GAL 4:1-4; MATT 5:3)!
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
We will one day be delivered from the bondage of corruption that has all of creation in its deadly embrace, ruining everything it’s touched. And we who bear “the first fruits”, i.e., the salvation of our souls, groan because of the wickedness that permeates GOD’s fallen creation (ROM 8:21-23). We are most eager indeed for the “adoption, the redemption of our bodies”.
I can honestly say, at only sixty one years of age (as of this August), I have seen enough of this world of sin, the destructive nature of corruption, and what it’s doing to our once godly nation to know beyond any shred of doubt: that I am MOST eager to leave this “planet Rebyl” and go Home to Holy Heaven and there rest at the nail-scarred feet of my beloved LORD Jesus my GOD and my Savior! I think I speak for all true Christians, born of the Spirit of GOD, when I say, our longing to go Home grows exponentially day by day, even hour by hour!
May we as the saints of GOD, love the LORD wholeheartedly, and also His appearing (2 TIM 4:8) and love not the world nor the things of this world: the “lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”; 1 JOHN 2:15.
Some contend that “fallen from grace” equates with the loss of salvation; I don’t necessarily agree with that assertion based on the text.
What Paul is saying is that we are all saved by grace; that there is nothing of the Law that can do so. So, if anyone attempts justification by the Law, they are not accessing the blessings and provisions of grace; they may or may not be saved, but in either case, appropriating the Law as a means of justification won’t work!
It’s doubtful whether or not they are saved; and this is Paul’s concern for the Galatian Christians (GAL 4:20-21). I know of a few Christians that, while I’m fairly convinced that they are saved, have resorted to Hebrew Roots Movement which teaches that the Law of Moses is a required additive to the Gospel of grace. If they have genuinely received Christ as LORD and Savior, then they are saved, but bringing in the Law as a requirement is making one guilty of false doctrine, not a loss of salvation.
If the Spirit of Truth truly indwells such people, I believe that He will right them of their wrong direction and draw them back to the truth of “simplicity that is in Christ” (2 COR 11:1-2).
GALATIANS 2:6
6 But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man--for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.
Again, this likely refers to Peter, John, and James (who were all present at the Jerusalem counsel (ACTS 15). Paul understood that these three were not ‘higher tier’ apostles to which he would be subordinate; they were co-equals as they were all appointed and instructed as apostles by Christ, though Paul was late in coming (1 COR 15:8). GOD doesn’t “play favorites” (ROM 2:11), but I do believe His relationship with each of His children is such that He sees us all as ‘His favorite’ because we have favor with Him through Christ!
There was nothing he could learn as an apostle from these that preceded him in the faith. The LORD was faithful in instructing Paul thoroughly in all that he would require in order to fulfill his ministry. And the same is said of us, His saints.
The LORD has equipped us with all we need to fulfill our ministry that He has ordained for us:
2 PETER 1:2-4He has granted us His Spirit, His Word, the body of Christ, the various gifts and fruit of the Spirit, pastors and teachers, all the necessary equipment required to complete the works He has pre-planned for us!
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (EPH 1:3; 4:12; 2 TIM 1:9)
Once our labors are completed, like Paul who stated that “he fought the good fight, he had finished the race, he kept the faith” (2 TIM 4:7) and was looking forward the time when he would soon receive “the crown of righteousness” (2 TIM 4:8) we get to go Home! Understand that the LORD has individual rosters of duty for each of us to fulfill, and once He has checked off the last item on our rosters, He is most eager to bring us Home to fellowship with Him and all the saints – and angels, and yes: “live happily ever after”!
I have often prayed, “LORD, lead me to these foreordained works You have for me, let me be faithful to complete each and every one to Your complete satisfaction! And when they’re all done, take me Home (but not until then, of course)!”
GALATIANS 2:7-8
7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
Some contend that the Gospel that Paul preached was different than that which Christ and the other apostles preached. Well, yes and no.
In the essentials of salvation, they are identical: the call to repentance, faith in Christ and in His atoning death, His certain burial, and His glorious resurrection!
The applicability is somewhat different; and why is that? Because Peter was commissioned with the Gospel to the circumcision, that is, to the Jewish nation. Paul was commissioned with the Gospel to the uncircumcision, that is, the Gentile nations. Why is that distinction important?
Because GOD never made a covenant with any Gentile nation for a promised kingdom; He did for the Jews. And so when we read about “the Gospel of the kingdom” (MATT 4:23; 4:35), this was the LORD’s Good News to the nation of Israel regarding the promised kingdom (ACTS 1:6-7).
