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Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.
Galtat
It had been 14 years since the last time Paul journeyed to Jerusalem…there is some debate regarding where in the context of time did this trip actually take place, but either way, there had been a substantial time between Paul’s visits to Jerusalem...
When I think of Paul and Jerusalem, it’s hard to not think of it being the very place Paul once demanded and engaged in the persecution of the very people he is now able to call “brethren”.
We cannot allow this to go ignored…the picture that is painted for us of the Lord’s unfailing grace and mercy in our lives.
The very power of the Lord in our lives, and the testimony we have and can use to glorify Him.
Paul undoubtedly had reservations, the first time he knew he would be going back to Jerusalem (I mean, would you want to show your face? In fact, the first time he did people fled from his presence because they were afraid)...
But focusing on the call the Lord had placed on his life allowed for Paul to push through the strongholds that he placed in his own life as well as the torment of the lies, I can imagine the enemy whispered into his ears.
Paul learned to wait upon the Lord, he learned to live in the truth that “God is never early and He’s never late.” Paul believed that “God is always right on time and His plans for us are good.”
So when it came to going to Jerusalem, Paul was able to go with the confidence the Lord had instilled in him.
He had been doing the work of the Lord for many years now, and for many years Paul has worked through the doubt and the accusations brought against himself and his ministry.
Paul truly believed he was preaching the message the Lord had spoken to him.
So now here he is, coming to the “headquarters” of the church in Jerusalem to check-in with the Apostles who were considered to be the “pillars” of the church; Peter, John & James.
Paul made the journey with Barnabas…a man from Cyprus whose real name being Joseph, but nicknamed Barnabas which meant “son of encouragement” — what a rad nickname!
Barnabas was actually one of the first to accept Paul after his conversion, after which Barnabas became Pauls travel buddy, joining him on his first missionary journey.
…they were joined also by Titus, who was a young Gentile convert. Titus was a “product” of Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles.
Titus later would be used in a mighty way to help minister to other Gentiles in places like Corinth & Crede.
—It’s easy to see Titus as a sort of ‘test case’ on this trip—how would he be seen/heard/treated…we’ll get back to this in a few verses.
Side Note: I just really love and am encouraged by Paul’s fondness of Camaraderie! Paul led by example for us the truths that the Gospel is indeed a message to be preached, it is indeed a Person (the Person of Jesus) to be loved, and it is also very much indeed a lifestyle to be lived and walked in with others.
To Disciple, To Encourage, To Lead...
“As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
().
So here are these three men, making their way to Jerusalem…why?
And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.
Because of a revelation, a revelation given to Paul by God, and reassured by someone that came alongside of him at the church in Antioch.
So Paul, being the man of God he is, sought the Lord on the matter, which resulted in him finding it necessary to go to Jerusalem.
Like we looked at already, Paul was confident in the message that he preached, so this trip wasn’t Paul coming in sheepishly to see if his theology was okay...
It was Paul finding it necessary to link his heart with the other apostles…his message with theirs…to make sure all the effort that he put forth in ministering to the Gentiles was done in vain.
—Now Jewish traditions are very sacred to the Jewish people…to the point that even after conversion, there were still Jewish Christians who found it necessary to still practice a vast majority of those traditions, even to the point that they began to teach that in order for a Gentile to become a Christian, one must first follow in these particular Jewish traditions…this group of people were known as “Judaizers” .
Now this was in complete opposition to the message that Paul felt called to preach.
So in private, to the select few that were of “reputation” — so perhaps Peter, John, James & a few others — Paul presented the message the Lord had given him, and what he had been preaching to the Gentiles. Was this the same message they were preaching? Or...Were they still focused on circumcision and other ritual requirements of the law?
Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
Paul’s First Letters: Galatians and I & II Thessalonians Word and Phrase Study
In reality the issue was not really circumcision (cf. Rom. 2:28–29 and Gal. 6:15), but how a human becomes right with God. In Galatians Paul contrasted the works-oriented way of the Jews and Judaizers and the grace-oriented way of the gospel of Jesus.
