Galatians 1:18-2:21

Important Notes to Review

Who is Paul the Apostle?

He is a disciple of Jesus and one of the most greatest missionaries to have lived.

What is his background?

He used to be a person who would approve the execution of Christians. He was a Pharisee, a Jewish leader. Then on the road to damascus, God appeared to him and said “why are you persecuting me?” and was blinded for 3 days. His life completely changed and he decided to be on fire for the kingdom of God.

What is the Gospel?

Sins are mistakes, acts of lawlessness, and separate us from God because God is Holy, He is perfect and He can not be with sin. God would then send His son, Jesus, who was fully man and fully God, to come to this earth to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. That whoever believes that Jesus is Lord will not perish but have eternal life. We are not saved by what we do, but through the Grace of Jesus christ offering us the gift of His spirit which grants us eternal life.

(INTERACTION: HAVE PEOPLE SHARE THIS WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR)

What is going on right now in the Churches of Galatia?

There is another Gospel being preached. A Gospel that includes Jesus but says we aren’t just saved by what He did on the cross, that we are not saved by grace but of works. That these people who are called Gentiles (not a jew), need to basically become and live like a Jew to be saved. This is a fancy word called legalism. Herrera went over Galatians 1:1-17 and taught how quickly these people actually moved onto a different Gospel. Paul is mad! He first defends why he has the authority to say what he is saying (because he heard the same Gospel that the original disciples heard and he heard it from God Himself. Yes, he once persecuted Jews, but He now preaches the Gospel because Christ has called Paul by God’s grace. (READ VERSES 15, 16 and 23)

Galatians 1:15–16 ESV

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

Galatians 1:23 ESV

23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

Question: Why is Paul frustrated with these Christians in Galatia?

Chapter 2 (LISTEN TO STREETLIGHTS AUDIO)

PART 1: The Apostles Accepted The Gospel Paul Shared

Galatians 2:1-10

What is circumcision and what did it really mean?

In the Bible, circumcision is laden with religious and cultural significance, particularly in the Old Testament:

Covenant with God: Circumcision is closely linked to the covenant between God and the Israelites. As recounted in Genesis (Genesis 17:9-14), God entered a covenant with Abraham, promising blessings and a great nation. As a symbol of this pact, God instructed Abraham to circumcise himself, his male descendants, and his male servants, signifying their commitment to God and separation as His chosen people.

Identity and Belonging: Circumcision functioned as a distinct marker of Jewish identity. It served as a rite of passage signifying inclusion within the covenant community, setting the Jewish people apart from other nations.

Spiritual Significance: Circumcision was not solely a physical act but held spiritual connotations. It symbolized the pursuit of spiritual purity and the removal of sin. References in the Bible allude to "circumcision of the heart," representing a profound commitment to God and righteousness (Deuteronomy 10:16, Jeremiah 4:4).

New Testament: In the New Testament, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul, circumcision is recontextualized within Christianity. Paul argues that physical circumcision is no longer necessary for salvation; instead, faith in Jesus Christ is paramount. He underscores the concept of a "circumcision of the heart," signifying a spiritual transformation through faith in Jesus (Romans 2:29, Colossians 2:11-12).

What We see from the Text:

Paul went to Jerusalem again with Titus, which Paul loves. The letter to Titus and in 1 and 2nd Timothy, Titus is a great man of God that Paul is blessed by. He was also not circumcised. (Verses 1 and 2)

Paul is saying that they were double checking on the message that God has displayed to him and once they approved it, Titus, who is a gentle did not have to get circumcised. (Verses 1 and 2)

This is because of false brothers, that were secretly brought in. Like Wolves in Sheeps Clothing which is what Jesus has warned us about. (verse 4)

Paul and the disciples though did not submit to them and to their rules as they were wrong. (verse 5).

So Paul continued to teach that the Gospel is also meant for the Gentiles and that is Paul’s duty, just like it was Peter’s duty to preach to the circumcised. Those that were influential in the area that Paul, Barnabas, and Titus were at, after hearing this simply just asked them to remember the poor. (Verses 3-8)

Peter (cephas), James, and John then mentioned nothing regarding that the uncircumcised people need to be circumcised, just remember the poor. (Verses 9-10)

Review Questions (Circle up in age groups and leaders)

What is circumcision and what did it really mean with the Jews relationship with God?

Why is it important in the passage that Titus was not circumcised, and what does this indicate about Paul's message?

How did Paul react to those who were advocating for circumcision, and what does this reveal about his beliefs regarding the inclusion of Gentiles in the Gospel?

What message did Peter (Cephas), James, and John convey by not insisting on circumcision and instead emphasizing the importance of helping the poor?

PART 2: Saved by Grace Not Works

Galatians 2:11-21

Key things to note:

- Cephas means Peter, the rock - Hypocrisy means claiming or telling people you to live by this way but not doing it yourself.

Paul confronts Peter face to face. For those that know Paul and are familiar with his writings, just read the new testament, Paul is not afraid of confrontation and will call people out. He does that with Peter. This is important for us to hear. When someone we know is doing something against the bible, it’s our job to call them out. Do this in love. You don’t need to write a letter like this and have the whole church read about it, but it’s important to keep other Christians accountable to the bible and the gospel. (Verse 1)

Peter was a leader and he had people follow him in his sin. Other jews, and even Barnabas who was one of Paul’s trusted companions joined Peter in his sinful ways. Paul said this in front of everyone cause in all honesty, he was mad. Rightfully so. (Verses 12-14)

Why is Paul upset about this, what is the main issue?

It is changing the gospel.

Read Verses 15-16. Why can’t us doing “good works” justify our sins? Because our sins already have separated us from God. Good works don’t take away the sin. Only Christ can do that. (End of verse 16)

Paul is saying that they know this, that “we know this” yet you all are not living by it.

Read verses 17-21. You are only saved through faith. However, don’t keep sinning! Christ didn’t die for us so that we could just keep sinning.

Continue to live more like Jesus and as if He was living through you, but don’t keep living in sin. Don’t abuse the grace that God has given to us. If we truly love Him and believe that He is our Lord, we must live differently.

However, we do not need to live differently to be saved. Think of it like this (getting cleaned up to take a shower)

Discussion Questions

Why does Paul say that having faith in Christ doesn't mean promoting sin? Can you give an example to explain this idea?

What does it mean when Paul says believers have been "crucified with Christ"? How does this relate to leaving behind their old selves?

According to Paul, how do believers achieve righteousness? Why does he emphasize faith in Jesus Christ over following the Jewish law? What does this tell us about the core beliefs of Christianity?

End with highs and lows