PART TWO -
Unfortunately, the Jewish nation rejected their Messiah King, so the appointed time kept by the Father is postponed until the Messiah’s return, when He will then fulfill the declaration made by Gabriel to Mary, and sit upon the throne of His father David, and rule over the house of Jacob forever, His kingdom having no end (LUKE 1:31-33).
MATTHEW 24:14 also speaks of the Gospel of the Kingdom that will be preached during Daniel’s 70th week, aka the time of Jacob’s Trouble. You will note that throughout the book of ACTS as well as in all of the epistles, “the kingdom of heaven” is not mentioned, though “the kingdom of GOD” is. So, is there a difference?
We know that the Gospel according to Matthew was directed to the Jewish people, and the term “kingdom of heaven” is exclusive to this Gospel account; the other three Gospel accounts are tailored to minister to Gentiles of various kinds, with John’s Gospel aimed at the new believer in Christ.
I believe that the kingdom of GOD is the overall and eternal kingdom that existed before the LORD ever said, “Let there be light”. It’s to the kingdom of GOD that we saints belong to as a result of being born again (JOHN 3:3,5) and mentioned in the other three Gospels (to non-Jews). Please note: I believe all four Gospels hold biblical truth that is entirely applicable and appropriate for the church!
I believe the kingdom of heaven is a kind of ‘sub-set’ to the kingdom of GOD. It’s another way of expressing GOD’s kingdom as manifest here in this world (Note that in parables about the kingdom of heaven, there are tares, the devil is at work, there are good and bad – hardly the sort of company we expect in the eternal kingdom of GOD above!
And such will eventually be removed; MATT 13:41); and GOD’s kingdom on Earth is expressed by Israel, then later in the church (comprised of Jews and Gentiles) and once the church is raptured, the expression of this kingdom will resort back to Israel (represented by the faithful remnant of Jews who will come to a saving knowledge of Y’shua ha Mashiach – and soon thereafter when the nation beholds their Messiah returning to Earth to save them from obliteration by the antichrist; ZECH 12:10; REV 19:11-21).
The church looks forward to our heavenly home, where our LORD has promised to take us – to our Father’s house (JOHN 14:1-3). The Jewish nation looks forward to the earthly kingdom of the Millennial Reign of Christ (REV 20).
After that time, GOD will create a new heavens and a new earth, and all will be one: a blessed unity between both domains that will no longer be distinct: GOD the Father will rule over all, so that the Son also will be subject to Him (1 COR 15:28).
And now that Israel is back in the land, there is a movement among the Jews who are coming to salvation in Y’shua. Ministries are arising among them to evangelize their own people. One such ministry is One For Israel. By their account, the publishing of the New Testament in Hebrew can’t stay on the shelves! There is greater interest in Israel than ever before in the New Testament and the claims of Jesus of Nazareth!
I personally think that all this is in preparation for when GOD will ordain the 144,000 (REV 7; REV 14) who will minister during the time to come! Hence, this quickens the pace for our own departure from Planet Rebyl!
GALATIANS 2:9-10
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
The church, that is to say, the body of Christ is seen in Scripture as “a body” (COL 1:18,24) as well as a temple (1 COR 3:16; 6:19), and the church with its individual members are seen as pillars of truth, but not inherently, rather as the receptacle of truth received from Jesus Christ our LORD.
And we saints who are “overcomers” will be made pillars of GOD in His eternal kingdom as well (REV 3:12)!
Paul here refers to James, Cephas (Peter) and John as “pillars”, and in this sense, they are the primary and foundational supporters of the building of GOD, the chief cornerstone being Christ Himself (EPH 2:19-22).
The idea that pillars rest on the foundation while supporting that which is above them, speaks to me of the heart of any true servant of the LORD: they aren’t intent in exalting themselves, but take that position reserved for them by the Head of the church, and hold others up in esteem, preferring others above themselves:
It’s when the church is in one accord with the Spirit that such strife, competition and discord that we sometimes see among fellowships disappears – because, after all, we are all working together for the same side: the kingdom of GOD.
Also we should take notice of how the Holy Spirit directed this entire procedure in bringing the Gentiles into the kingdom of GOD via Jesus Christ. The LORD first used Peter to minister the Gospel to the centurion Cornelius and his household of Gentiles (ACTS 10). Peter, an already well established leader in the church, wouldn’t be questioned so much by the Jewish believers (who at that time comprised the total population of the church) – not so much: he was questioned, but when he rehearsed the entire matter, the Jewish believers conceded and accepted that Gentiles are now part of the church (ACTS 11:18).
