The Gospel Preserved: Apostolic Acceptance

Me

Tesla

Comps; Kadanja - Confirmation and Testing

Most everyone has experienced this in some way at some point in your life

We

Different required testings - licenses

Graduating

Promotion

But these types of testings are not in modern culture alone. Tonight as we continue to look at Paul’s testimony in Galatians he will explain the importance of testing.

God

Before seeing how God showed through this kind of testing for truth and unity, let us pray

Pray - May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer.

Background

Paul early on went to Jerusalem was only there for 15 days

Only saw Peter and James

Galatians 2:1–10 ESV

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 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. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 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— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 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. 7 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 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. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Gal 2:1 “1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.”

Return to Jerusalem

14 years later returned

Because of a Revelation

Met with those of influence

Pillars, Elders, Teachers

The Test

Gal 2:2-3 “2 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. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.”

Test he was not running in vain

Making sure everything lined up

He knew this Revelation was accurate as it was from God

Making sure there Pillars had not faltered to a form of legalism

{Issues of circumcision}

He is essentially making sure not is all lost here.

Seek truth and unity in God

The Danger of False Brothers

Gal 3:4 “4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”

False Brothers

Bringing in a false gospel

Brings us into slavery

False teaching sneaks into a church

Need to test teaching and call out false gospel

Warning in Jude

Seek truth and unity in God

The Preservation of the Gospel

Gal 2:5 “5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.”

The Gospel Preserved

Preserved by God

He holds true

Preserved for us to be saved and to glorify God

God keeps true, but will also cleanse his church

Reformation

Conservative Resurgence

Seek truth and unity in God

The influential Gal 2:6 “6 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.”

I don’t care, all the same in God’s sight, God shows no partiality

They added nothing for me

The Mission Truly From God

Gal 2:7-9 “7 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 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.”

They took a look at Pauls ministry and realized its legitimacy.

They perceived the grace that had been given to him.

Paul was called to preach to Gentiles and Peter was called to preach to the Jews.

What they see here is sufficient evidence that the call was legitimate

The right hand of fellowship can be seen as an agreement and sealing on Pauls call.

They did not assign him his mission, it was a call of God that they are affirming

Legitimacy of the mission itself - Jon (Military) and I (Worship)

Missions and Church Planting

This ends with making sure they wont forget the poor Gal 2:10 “10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

Paul saying basically yea thats fine, I was planning on that anyway.

Gal 2:10 “10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

Seek truth and unity in God

You

Truth in God

Unity in Christ

Guidance in the Holy Spirit

We

Prophet

Ordination Council

Keep out division and deception in false teaching

Seek truth and unity in God