Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

August 4, 2019

Galatians 2:1-21 – For Freedom! (Part 1)

{vs. 1-2} In chapter 1 verses 18-19, Paul described a trip he made to Jerusalem three years after Jesus knocked him to the ground on road to Damascus, forever changing his life.  The important thing for us to know about that occasion was that he did not receive training, doctrine or the gospel from the other Apostles or any man (he was only there for days and didn’t see most of them!)  Now, Paul describes a second trip to Jerusalem making sure to mention his corroborating witnesses Barnabas and Titus (both respected men in the church). 

· Barnabas, the ‘Son of Encouragement’ was a good friend to Paul.  He was the one who brought him to see Peter and James on that first trip, when no one else would dare to go near him!  So Barnabas was there from very early - from the beginning.  It was Barnabas, who went to Tarsus to retrieve Paul after the Jerusalem church sent him home for his own good (and theirs!) to help minister at the church at Antioch (first big Gentile church).  And, after a prophet (Agabus – Acts 11:28-30) told the church at Antioch there would be a famine, Paul and Barnabas were chosen to take a collection down to Jerusalem.  They brought John Mark back with them and then were sent out from the church at Antioch on the First Missionary Journey.

· Titus, was a Gentile convert from the preaching of that First Missionary Journey!  As a representative of the ‘heathen’, he was uncircumcised and was a prime example of the issue or a test case!  Paul considered Titus a dear brother and a comfort to him, a trusted pastor – trusted enough to carry collection money and a partner and fellow worker in the gospel mission (2 Corinthians 2, 7 & 8).  As Paul’s time here on earth came to a close, Titus was there with him, closer than a brother during his final Roman incarceration!

These three brothers and some representatives from the opposing party (the Judaizers) were sent up to Jerusalem to get a final, definitive answer to this question of the Gentile believers and the Jewish rites and observances (especially circumcision).  (You can see Luke’s account in Acts 15)  These false brothers as Paul calls them were confident – they knew that they were right (mistakenly).  They had the home court advantage!  They had come from the Jerusalem church (the mother church), this is the way the Apostles and  those believers were practicing their faith and best of all, these Apostles were the ultimate earthly authorities regarding all things doctrinal!  However, just because believers, even ministers or Apostles do something - - - that doesn’t make it right!  We all have a past that seeps into our relationship with Christ.  We all have ways of doing things, traditions and yes, misconceptions that flavor the way we seek God and live before others!  However, Paul was confident too!  After all, he had received this gospel straight from God and while sharing it had seen the miracles and the conversion to Christianity and had continued to receive more revelations along the way.  Like the one that moved him to go up to Jerusalem to have this settled!

Upon their arrival, Paul shares the gospel (the same gospel message he shares with everyone, everywhere he went – that just flowed out of him naturally) – he did this with the church leaders or pillars.  Paul knew he had the true gospel; but he didn't know how everyone of reputation in Jerusalem would receive it.  Maybe some of the apostles themselves were caught in the past or wrong in this area, and needed to be corrected!  Paul does not bring this up in front of the whole fellowship, but privately to those who were of reputation.  This shows sensitivity - He did the best he could to not publicly embarrass those who were of reputation in Jerusalem.

What made Paul fear that he might run, or had run his race in vain?  It probably was not the fear that he himself was wrong or that he would in any way fall away.  More likely, it was the fear that an unnecessary conflict with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem might damage his reputation and ministry in some way.  These false teachers - if encouraged in some way by the leaders in Jerusalem might try to undo Paul's missionary work (as they already had been doing), in effect reversing or making all of his work in vain.

{vs. 3} Paul gleefully shares the results – Titus, my test case – an uncircumcised, Gentile believer was there with me - - - right among the very leaders of the church, the original Apostles themselves - - - and they did not try to circumcise him.  Titus was an obvious Greek – they could tell by his mannerisms, his dress and no one said ‘hey get this heathen outta here’ or ‘take him to the back room, I’ve got the knife right here!’

{vs. 4} False believers vs. Miss-believers – Paul nails these Judaizers right where they live – there is no way to be charitable, to think the best of them and say ‘well, they are just confused or wrong in this one area of doctrine.’  Believers can be (and often are) wrong on many areas but for this crucial, central issue – there is no way to get this wrong and truly follow Christ!  This is the heart of salvation – it can only be by grace through faith!  You and I can disagree about Christ’s return (Eschatology), about the pronunciation of Biblical names and about many other minor issues but anyone who tries to work their way in is following another Christ and another gospel (which is really no gospel at all!)

These false teachers, just couldn’t get over the old ways, they could not believe the too-good-to-be-true gospel.  So they tried to have one foot in both worlds (the Law and forgiveness) – which doesn’t work, you’ll be split in half every time!  They out of jealousy of those who found this freedom and accepted it, tried to steal that freedom found in Christ (freedom from sin, the curse, the burdensome observance of the Law and the freedom to be called the sons of God).  In effect, they were working for the Devil – trying to keep people from being happy, from being forgiven and redeemed - - - so they could be as miserable as they themselves were!  Misery loves company!

They came in as spies, not broadcasting their beliefs but sneaking in – blending in among the brothers until they had the trust of the people which allowed them to slowly introduce changes (heresies).  Satan seldom sends people into churches wearing ‘I love Lucifer t-shirts’ or with nametags.  It is by their spirit, the things that they believe and teach that they must be judged (yes, judged!)  If we as believers cannot ferret out the spies, testing the spirits (1 John 4:1) then they will deceive the body and cause that fellowship to wither and die!

{vs. 5} Paul and the true teachers would not compromise or seed any ground in this fight!  To lose even one bit in this fundamental battle would mean losing the entire war (the faith!)  Paul was stubborn – sometimes it is good to hold on stubbornly, especially if it is the truth of God!  This was not about the rites or ceremonies – it was about the connection with salvation!  Paul on another occasion had Timothy circumcised because as a Son of a Jewish mother and grandmother (who taught him the scriptures), he would be considered a Jew.  By doing this, Timothy would gain a great advantage – access to the synagogues that Paul always entered upon entering a new town.  However, there was no advantage for Gentiles – most of all, no benefit from God or toward salvation.  If they had asked to keep brothers from stumbling or for some other reason – this would not be an issue to take a stand on – but the grace, the gospel must be preserved!

{vs. 6-10} While Paul was not in awe of the Apostles (or James the half-brother of our Lord) – no swooning here – they did recognize the truth!  God does not show favoritism!  While God used the Jews as a people in the past (and will again in the future) – everyone (Jew, Gentile, male, female – every single person) is saved in the same way!  The leaders recognized this and confirmed it in their decision!  They received Paul and Barnabas (somehow Titus got left out L - which might indicate some room for growth here) – they receive them as fellow workers and brothers in Christ and in the work of the gospel!

They saw clearly that God was in the message and the churches!  So, they came to the conclusion that God did call Paul to minister to the Gentiles – just as Peter was called to the Jews!  Did you see that?  They recognized Paul as being on the very same level as Peter (you know the one some think of as the first pope!)  In the end, they added an encouragement to remember the poor (by this they mean giving to the less fortunate in the Jewish church) – not just the poor wherever they may be found.  This is in line with Paul’s first visit – remember, he came to present the offering collected by the believers for the poor in the Jerusalem Church. 

Next time, we’ll continue in this chapter and see more about our Freedom in Christ!