From that point on, the ministry was available to reach the Gentiles for Christ, but this was not assigned to any of the original apostles, but for Paul and his company that comprised of Barnabas initially, along with John Mark his nephew; then Silas took Barnabas’s place. Timothy and Titus became members of his entourage, along with Dr. Luke, Aquila and Priscilla, and some others.
While Paul’s heart was for his brethren (ROM 9:1-5; 10:1), his primary ministry was for the Gentiles (ROM 11:13; 1 TIM 2:7,11); this did not mean he had no opportunity to preach to the Jewish nation (ACTS 9:22; 22:1-21), just as Peter had his chance to minister to the Gentiles – yet GOD had ordained their focus on their own assignments: Peter to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles.
Both Peter and Paul saw it as a top priority to minister to the financial needs of the poor church in Jerusalem. We must always remember that while we minister the Gospel to others for their spiritual benefit, we can’t forget their practical needs. After preaching the Gospel to the Jewish crowds in Galilee for three days, He saw fit to feed the 5,000 men (and possibly as much as a total of 15,000 with women and children included; LUKE 9:13-17). It’s however most unfortunate that too many see the church as a “social services agency”, always wanting money while rejecting the Gospel wholesale.
The Progressive Church would have us believe that the Gospel is feeding the poor, providing practical needs, education, supporting the community culturally. In many respects, these are the fruits of the Gospel, but not the True Gospel itself.
GALATIANS 2:11-13
11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Now we have a contention!
All of us can relate to Peter in that we are prone to “botch things up” in our human frailties. Peter was no golden super hero with a flashing smile that could do no wrong. He was a flawed human being – even after Pentecost when he really started to shine for Jesus! It’s quite apparent that GOD is in the business of using flawed human beings like Abram (GEN 16:1-4), Moses (NUM 20:11), Elijah (1 KINGS 19:1-3), David (2 SAM 11:5) – the apostles who “never seemed to get it” (MATT 15:16), and Paul who while he was yet Saul the Pharisee took a major misstep in persecuting the body of Christ (ACTS 9:5)!
Peter knew that there was no division in the body of Christ; that Jew and Gentile are one body in Christ (GAL 3:28), the wall of partition that separated them was gone (EPH 2:14). So he didn’t have an issue hanging around Gentiles and perhaps enjoy a ham sandwich. Then elders sent to Antioch from the elder of Jerusalem, James witnessed what was happening and before they could say a word, Peter withdrew – and because of that, Barnabas did the same, along with the other Jewish believers that kept them company.
Paul rebukes Peter “to his face” before them all. Paul realized that after all was said and done at the counsel, for Peter to do such a thing could provoke a revival of the controversy. He had to nip this in the proverbial bud before it got out of hand.
GALATIANS 2:14-16
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
This is something that Peter himself proclaimed at the counsel:
The church looks forward to our heavenly home, where our LORD has promised to take us – to our Father’s house (JOHN 14:1-3). The Jewish nation looks forward to the earthly kingdom of the Millennial Reign of Christ (REV 20).
After that time, GOD will create a new heavens and a new earth, and all will be one: a blessed unity between both domains that will no longer be distinct: GOD the Father will rule over all, so that the Son also will be subject to Him (1 COR 15:28).
And now that Israel is back in the land, there is a movement among the Jews who are coming to salvation in Y’shua. Ministries are arising among them to evangelize their own people. One such ministry is One For Israel. By their account, the publishing of the New Testament in Hebrew can’t stay on the shelves! There is greater interest in Israel than ever before in the New Testament and the claims of Jesus of Nazareth!
I personally think that all this is in preparation for when GOD will ordain the 144,000 (REV 7; REV 14) who will minister during the time to come! Hence, this quickens the pace for our own departure from Planet Rebyl!
GALATIANS 2:9-10
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
The church, that is to say, the body of Christ is seen in Scripture as “a body” (COL 1:18,24) as well as a temple (1 COR 3:16; 6:19), and the church with its individual members are seen as pillars of truth, but not inherently, rather as the receptacle of truth received from Jesus Christ our LORD.
And we saints who are “overcomers” will be made pillars of GOD in His eternal kingdom as well (REV 3:12)!
Paul here refers to James, Cephas (Peter) and John as “pillars”, and in this sense, they are the primary and foundational supporters of the building of GOD, the chief cornerstone being Christ Himself (EPH 2:19-22).
