Galatians 2:1-5 says,...
Today's verses are Galatians 2:1-5, which read,
v.1 - Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
Paul's journey of faith continues.
v.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.
The reason Paul has returned to Jerusalem is because God had told him to go back and explain what was happening in the north and beyond. He was preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and there were some who thought these new Christians needed to hold to the traditions beyond what Jesus' message was of the gospel. Paul was going back under the direction of God to explain to "...those who were of reputation,..." meaning Peter, James and John, the leaders and apostles of the church what he was doing and preaching. He did this with them in private as to not bring a public scene and also not to address those who were falsely accusing him.
Paul was coming to his elders to submit to their authority on this matter. He was standing in a place to be corrected if needed.
v.3 - But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
Now we see that the gospel message that was commissioned by God to Paul to reach out to the Gentiles is happening because he brought a "live" example of one. The question was, "If a Gentile becomes a Christian, do they need to be circumcised like the Jews who were following the old covenant God set up with the Jews?" Jesus brought about a new covenant and actually fulfilled the old covenant. The sign of the old covenant was circumcision but the new sign of the new covenant was repentance and baptism. Do these new Christians need to have the sign of the old covenant? Paul is arguing that they do not.
v.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.
There were some who sneaked into these new fellowships of believers and started to tell these new believers that they didn't have enough. It was great that they believed in Jesus, confessed their sins, and were living lives of repentance but that wasn't enough. They needed to do this "extra" thing to be "really" saved. Because of their efforts, Paul was going back to correct this false doctrine and this was holding him in bondage from going farther and faster with the gospel to new areas of the world.
v.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.
Paul was passionately explaining this to Peter, James, and John. He had a "live" example of a Gentile believer, Titus. He had Barnabas, a trusted follower of Christ, who was sent by them to assist him. He was standing on the Word of God and not backing down from it in the face of opposition. It makes you wonder how "...those who were of reputation,..." responded to this defense of the gospel that Paul gave to them in private but we will find that out tomorrow.
Does this happen today with the gospel? Can we put "extra" things into the gospel message that would lead to new converts thinking that they still need to work to get salvation? I have learned that the order of salvation is so important to keep the gospel message pure.
If I keep this order in my head and heart then I will not fall for a physical requirement that is beyond the physical requirement that Jesus did on the cross. It keeps my focus on what He did rather than I what I think I can do. This is what I think Paul is defending in Jerusalem.
"Lord, we all will need to stand for the truth of the gospel that is solely based on You and Your sacrifice for our sins. Help us to not back down '...for even an hour,..' on this issue so we don't fall into the mentality of working 'for' salvation. Because of our salvation given by You, we will work 'because' of it, what has already been done. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.1 - Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
Paul's journey of faith continues.
- He was chosen by God from his mother's womb.
- He was called by God on the road to Damascus through Jesus Christ.
- He was commissioned by God to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
- He was coached by God for 3 years in Arabia.
- He was co-commissioned by God and the apostle Peter and James the brother of Jesus in Jerusalem to the area in the north.
- He was combined by God with Barnabas to help with the ministry.He was confirmed by God that the gospel he was presenting was resulting in people glorifying God rather than himself.
v.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.
The reason Paul has returned to Jerusalem is because God had told him to go back and explain what was happening in the north and beyond. He was preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and there were some who thought these new Christians needed to hold to the traditions beyond what Jesus' message was of the gospel. Paul was going back under the direction of God to explain to "...those who were of reputation,..." meaning Peter, James and John, the leaders and apostles of the church what he was doing and preaching. He did this with them in private as to not bring a public scene and also not to address those who were falsely accusing him.
Paul was coming to his elders to submit to their authority on this matter. He was standing in a place to be corrected if needed.
v.3 - But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
Now we see that the gospel message that was commissioned by God to Paul to reach out to the Gentiles is happening because he brought a "live" example of one. The question was, "If a Gentile becomes a Christian, do they need to be circumcised like the Jews who were following the old covenant God set up with the Jews?" Jesus brought about a new covenant and actually fulfilled the old covenant. The sign of the old covenant was circumcision but the new sign of the new covenant was repentance and baptism. Do these new Christians need to have the sign of the old covenant? Paul is arguing that they do not.
v.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.
There were some who sneaked into these new fellowships of believers and started to tell these new believers that they didn't have enough. It was great that they believed in Jesus, confessed their sins, and were living lives of repentance but that wasn't enough. They needed to do this "extra" thing to be "really" saved. Because of their efforts, Paul was going back to correct this false doctrine and this was holding him in bondage from going farther and faster with the gospel to new areas of the world.
v.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.
Paul was passionately explaining this to Peter, James, and John. He had a "live" example of a Gentile believer, Titus. He had Barnabas, a trusted follower of Christ, who was sent by them to assist him. He was standing on the Word of God and not backing down from it in the face of opposition. It makes you wonder how "...those who were of reputation,..." responded to this defense of the gospel that Paul gave to them in private but we will find that out tomorrow.
Does this happen today with the gospel? Can we put "extra" things into the gospel message that would lead to new converts thinking that they still need to work to get salvation? I have learned that the order of salvation is so important to keep the gospel message pure.
- We are sinners in need of a Savior.
- God provided a Savior through His Son Jesus Christ who prior to our salvation paid the price for our sins on the cross and rose again in glory.
- We are called by God to see Jesus for who He is and for who we are and we are presented with the faith to repent and believe and live in light of that act of grace.
- Because of His grace, God presents to us all kinds of works to do while we live out this salvation that has been given.
If I keep this order in my head and heart then I will not fall for a physical requirement that is beyond the physical requirement that Jesus did on the cross. It keeps my focus on what He did rather than I what I think I can do. This is what I think Paul is defending in Jerusalem.
"Lord, we all will need to stand for the truth of the gospel that is solely based on You and Your sacrifice for our sins. Help us to not back down '...for even an hour,..' on this issue so we don't fall into the mentality of working 'for' salvation. Because of our salvation given by You, we will work 'because' of it, what has already been done. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment