Accepted by Grace
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Is there anything better than feeling home?
ACCEPTED BY GRACE
GALATIANS 2:1-10
Grace is God’s message of acceptance that rejects man made barriers, destroys barriers, and lifts others up.
Grace—the approve message of acceptance
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
The Message of Grace Must Be True
The Message of Grace Must Be True
Paul’s message was from God—
For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.
Paul’s message was the old Jerusalem Gospel
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.
Paul’s message would be “in vain” if not true
I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
Grace and truth are inseparable:
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Grace Rejects False Religious Barriers
Grace Rejects False Religious Barriers
But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
How Does the Message of Grace Bring Acceptance?
How Does the Message of Grace Bring Acceptance?
God’s grace rejects acceptance by:
1) former religions,
2) false religions, and
3) works focused religions.Acceptance in grace demonstrated with Cornelius in Acts 10.
Grace Breaks Unnecessary Social Barriers--Galatians 2:6-9
Grace Breaks Unnecessary Social Barriers--Galatians 2:6-9
What Does Grace Do to Our Society?
Grace reorients who is “influential”—
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
Grace reaches across social barriers
On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),
Grace recruits workers for the King
and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Grace Lifts the Poor
Grace Lifts the Poor
Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
How Does Grace Lift the Poor?
How Does Grace Lift the Poor?
Christian Benevolence—Acts 2:42ff;
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Christian Discipline
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
