From Where Our Power Comes
Galatians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsThis sermon elaborates on Paul's biography, his opposition to hypocrisy, and the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's plan of redemption.
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You have undoubtedly heard the statement: “Knowledge is power.” And I am convinced women usually know more than men. Because knowledge goes beyond just book-sense, but it also includes instinct. And sometimes men have very little of the latter.
Men, you cannot assume that you have the right understanding when compared to ladies. When in doubt, ask more questions!
A young man called his mother and excitedly announced that he had just met the woman of his dreams.
His mother said, “Why don’t you send her flowers and invite her to your apartment for a home-cooked meal?”
The day after the big date, his mother called to see how things had gone.
“Mom, the evening was a complete disaster,” he replied. “It was horrible!”
“Why, didn’t she come over?” his mother asked.
“Yes, she came over. But she refused to cook!”
This morning, we intentionally restrain from the common thought that the more good things I do, the more likelihood of my going to heaven when I die.
Paul continues to recount his biography and includes his altercation with Peter.
Hypocrisy is easy
Hypocrisy is easy
In Galatians 2:11-13, Paul tells of the hypocrisy he witnessed with Peter and others.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 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. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
We’re not sure when this occurred. Most likely sometime before the Council of Jerusalem. As in many Christian communities, there was a blending of Gentiles and Jews. And because Jews still had an attachment to the law of Moses and the Old Testament ceremonial laws, they believed that anyone who associated with Gentiles was unclean. Jews were strictly forbidden from associating with Gentiles.
It is hard to deny old ways. And so as Paul witnessed this behavior from Peter, James, and others, he called them out on it. Why? Because the gospel was at stake! Galatians 2:14
14 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 late John MacArthur wrote:
“The Greek term behind hypocrisy originally referred to an actor wearing a mask to indicate a particular mood or type of character. A hypocrite is someone who, like a Greek actor, masks his true self.” And, “...faithfulness involves more than believing the right doctrine. Right doctrine without right behavior always produces hypocrisy.” (John MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 52).
This brings up the question: What is legalism? Legalism is defined as unless you do this, you are not saved. Legal, coming from the root, “law,” usually has to do with setting up mandates in the Christian faith that are litmus tests in order to be a Christian. In this case, the Jewish Christians, including Peter and Barnabus, for a time, were being legalistic towards the Gentile believers, expecting them to be circumcised before they were accepted. The literary context: Paul elaborates on his own journey; how he opposed Cephas, the Jews and Barnabas for their hypocrisy.
As we discussed last week, in just a few years, if not sooner, the Jerusalem Council would decide what would be demanded by Gentile converts; what their accompanying gifts would be, as they came to know the Lord. What were the distinguishing marks? Acts 15:19-20
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
And so, Gentiles must be graphited into the church by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
aul makes a similar argument in Romans 7:5-6 in that we have died to the Law, that we might experience new life in Christ by grace through faith.
5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
James on the other hand, states that we are justified by our works in that good works accompany one who has truly been made regenerate, that is, have received the Holy Spirit and have trusted in Christ. James 2:14-17
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
So faith and works go together. But what Paul and James are speaking of are two different things. Our passage also teaches us that:
We cannot earn our way to justification.
We cannot earn our way to justification.
In Galatians 2:15-16, he makes the proposition that no one is justified as a result of keeping the law. Compare this with Philippians 3.
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 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.
“Pastor David, aren’t you preaching cheap grace?” Well, the grace we are given cost Jesus His life; so It certainly was not cheap. I just believe that we are saved not by our works, but by His!
But does that mean that Christians can go out and live like the devil, while knowing that Jesus paid for all of their sins? Actually, that view discounts the doctrine of sanctification, which is what the Holy Spirit does after taking up resdidence in your heart. It is evidenced by your desire to live a holy life; that you don’t do the things you formerly did in your life apart from Christ.
These works are accompanying works, not meritorious. Meritorious works is tired to the Catholic understanding of the storehouse of merit. This doctrine originated in 1943 with Pope Pius XII. As one commentator states:
“The Catholic view that people can get into heaven if they do sufficient good things essentially eliminates the need of a Savior.” (found at What is the treasury of merit? | GotQuestions.org). What about purgatory? Purgatory is a place in which believers go, according to Catholic doctrine, where sins are purged from a believer’s life, in order for him to eventually go to heaven. The necessity of purgatory is tied to the way in which you lived your life on this earth.
But this sermon is not about Catholicism. It is more about our tendency as fallen human beings to rely on other things and people besides Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Question 30 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks: “Do those who seek their salvation and well-being from saint by their own efforts, or by other means, really believe in the only Savior Jesus?
And this is the way it answered: “No, Rather by such actions they deny Jesus, the only Savior and Redeemer, even through they boast of belonging to Him. It therefore follows that either Jesus is not a perfect Savior, or those who receive this Savior with true faith must possess in him all that is necessary for their salvation.” (Heidelberg Catechism, Question 30, p.35)
The Old Testament law facilitates our death and points us to life in Christ!
The Old Testament law facilitates our death and points us to life in Christ!
In Galatians 2:19-21, Paul gives the reason for this; there is a spiritual death that is highlighted at regeneration. We die to the law, but are made alive in Christ.
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 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. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
A Roman Catholic priest in Belgium rebuked a young woman and her brother for reading that “bad book” pointing to the Bible. “Mr. Priest,” she replied, “a little while ago my brother was an idler, a gambler, a drunkard, and made such a noise in the house that no one could stay in it. Since he began to read the Bible, he works with industry, goes no longer to the tavern, no longer touches cards, brings home money to his poor old mother, and our life at home is quiet and delightful. How comes it, Mr. Priest, that a bad book produces such good fruits?”
And so Galatians 2 offers a very clear picture of the gospel. Paul’s main point is this: I died to the law, in order that I would live for God. Jesus gave us His righteousness and took my sin! 2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Application: Christians: designate your works. Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Do as much of of them that you can! And give glory to God that He put you in the right place and at the right time to do them. Matthew 5:16
16...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Unbelievers: give up on your good works as a means of grace and earning favor with God!
Conclusion
Conclusion
In 2004, a painting by Anna Mary Robertson, better known as Grandma Moses, was brought to the Antiques Roadshow for appraisal. Born before the Civil War, Robertson did not take up painting until late in her life. Her primitive style eventually became extremely popular, and her work commanded a high price.
The man who brought the painting to be evaluated had lived nearby and his mother was a friend of Grandma Moses. He said, “She was just a wonderful friend of the family. And she would let my mother buy these paintings, which she thought had relatively little value. I guess my mother did, too. She probably bought eight or ten paintings in all, and my guess would be for perhaps under ten dollars each.”
The painting that was bought for around $10 was appraised as being worth $60,000! In her early days of painting, Grandma Moses did not think of her works as being very valuable, so she parted with them for next to nothing. How often do we give up that which is priceless for a little temporary pleasure or advantage? How often do we abandon that which matters most for that which matters least?
The best way to determine what matters the most to someone is not to hear what they say but to see what they do. The things we pursue and give our lives to are the things that we truly value the most. Fools do not seek wisdom because they do not place any value on it. Wise people will seek wisdom even at great expenses because they understand how important it is to successful living. When we value what God values we are on the path to wisdom. James 2:18-19
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
