An Unusual Case For Unity

Text

Gal 2:1-10.

Galatians is a wonderful book that seeks to give comfort, reassurance and boldness to the christian.

It reminds us that what Jesus did on the cross was enough for us to have salvation.

That we don’t need to work for any further justification. We don’t need to subject ourselves or anyone to any system of bondage with the intent to get us closer to God.

That when Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished”, He was at the same time communicating “This is enough” -

If you put your faith in Jesus, and what He did on Calvary, that’s enough to save you.

So when certain persons came to the Gentile believers insisting that you must do this in addition to obeying Jesus, Paul says, “that’s another gospel”

Whether it was done unintentionally (Most of the church were Jews early on, it’s likely that some had the belief that Gentiles needed to go through Moses then get to Jesus)

Or, intentionally as in the case of the “false brethren” who mandated this, it’s still wrong in God’s eye.

The way to JUSTIFICATION is not through Moses then Jesus

The way to JUSTIFICATION IS through Jesus! And Jesus alone

As believers we need to be careful that we don’t put ourselves, ideas, opinions, preferences, ceremonies, traditional practices as the access point to Jesus.

It’s Jesus, and Jesus only

If we guilty of such a disposition we must repent and present Jesus only as the way to JUSTIFICATION.

This is Paul’s plea in this book.

This is Paul’s defense to those who might say otherwise

After the closing thoughts of chap. 1 (keep in mind, these letters did not have chapters so the thoughts continues from where chap. 1 ends)

Paul’s Defense

I did not receive my message from men but revelation (Gal 1:11-12)

I did not cling to my Jewish heritage (Gal 1:13-16)

I did not spend much time after conversion with the apostles (Gal 1:17-21)

The evidence of my transformation (Gal 1:22-24)

Now in chapter 2, he goes further by detailing when he went back to Jerusalem and what took place there

Galatians The Conference in Jerusalem (2:1–10)

Although it is true that he got his gospel by direct revelation, this does not mean that he preached his gospel without the approval and support of the original apostles and the rest of the church.

Paul isn’t a lone ranger, nor is he a suck-up. He believes in truth and stands for the truth, even when he’s unpopular

Why Jerusalem?

It was where the church began and at that time, it would’ve been a Jewish church.

Luke 24:47 “47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Though this is where it began, this is not where it would stay.

Acts 1:8 “8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.””

APPL. Every generation the church exists in needs to get this, and not think that the church lives, breathes and exists for them!

That the church belongs to Jesus, and I just need to play my part, my role wherever and whenever I’m called to. And not think that anything in the church needs me to survive.

It is important right here, for us to see it from their perspective and why this issue of “Jew-Gentile” exists. It will shed light on why some took it so far to now suggest you must fulfill Moses’ law then receive the gift of Christ’s salvation.

It started with us, so they need to become us, so they can get what we have. Right?

Paul says, that’s another gospel!

Jesus + anything is slipping into legalism

Textual Exegesis

Galatians 2:1–2 “1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 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.”

Paul made five (5) trips to Jerusalem that we can see in scripture

Paul doesn’t take this threat/issue for granted and he goes to the apostles to this matter but he does this privately.

Paul is not about causing unnecessary stirs - Only necessary ones - this one mattered! - Paul highlighted an issue that mattered. We need to stop fussing and fighting over things that don’t really matter - All this accomplishes is us being mad at each other and no work being done or work not being done in the fullest capacity

Paul seeks to establish that what he preaches is true. - Establishing truth was more important than establishing a following - Stand on truth even if no one else stands with you. Remember his previous question, “Am I still doing this to please man?” (1:10)

Truth was more important and he introduces a personal reason, “for fear that I might be running, or had run in vain” - Paul does not want to know, that is effort in the lives of the Christians was a waste of time - Paul understands that ministry would be a wasted effort if the message is false and perverted - Can you imagine the effect this would have on the new Christians being exposed to such teaching?

To be clear, Paul is not in doubt of the truth or of himself, but it would not hurt to be assured of the validity of the message he had

Truth needed to be set forth

Don’t become so focused on the threat of liberalism that we don’t see the cancer that is legalism

Legalism (and it’s cousin liberalism), doesn’t like examination

We should never be afraid to examine what was handed to us

What you don’t want to do is send someone to hell for something that is not true. This is the danger of legalism. This is the danger Paul is aware off.

Paul knows that the truth of the gospel is what will complete the work of God in the believer, but when you take that away, and put in your legalism, you are taking yourself and others away from the grace

Galatians 5:4 “4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

Consider further,

Galatians 2:3 “3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”

To show his opponents that they are wrong in their assessment of him, he says, “Titus was with me”

If the truth was that LAW was still necessary, why didn’t the “pillars” mandate circumcision?

Paul did not succumb to the pressure of the “false brothers”

Paul did not give in to the demands of legalism, to do so would compromise the gospel of Christ and the freedom in Christ.

Galatians 2:4–5 “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. 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 says, I bring this up because of what some were saying.

The “slipping in and spying out” is indicative of their motive.

Galatians 6:13 “13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.” - They were just doing because they wanted something boast about

They want to bring you into bondage just to please and to satisfy themselves

This is what their legalistic attitude was really about. These things eventually get exposed - Paul says, I did not yield to them

The threat for Paul wasn’t personal disturbance or discomfort

It was a movement away from truth

Once again,

Paul knows that the truth of the gospel is what will complete the work of God in the believer, but when you take that away, and put in your legalism, you are taking yourself and others away from the grace

Galatians 2:6 “6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.”

It must be noted that Paul was not swayed by either side. Paul was on the side of truth.

Even though Paul recognized their status and legitimacy of their authority and apostleship, this did not allow him to depreciate the value of his authority and apostleship.

Not because his opponents held the apostles in Jerusalem in high regard, means that they could use that to lessen the validity of what he preaches

The reputation of the apostles did not determine what Paul stance took.

Paul made a stand

Make a stand for yourself!

His reason? God shows no partiality - It does not make a difference to me

Paul’s Plea (point of Application)

Gal 2:7-10.

It must be noted contextually, Paul is still offering a defense to the agitators

By revelation Paul is in Jerusalem

For advocating the gospel Paul in Jerusalem

To be clear, this is not just Paul proving “I’m right, they are wrong”

It’s “what’s right” and the possible repercussions of not getting the gospel right

For Paul, unity is critical for the work. The legalism being introduced and propagated from those who “sneaked in” was threat to that unity.

You are not going to get between us and the work

#1 Unity must continue

Keys to unity - Ephesians 4:2 “2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,”

#2 Work must continue

Paul wanted unity in the church and partnership with the leaders in Jerusalem - Can you imagine if they were able to drive a wedge between Paul and the apostles in Jerusalem?

Are there wedges being driven now?

Are there fights and fusses over things that don’t matter stopping us from being united?

As we consider this last pericope, Paul wasn’t focused on who’s right, just what’s right.

Because what’s right keeps UNITY in focus and it keeps THE MISSION in focus

Rom 14:19.

As this segment closes, we notice that Paul did not give in

Paul is doing what some Christians are afraid to do, “establish what is truth” - we decide to hold on to practices, beliefs, systems, and policies and if someone decides to challenge it, or submit it for examination, it then becomes a problem - truth does not fear examination

ANALOGY: Don’t be like the woman who cut the roast before putting in the pan