This is where we can see Titus as a sort of “test” and thankfully and rightfully so, the Jerusalem Apostles they were before, passed the test.
Here’s the thing: In all reality, the issue that was being looked at here was not really the issue of circumcise or not circumcise, but how a human , not a JEW, not a GENTILE, a human being, becomes right with God.
Throughout Galatians, and really all of his writings, Paul has contrasted the works-oriented way of the Jews and Judaizers and the grace-oriented way of the gospel of Jesus.
But this decision to not have Titus circumcised did not come without a fight...
And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage),
But this victory did not come easily. Pressure to have Titus circumcised was brought to bear by certain false brothers (cf. 2 Peter 2:1). No doubt these were Judaizers, whose chief slogan is found in Acts 15:1: “Unless you are circumsized according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” These “false brothers” (“sham Christians,” NEB) were like spies or fifth-column agents who penetrated to search out weak areas of enemy positions. In this case they infiltrated (pareisēlthon; lit., “sneaked in alongside,” used only here and in Rom. 5:20) the ranks, that is, they intruded without invitation into the apostles’ private conference. Their goals were twofold: first, to spy on (kataskopēsai, used only here in the NT) the freedom we have in Christ. With hostile intent they purposed to observe the apostles’ freedom from the Mosaic Law and from the legalism it engenders. Second, they intended to make Christians slaves. They wanted to bring believers back into bondage, to enslave them to the Law’s rules and ceremonies. Specifically they strongly insisted that Titus be circumcised. But Paul stood absolutely firm because the truth of the gospel was at stake for the Galatians, and the entire Christian church. To impose circumcision on Titus would be to deny that salvation was by faith alone and to affirm that in addition to faith there must be obedience to the Law for acceptance before God. Thus the basic issue of the gospel was involved and Paul would not deviate or yield for a moment.
There was this sense of pressure to have Titus circumcised, and it was brought on by this certain group of “false brothers” — most likely that same group of Judaizers who spread the false teaching that in order to be saved, you must follow the customs of Moses, and be circumcised.
This particular group of “false brothers” were sent in like spies, to try and find the weak areas of the apostles positions.
They focused on the freedoms we have in Christ, and their motives were to bring Christians back into the bondage, and enslave them to the Laws, the rules and the rituals.
Paul doesn’t waiver from the truths that were spoken to him by God. Not even for an hour!
He stood absolutely firm because he recognized the truth of the gospel was at stake for the entirety of the Christian church.
To impose circumcision on Titus would be to deny that salvation was by faith alone and to affirm that in addition to faith there must be obedience to the law for acceptance before God.
What the Judaizers, and perhaps what some of us still need to get our minds around is that, Jesus was the fulfillment of the Laws.
To find ourselves still living under the law, is to find us living in denial of the one who came to free us from it.
Our Christian freedom or liberty is not a way for us to excuse everything we do, and act as if we have no consequences...
but our Christian freedom grants us a direct line to our Creator, to our Heavenly Father, to come sit at the feet of our Lord and Savior…with no terms or conditions.
To live our lives freely serving Him, freely honoring Him, freely worshiping Him.
When we bring ourselves back under the laws, we bring ourselves back into the picture. Taking back into our hands, what Jesus already rid us of and no longer simply following where Jesus has already lead.
We begin to do things in our own might, instead of following where the Lord has already lead.
But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Verse 6 man, Verse 6.
This is so crucial for us to grasp as believers…especially in a society where we are so quick to elevate and idolize other people.
I love that God shows favoritism to no man.
You see, you are as important to God as anybody else.
The world may hold up this or that man or woman as great people, putting them in a category above everyone else.
But it is simply not so.
You are so important to God!
I am so important to God!
God sees us all on the same plane, He loves each and everyone of us equally.
I think too often we lose sight of that!
Paul isn’t calling for a lack of respect of these other apostles, simply he is calling for a recognition that they are by no means greater in the eyes of the Lord.
(This was merely another pushback at the thought process of the Judaizers)
Paul makes mention that these men, didn’t have anything to say negatively or add to his message he had been preaching.
