Preserving the Truth of the Gospel

Introduction

Recap of background

Recap of teachings from chapter 1

The truth of the gospel is this: We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law. Therefore, we must preserve the truth by our teaching and freedom in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2

Galatians 2 ESV

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. 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. 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. 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), 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. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 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. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 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?” We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 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. 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! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

(v 1) “After fourteen years” two arguments for the timeline: a time before the Jerusalem council and the Acts 15 Jerusalem council.

(vv 1-2) Paul took two other witnesses with him (Barnabas and Titus)

(v 2) Paul went in response to a revelation (divine) and met privately with esteemed leaders. He presented the gospel to be sure he is not running an empty race (expression of concern for new believers, not worry he was preaching something different or confirmation he was preaching the same thingas the other apostles)

(v 3) Not even Titus—a Greek-- was compelled to be circumcised

(v 4) “This matter” (talking about circumcision and the law to be justified) was due to the teachings of “false brethren” who infiltrated (secretly brought in or stole in) to spy (inspect to plot against) their freedom in Christ and make them slaves. Judaizers tried to place those who were free from the yoke of the Mosaic law back under the yoke of the Mosaic law (Acts 15:10; Gal 5:1).

(v 5) Paul and the apostles did not give in (subjugate) to the teachings, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved (continue on).

(v 6) None of those added to Paul’s message (God shows no favoritism)

(v 7-8) Instead, they recognized he was entrusted with the task of preaching to the uncircumcised just as Peter to the circumcised. For the same God was at work in both of their ministries.

(v 9) Right hand of fellowship (acceptance of apostleship, the gospel message, and partnership) given to him and Barnabas by Peter, James, and John who were esteemed as pillars (support or those the uphold the gospel). Recognized the grace given to him.

(v 10) Agreed on direction of ministry for all and to continue to remember the poor.

(vv 11-14) Opposing Peter face-to-face for hypocrisy. Peter ate with the Gentiles, until certain me were sent by James to Antioch. Peter withdrew and separated himself from the Gentiles out of fear of the Jews. This led to others doing the same, even Barnabas was led astray. Essentially, Peter, who received revelation that God can make all people clean (Acts 10:15, 34-35) showed the irrelevancy of the law for those “in Christ” by practicing table fellowship with the Gentiles, but then tried to judaize the Gentiles by forcing them to follow Jewish customs out of fear. Paul said, these men were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel (to walk a straight course). The issue was not what one ate but whom one ate with. What Peter, Barnabas, and the other Jews did was undermine the basis of Christian life that salvation comes by grace through faith, not works of the law.

(vv 15-16) “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles” captures attitude ot the Jewish people towards Gentiles. Those that do not follow and live by the law are considered sinners. Paul is saying the Jews even have to come to realize, since they have the law, no one can be justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. Paraphrase of verses. “Forget the Gentile sinners. We know they are outside the covenant and hopeless before God. But even we Jews who could claim all the privileges of the chosen people, even we had to realize that no one could be justified by observing the law. We too, no less than the Gentiles, have been accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ.” Why make this statement? “. . .because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” [quotation from Ps 143:2 more in line with Greek Septuagint]

George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 189–190). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

(vv 17-18) Paul presents a question: If the Jews seeks to be justified in Christ, that would mean they would have to abandon the law, thus becoming a sinner like the Gentile. and Christ was the one leading him to do so. He answers emphatically NO!!! “To rebuild what he destroyed. . .” means if Paul argues one is justified by works of the law instead of faith in Christ, he rebuilt the very teaching in which he destroyed, thus placing himself back under the yoke of slavery resulting in him becoming a lawbreaker.

(vv 19-21) “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God” This statement does not mean the law is irrelevant or lost its meaning. The law brings to light ones transgression, iniquity, and sin. The law exposes the darkness in one’s heart and shows that individual is in need of redemption. Paul died to the law so that he might live for God as a result of being crucified with Christ Jesus. Therefore, he no longer lives but Christ lives in him. The result of this life in Christ is that Paul’s life in the body, is lived under the banner of faith in the Son of God, who loved him and gave Himself for him. Paul understands the meaning of grace because to him, it is too precious to just set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness could be gained by works of the law then Christ died for nothing!

Conclusion/Application

How are you preserving the truth of the gospel?

Do you know what you’re preaching? (Who and what the gospel is about)

Are you acting in line with the truth of the gospel or are you acting in fear? (living a fulfilled life or freedom in Christ which means denying oneself or living a hypocritical life influenced by fear of losing people, things, etc. . .)

Do you hold your brothers and sisters in Christ accountable to biblical doctrine? (Same God at work)

Who do you live for? Are you trying to gain God’s favor or living life in Christ? (Not setting aside the grace of God)