Gospel Boldness

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Paul heads to Jerusalem

So as we start looking into the text this evening and trying to even more fully understand the gospel and what it is and what its function is. We need to set the scene up.
Galatians 2:1–2 (ESV)
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
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.
Now if you remember when we first started this series we talked about why Paul wrote this letter. He wrote it because there was a group of people called Judaizers. These were men who were teaching that in order to be truly saved and to be truly a Christian you had to adhere to Jewish laws and customs.
So essentially what that means can be summed up like this. “In order to be a true Christian you not only had to believe in Jesus, but you also had to be circumsised and follow the Jewish laws to the letter”
But the problem with that line of thinking is that is not what Paul had taught at all. Paul had been teaching the Gospel which hopefully you remember from literally every week I have been able to preach to you
The Gospel - That you and I willingly and purposely rebel against God, we choose to do the things that God has already told us was wrong and we willing do it anyways. But God in his mercy sent His one and Only Son to live the life we should have lived and died the Death we should have died.
And God in His sovereignty gives us that Grace despite ourselves.
There is no action that you or I can take to save ourselves.
So now Paul is going to head back to Jerusalem to set somethings right.

Reason 1

So Paul is going to give us 2 reasons as to why he goes us. Reason 1 is God gives him a revelation and a command to go. Paul had one other MAJOR Revelation in his life and it was when he was converted on the road to Damascus.
Now when we read that it seems kind of trivial to us i think. Like big deal he had a vision and then goes back to preach.
But let me explain why that is so important. Because this revelation was not just some dream Paul had. It was not just some tingly in his stomach. This was a revelation from God Himself.
So, what that tells me is that God is not going to allow His gospel to be maligned and misrepresented. That not just Paul thinks the Gospel of Grace is true....But God Himself hold His words in high regard.
So in essence God sends Paul to defend the Gospel.

Reason 2

Pauls second reason for going up to Jerusalem is to lay the before the leaders the Gospel to them.
But why? I think the answer lies in the text as well. Paul says to make sure he had not run in vain. This is odd language is almost seems as if Paul is trying to make sure he was right too.
But that doesnt fit the tone of the letter. So then why say that.
I am fully convinced that Paul went back to check on the new believers that he led to faith. To make sure his work was not being undone by highly influential leaders in the church.

Pauls Test Subject

Theres also a third reason for Pauls going and that is he going to bring a “test subject” with him.
He brings a gentile convert named Titus. Now why is this important?
He brings him to show that circumsion or rather actions doesnt save a person. But Gods grace alone is what saves a person
This is a HUGE deal. To take a Greek into the Holy City and stand him before Jewish Council and argue that they were wrong IS HUGE.
This is the equalent of stand before Congress and the President and declaring that they are wrong about something.
MR. ROGERS STORY
Ill tell you an example of what this is like in a modern sense.
In 1969 Fred Rogers who most of might know as Mr Rogers from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood went before the US Senate to plead with them not to cut public television funding which would cut his show and possibly force him to cancel it.
Rogers point in doing his show for children was to help kids deal with problems in a healthy way. Thats the basis of the entire show.
So by Rogers boldness he got the Senate to keep the funding for the show and thus saving the show.

Gospel Boldness

So, that brings us to the why of this text? Why is this text so important and why do we have to talk about this story. Here it is. Because the Gospel demands boldness. The Gospel demands that people stand up against false teaching. It demands that we know and understand the Gospel.
We can look back to guys like Martin Luther who defended the gospel amongst the Catholic Church and thus ushered in a modern understanding of grace today.
Paul stands up for Gospel amongst false brothers, among those who had power in the church.
He does this with NO regard for what anyone thinks of him, he wasnt worried about being a famous preacher, he wasnt worried about being liked he was worried about the Gospel being proclaimed.

What about us?

So, what about us? Are we willing to stand up for the Gospel? Are you willing tomorrow at your school, at your job, on your teams? Will you stand for the Gospel.
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