August
31st Galatians
2 Jerusalem
1:
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. 3: But neither Titus, who was with
me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 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; that the truth of the gospel might continue with
you. 6: But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they
were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for
they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 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:) 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.
Peter
was wrong!
11:
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face,
because he was to be blamed. 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. 13: And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their
dissimulation. 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?
C.
Doctrinal – Justification by Faith Justification by Faith not Law
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
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. 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. 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. 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.
Paul
continues his testimony regarding his ministry, showing that it was
not based on men or even based on the teaching of those who were
apostles before him. He says, fourteen years later l went to
Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. This visit was because of a
revelation that he had received from the Lord. And while he was there
he explained to the Apostles the gospel he was preaching among the
Gentiles. The Judean Apostles had focused primarily on the Jews with
a small work among the Gentiles, but Paul’s ministry was almost
completely among the Gentiles while speaking to Jews as opportunity
arose. When Paul outlined his theology he did it in private to those
of reputation. He did this to check his ministry with theirs to be
sure that they were in unanimity. Paul brings out the point that
Titus who was a Gentile was not forced to be circumcised, he was a
Greek. And that this conference was due to Judaisers who came in,
without raising any suspicions, among the Churches. Their aim was to
try to compel the Gentile Christians to convert to Judaism. They came
to spy out the freedom which they enjoyed in Christ Jesus and to try
and bring them into the bondage of the Mosaic law. Paul says, We did
not give in to them for a second, so that the truth of the Gospel
might continue with you. Paul is saying in effect we dare not concede
any of their heresy, because if we did it would destroy the Gospel.
Those who seemed to be prominent among them (Whoever they are means
nothing to me – God gives no respect to status men have among
themselves) Those who seemed to be important when we talked seemed to
be nothing special to me. On the contrary when they saw that the
Gospel to the Gentiles was my God given ministry (just as the Gospel
to the Jews was committed to Peter. The same God who effectively
ministered through Peter to the Jews, ministered powerfully through
me to the Gentiles.) And when James, Peter and John, who were rock
solid apostles, When they saw that the gracious ministry of God was
also given to me. They gave me and Barnabas the right hand of
fellowship that we should go and preach to the Gentiles of the empire
while they continue with the Jews of Judea. They did ask for a
special request says Paul, that we remember the poor in our ministry,
which we had already remembered to do. After this, when Peter came to
Antioch I stood up to him, face to face, because he was at fault.
There were certain men that came from James and they ate with
Gentiles. (which was no problem) However when the Judaisers came
Peter, withdrew from the Gentiles because he was afraid of the Jews.
Others believers were carried away with this hypocrisy including
Barnabas. Paul when he saw what they were doing was not righteous
according to the truth of the Gospel he rebuked them sharply. He said
to Peter publically, ‘If you who are a Jew live like a Gentile then
why do you compel the Gentiles to live as Jews?’ Paul continues, We
who are Jews in the flesh and not Gentiles know that a man is not
declared righteous before God by keeping the Mosaic law, but by Faith
in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might
be declared righteous and not by the keeping of the Law, because by
the keeping of the Mosaic Law no human being will be declared
righteous. Now if while we say that we are forgiven we are still
found to be sinners, Is Christ in the process of making us sinners?
God forbid the thought. If l continue to build the things which l
destroyed then l have become a sinner. In other words if l teach law
keeping to those who are saved then l am a sinner. My law-keeping
only separated me – in death from the Lord. So the law killed me
that l might live a new life unto God. I am crucified with Christ.
(When Christ died l died in him) nevertheless l live. Yet it is not
me living my life by Christ who lives in me. And the human life l now
live l live by trusting in the Son of God – who loved me and gave
himself for me. I will not abuse the grace of God (by going back to
Law-keeping) because if a man were able to be made right with God by
law-keeping, then Christ what did Christ die for? This passage is the
end, for all believers who teach law-keeping for the Christian. It is
completely out of place in the believers life. The believer is In
Christ. He is dead in Christ – crucified with Christ and now alive
in a totally new resurrection life. The Mosaic law could not save him
and now that he is saved he will not return to the Mosaic law.
- Why did Paul 14 years afterward go to Jerusalem?
- What did the Apostles agree with Paul about in the Jerusalem Confrerance?
- What happened in the clash with Peter?
- How does Paul contrast obedience to the Law and faith on Christ's work?
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