The idea that pillars rest on the foundation while supporting that which is above them, speaks to me of the heart of any true servant of the LORD: they aren’t intent in exalting themselves, but take that position reserved for them by the Head of the church, and hold others up in esteem, preferring others above themselves:
PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5There was no contention between Paul and Barnabas with Peter, James and John; they were amicable in their dealings with one another, agreeing that each would minister to the people groups that the LORD assigned to them.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
See also: ROM 12:10; 1 COR 13:5; GAL 5:26; EPH 5:21; 1 PET 5:5
It’s when the church is in one accord with the Spirit that such strife, competition and discord that we sometimes see among fellowships disappears – because, after all, we are all working together for the same side: the kingdom of GOD.
Also we should take notice of how the Holy Spirit directed this entire procedure in bringing the Gentiles into the kingdom of GOD via Jesus Christ. The LORD first used Peter to minister the Gospel to the centurion Cornelius and his household of Gentiles (ACTS 10). Peter, an already well established leader in the church, wouldn’t be questioned so much by the Jewish believers (who at that time comprised the total population of the church) – not so much: he was questioned, but when he rehearsed the entire matter, the Jewish believers conceded and accepted that Gentiles are now part of the church (ACTS 11:18).
From that point on, the ministry was available to reach the Gentiles for Christ, but this was not assigned to any of the original apostles, but for Paul and his company that comprised of Barnabas initially, along with John Mark his nephew; then Silas took Barnabas’s place. Timothy and Titus became members of his entourage, along with Dr. Luke, Aquila and Priscilla, and some others.
While Paul’s heart was for his brethren (ROM 9:1-5; 10:1), his primary ministry was for the Gentiles (ROM 11:13; 1 TIM 2:7,11); this did not mean he had no opportunity to preach to the Jewish nation (ACTS 9:22; 22:1-21), just as Peter had his chance to minister to the Gentiles – yet GOD had ordained their focus on their own assignments: Peter to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles.
Both Peter and Paul saw it as a top priority to minister to the financial needs of the poor church in Jerusalem. We must always remember that while we minister the Gospel to others for their spiritual benefit, we can’t forget their practical needs. After preaching the Gospel to the Jewish crowds in Galilee for three days, He saw fit to feed the 5,000 men (and possibly as much as a total of 15,000 with women and children included; LUKE 9:13-17). It’s however most unfortunate that too many see the church as a “social services agency”, always wanting money while rejecting the Gospel wholesale.
The Progressive Church would have us believe that the Gospel is feeding the poor, providing practical needs, education, supporting the community culturally. In many respects, these are the fruits of the Gospel, but not the True Gospel itself.
GALATIANS 2:11-13
11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Now we have a contention!
All of us can relate to Peter in that we are prone to “botch things up” in our human frailties. Peter was no golden super hero with a flashing smile that could do no wrong. He was a flawed human being – even after Pentecost when he really started to shine for Jesus! It’s quite apparent that GOD is in the business of using flawed human beings like Abram (GEN 16:1-4), Moses (NUM 20:11), Elijah (1 KINGS 19:1-3), David (2 SAM 11:5) – the apostles who “never seemed to get it” (MATT 15:16), and Paul who while he was yet Saul the Pharisee took a major misstep in persecuting the body of Christ (ACTS 9:5)!
Peter knew that there was no division in the body of Christ; that Jew and Gentile are one body in Christ (GAL 3:28), the wall of partition that separated them was gone (EPH 2:14). So he didn’t have an issue hanging around Gentiles and perhaps enjoy a ham sandwich. Then elders sent to Antioch from the elder of Jerusalem, James witnessed what was happening and before they could say a word, Peter withdrew – and because of that, Barnabas did the same, along with the other Jewish believers that kept them company.
Paul rebukes Peter “to his face” before them all. Paul realized that after all was said and done at the counsel, for Peter to do such a thing could provoke a revival of the controversy. He had to nip this in the proverbial bud before it got out of hand.
GALATIANS 2:14-16
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
This is something that Peter himself proclaimed at the counsel:
But where Peter exhibited a fear of man before (remember, when he sat at the fire outside of Caiaphas’s house and was challenged three times about his association with Christ, and denied the charge all three times), here he seems to be doing the same thing. We often can be “afraid of what people think” of us.ACTS 15:10-1110 "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we [Jews] shall be saved in the same manner as they [Gentiles].See ROM 3:24; EPH 2:8; TITUS 2:11; 3:4-5.
