Sermon Tone Analysis

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?

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?

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...

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.

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.

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.