(vs.7-8) On the contrary, they made it a point to call upon and recognize God’s hand in the midst of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, and likened it to Peter’s ministry to the Jews.
So whether it really mattered or not, they put their stamp of approval on what Paul was doing in the Gentile Nations.
This was a sign of agreement and trust and an indication to all present that they endorsed the division of labor whereby the Jerusalem apostles were appointed to evangelize the Jews and Paul was entrusted to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
Verse 9 emphasizes this by stating — the three men made a declaration of agreement and trust, before all that were present, and endorsed the labor brought forth by Paul and Barnabas, to the Gentiles.
There was only one request of Paul’s ministry — to not forget the poor, to serve them…something which Paul was already eager to do.
There was only one request of Paul’s ministry — to not forget the poor, to serve them…something which Paul was already eager to do.
This in turn would help promote unity and love among believers and help prevent the kinds of misunderstandings that which were undermining the churches.
Paul is able to walk away and leave Jerusalem, again in the confidence of the message that he had been preaching, the message that the Lord had graciously given to him.
Back to ministering to the people he was called to minister to, knowing that the truth of the Gospel had been upheld, and the Judaizers were not able to infiltrate the Jerusalem church.
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
Peter had come to Antioch, and clearly had found the freedom to be in fellowship with both Gentiles and Jews.
Peter had come to Antioch, and clearly found the freedom to be in fellowship with both Gentiles and Jews.
He found acceptance of them, putting Jews and Gentiles together on the same family tree of Christ.
This understandably would’ve taken Peter (a born and raised orthodox Jew) some time and difficulties to fully grasp and learn this lesson of love.
This was a lesson that Jesus had taught while Peter was with Him, and then reemphasized by the Holy Spirit.
Peter had found his comfort in fellowshipping with the Gentiles, until he heard the news that a group of men from Jerusalem would be stopping bye.
What we see here, is in all honesty, a common practice…our freedoms become hindered by our fears.
Peter was absolutely free to sit and sup with the Gentiles, but fear of what his Jewish brothers would say took over and hypocrisy set in.
Fear is Faith in the Enemy and the enemy is no fool, he knows how to play this game.
The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
Hypocrisy is a crippling characteristic.
It is also one that we are so quick to say, “Oh man, well I’m a sinner. I’m flawed. I’m a human. I can be a hypocrite.”
Don’t find yourself making excuses for your sin-filled life, but find yourself glorifying Him in your Christlike life!
Peter knew better, but Peter was also being played by the enemy. Did you catch that…Peter…the Rock…a mighty of man of God was still able to be played by the enemy.
Don’t define yourself based on your flawed, human life, but by your Christlike life.
Satan’s voice rushes you, pushes you, frightens you, confuses you, discourages you, worries you, obsesses you, and condemns you.
God’s voice stills you, leads you, reassures you, enlightens you, encourages you, comforts you, calms you, and convicts you.
Peter was feeling backed into a corner, not knowing if he should stay or go...because he allowed himself to be placed in that corner.
And not only did Peter put himself there, but tragically he led others there as well.
Peter and Barnabas’s actions, if they hadn’t been called on by Paul, could have brought the Church in Antioch right back into legalism.
Galatians 14:21
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
The response of Paul was electric. What Peter had initiated created a public scandal and therefore deserved a public rebuke.
Now it’s not clear where Paul’s correction of Peter actually ends…we can just take the group of verses 14-21 being a theological summary of what needed to be stated.
vs. 14 — No matter your ethnical background…your personal life…your faith (or lack there of)…No matter where it is you came from before, when you are adopted into the Family of God through your faith in Christ…there are NO racial/ethnical/personal distinctions.
Peter knew this.
Peter knew this. He is no longer a Jew, but he is now a Christian.
But now Paul speaks to him on a level that he’ll be able to receive, though it may sting.
Titus was no longer a Gentile, but he is now a Christian.
“You’re a Jew…yet you have been living like a Gentile. Now all of sudden you want the Gentiles to live like Jews.” — Inconsistent much?
