Lead By The Spirit: Gal. 2:1-17

I. False Friends Lead to Bondage vs. 1-5

A. Paul is referring to what happened in Acts 15, Paul was careful to make sure he got the gospel right. Take everything back to Scripture.

B. Timothy would later be circumcised, because he was half-jewish. Titus wasn’t and therefore wasn’t convinced it was necessary.

C. The false brothers believed you had to follow the Mosaic law in order to be saved. Later they said that you had to follow the Mosaic law in order to not offend the Jews (as we will later see), others said that it was the only way to a deeper walk.

D. They would not add to the gospel, and burden others. “The Bible clearly tells us that any kind of legalism-Judaic, Christian, or any other variety-cannot replace a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.”- Jimmy Draper.

II. Freedom Leads to Understanding vs. 6-10

A. Paul is not disrespecting the other Apostles, he is only saying that all men and women are equal. (Heathen with a mic ex).

B. They all agreed they had different ministries. They didn’t take pot shots at each other, they would call one another out (in love) from the Word of God when they were wrong, but they never criticized the small stuff that were merely preference.

C. The only instructions were to live morally, and don’t be an idolater. Later when hard times came to Jerusalem they asked for assistance. Acts 15:28-29

Acts 15:28–29 NASB95

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

Acts 24:17 NASB95

“Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings;

III. Fear of Man Leads to Confrontation vs. 11-17

A. Peter and Barnabas got caught up in legalism, and it was causing major problems.

B. Paul confronted Peter, because he was compromising on the gospel itself.

C. You will either be confronted because of your freedom in Christ, or legalism. Legalism has to be confronted, because it puts a weight on people that the Lord never intended. Just like Peter and Barnabas were doing here.

D. We are saved by grace alone in faith alone, and that is how we are to live! Don’t burden anyone, trust God to show them. Phil. 3:15

Philippians 3:15 NLT

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.