As we continue our study of Galatians we come to a section where the Judaizers were trying to create a division between Paul and the pillars of the church, Peter, John, James, the brother of Jesus and the rest of the apostles. The false teachers questioned Paul’s authority and message and now they challenge his standing with the original apostles. This was nothing new:
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. ” – I Cor. 1:10
“For it has been reported to me by Chole’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ” – I Cor. 1:11-13
Paul shows us how we should respond when people treat us unjustly. He does so with great grace.
- Grace responds with humble before proper authorities.
- “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 proclaimed among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. ” – Galatians 2:1-2
- Grace overlooks unjust of others because of their differences.
- “But even Titus, who was with me was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.”
- Grace refuses to to error.
- “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. ” – Galatians 2:4-5
- “Christianity Lite is Christianity for consumers: the redirection, watering down, and misinterpretation of the biblical gospel in an attempt to make it more palatable and popular. It tastes great going down and settles light. It seems to salve your feelings and scratch your itch; it’s custom-tailored to your preferences. But that lightness will never fill you up with the true, saving gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is designed by man and not God, and it is hollow and worthless. In fact, it’s worse than worthless, because people who hear the message of Christianity Lite think they’re hearing the gospel – think they’re being rescued from eternal judgment – when in fact they’re being tragically misled. ” – John MacArthur
- Grace does not withhold among believers.
- “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. ” – Galatians 2:6
- “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 . ” – Galatians 2:7
- (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.” – Galatians 2:8-9
- “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. ” – Galatians 2:10
Practical Application
- There is one gospel for all of humanity – .
- There is one means of forgiveness – through in .
- There are many contexts for its message – .