I am no longer wanderer, but I am now a Christian.
Peter even says in , that God had “put no difference between us and them”.
Do you see what Paul is trying to say here?
But through his fear in men…Peter was putting a difference between them.
We all are the body of Christ.
Peter needed to be reminded of this.
vs. 15-16 — It’s true…Jews had their Spiritual Advantages…but it was a revelation and a fellowship that they had with God, prior to anyone else…NOT relating to Salvation.
Justified by faith! We are declared righteous by our faith!
Job had asked the question — “How should man be just with God?”
— The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur…this was
God’s answer — “The just shall live by his faith.”
Living in the righteousness granted to us through our faith…is no light topic.
Three books in the NT were written to help us further understand the concept:
Romans, explaining the meaning of “the just”
Galatians, explaining the way the just “shall live”
Hebrews, further explaining it’s “by faith”
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The Freedom Fighter, Part II (Galatians 2:11–21)
But what is justification? Justification is the act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ.
Justification is an act — not a process!
No Christian is “more justified” than the next.
A literal interpretation of tells us “Having therefore been once-and-for-all justified by faith, we have peace with God”.
This is an instant/immediate interaction between the sinner who has turned to faith, and God.
The only thing man brings to the table is his faith in Christ…the rest is an act of God.
The works of the Law had its purposes, but the key word is HAD.
They have absolutely NO connection to bringing a sinner to a right standing before God.
Only faith in Jesus Christ is capable of doing that!
Before our trust in our Savior, we stand before God, before our Judge and we stand there GUILTY.
The moment that we put our trust in Christ, in our Savior, we stand before God NOT GUILTY.
This isn’t just forgiveness, this isn’t just a pardon.
This is on a level that perhaps our minds can’t even fully comprehend.
Our past sins are gone. They are remembered by God, no more.
SO— when Peter allowed his fear to determine his actions, and separated himself from the Gentiles, he was denying the truth of justification by faith.
vs.17-18 — Peter himself made a bold statement, when he compared the Mosaic Law to a burdensome yoke— in .
But now here he is putting himself, as well as Barnabas under that impossible yoke.
Paul is reminding Peter in these verses, that neither one of them…not a single one of the Apostles…found their salvation through the Law.
They all found it in Christ.
So when man tries to go back to the law, are they then saying that Christ alone didn’t bring them into Salvation?
Which then would lead to Christ actually making us sinners!? Because it’s the law we need.
“Certainly not!” WHOA! Let’s not go there!
Paul then in verse 18 says—well you have already preached on God’s grace to the Jews and the Gentiles…so that is a wall that you have already torn down…but now you’re going to build it back up? Which would then mean that you were sinning when you were first tearing down that wall!
CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING PETER RIGHT NOW!
To go back to Moses, to go back to living under the law, is to deny everything that God has done for us and through us!
But do not be mad if others do not live under your same convictions.
vs.19-20— This is the very Gospel itself!
When we try to impute our own convictions onto others lives…it again is bringing us back into that
When the law was broken, it meant death.
In order to live in Christ, Paul asserts that he had to die to the law.
That laying down of the law, led him to life with God.
Listen to this:
“This is the dual nature of the gospel—salvation is absolutely free, but it costs everything that we are and have!
It must be reiterated that the free gift comes before the call to Christlikeness. We died to sin that we might serve God”
VERSE 20!!!!
Man— breakdown, kick-down, teardown, that independence we have brought about by our own hands!
Surrender your life to the supremacy of the Lord.
No one can do this for you…only you can do it.
God will lead you up to this place, every day of every year — but He will not force you through it!
Oswald Chambers says — “It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus.”
It is not me. It is Him.
It is not my life. It is His life.
Why? Because HE LOVED ME.
He gave Himself FOR ME.
vs. 21 —
Do you want to be a man or woman who lives a life that counts Jesus’ death for nothing?
Don’t place the all sufficient grace of God aside, when it doesn’t fit your desires!
God’s grace demands that there is no difference, all are sinners, yet all can be saved through faith!
How you distribute the very grace of God says a lot about your walk with God.