This is when we must remember that we are not the servants of men, but of Christ (GAL 1:10). We do indeed serve others, it is true, but at the behest of Christ (MARK 9:35). By Him we either stand or fall because it is He that will be our Judge (and no other) on that Day (ROM 14:10; 2 TIM 4:1).
Paul had to take Peter back to Christianity 101 and rehearse the biblical truth that the Law cannot justify, and so it’s pointless to compel Gentiles to live by the Law just as the Jews failed to live by it. Our walk with Jesus is not by following the Law by rote and tradition, rather a living faith by the Spirit Who alone empowers us to live a life of holiness, apart from the Law.
See ROM 1:17; 3:20-22,28; 8:3; GAL 3:11,24.
HEBREWS 7:18-19GALATIANS 2:17-19
For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
See also: HEB 7:6:18; 8:6; 9:9; 10:19.
17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
To resort back to the Law, with all of its sacrifices when once a soul has come to Christ is the greatest of transgression. For in that decision, one would be saying that those sacrifices are (at least) as good as the sacrifice that Christ made – and in fact, by reverting back to them, one would be saying that they are actually better!
It’s the same today when people believe that by their own deeds, they can be accepted by GOD – that they don’t need Christ to save them. Such is the height of arrogance to make such an unlawful presumption to believe any work we can do could be comparable to the finished work of Christ (JOHN 6:29; GAL 6:14).
Paul states his case elsewhere in comparing any “dead works: of our own with “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” (HEB 6:1; 9:14).
“The old man” that was condemned by the Holy Law of GOD is dead, that the “new man” is dead to the Law so that he “might live to GOD” through Christ! How liberating it is that we don’t have to sweat, and grunt, and lift a heavy load, straining to put forth effort in providing the sort of justification that the Law demanded.
We are saved freely by the finished work of Christ plus – nothing else!
It’s after we are justified in Christ, after we are born of and empowered by the Spirit, that we can labor joyously, working up “holy sweat” for the kingdom, not in some vain effort to justify ourselves, but in declaration of thanksgiving to GOD that He has justified us!
Anything I do for the cause of Christ, to me, is just one big THANK YOU JESUS for saving my soul!!
GALATIANS 2:20-21
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
See ROM 6:6; 2 COR 5:15; GAL 1:4; 5:24; 6:14; EPH 5:2; 1 THESS 5:10; TITUS 2:14; 1 PET 4:2.
We know that Paul was martyred by beheading; yet here he says that he was crucified with Christ, when in fact, he was sitting under Gamaliel at the time of our LORD’s crucifixion, learning from the Jewish sage.
It’s an obvious and foregone conclusion then, that Paul’s reference to his crucifixion with Christ is in a spiritual sense, the same way in which he elaborates on “it is no longer I who live” – when obviously he was still breathing at the time of this writing.
When one receives Christ as LORD and Savior, essentially, one’s old life is over. Such a repentant sinner surrenders sovereignty over one’s life, and places Christ on the throne of their heart. When the “old man” tries to usurp the rightful enthronement of Christ, we are to consider ourselves “dead indeed to sin but alive to GOD through Jesus Christ our LORD” (ROM 6:11). We are to “keep [our] body under and bring it into subjection” (1 COR 9:27).
We are to take up our cross daily and follow our LORD Jesus wherever He leads (MATT 16:24)! Pastor Sonny of SHINE BRIGHT Church (where I fellowship) often says. “Declare war on your flesh! Treat it like the enemy that it is!” And to that I say a hearty “Amen!” You see, our flesh isn’t saved (yet!) – it’s still quite pagan in its behavior [wink]!
One of my dear sons in the faith regularly refers to our carnal sin nature as “the flesh cage”. It is in fact the greatest hindrance in our spiritual war to advancing the cause of Christ as well as our own development in Christ-like character.
We have Three Enemies: Video # 1: the World; Video #2: the Flesh; Video #3: the Devil to contend with: Satan, the world-system and our flesh. I once asked my Discipleship class which of these three is the most deadly. They all agreed that it’s our flesh. Were it not for our sin nature, Satan wouldn’t have anything to work with! The world would have zero influence on us.
This is why GALATIANS 2:20 must not only be memorized, but meditated on, and from the truth it contains, motivate us to action! Also: let’s understand that Paul’s own motivation for his life was based on Christ’s love for him – a love by grace, poured ever fluently and abundantly on one who was intent on slaughtering the saints that comprised the LORD’s church (His body of believers).
I’m quite certain that Paul read the words from Luke’s Gospel with grateful tears in his eyes:
LUKE 7:47a
"Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much..."
No comments:
Post a Comment