Living in Step with the Gospel

INTRODUCTION:

If you have your copy of God’s Word, go ahead and turn with me to Galatians chapter 2. This morning we will be in verses 11-21.

There is a lot to unpack today.

Recap from Galatians 2:1-10

Peter’s Track Record

Even sincere Christians can drift into behavior that contradicts the gospel.

The Gospel Compromised (vv. 11-14)

Galatians 2:11 ESV

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Galatians 2:12 ESV

For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Hypocrisy

Galatians 2:13 ESV

And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:14 ESV

But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

the gospel itself was being publicly distorted.

The Gospel Clarified (vv. 15-18)

Galatians 2:15 ESV

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;

Galatians 2:16 ESV

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

John Bunyan’s Hypocrisy (Pilgrim’s Progress)

Galatians 2:17 ESV

But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!

Galatians 2:18 ESV

For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.

The Gospel Applied to Identity (vv. 19-21)

Galatians 2:19 ESV

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The Gospel

Galatians 2:21 ESV

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

CONCLUSION:

Summary of Main Points:

Final Application: 

Call to Action/Response: