GRACE: The Life I Now Live

Study of Galatians

Week 2 

Galatians 2:1-21

Addressing the churches in Galatia, Paul recounts his travels from most likely his home, Antioch.

He and Barnabas as well as a young Titus had rolled into Jerusalem.

In the first verse, Paul continued his story, letting us know that he hasn’t been to Jerusalem in fourteen years.(v1) Theologians differ on the when and why of that statement, but Paul is setting the stage for a radical concept.

Before Christ and His death, Jews and Gentiles were like oil and water. They existed together, but the two had completely different perspectives.

The Jews looked to their faith in God along with a long list of rules to gain God’s approval.  They were God’s chosen people. But the Gentiles were  non-Jews, some joined in heathen practices. Many worshipped idols and nature, completely pagan.

But then Grace stepped in.  The Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ changed everything. 

You see, Jesus himself had established the gospel in the spiritual realm, but it took time and Godly men to establish it in the physical realm.

Galatians 2:1-10, narrated by Paul, recounts how the Gospel of Grace was approved by the religious leaders, which needed to occur. Agreement on this spiritual point was paramount.

Paul is talking, “But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised(Gentiles), just as Peter had been to the circumcised(Jews), for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles.” (v8-9).

Circumcision seemed to be the point of contention, deciding those in God’s grace and those without it. Paul was there to put an end to that erroneous thinking.

He called them “false brethren, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty(freedom) which we have in Christ Jesus in order to bring us into bondage(slavery). (v4)   

Paul was fighting the fight. The Gospel of Grace secured by faith in Christ alone was not going to be added to, not on his watch!

Galatians 2:9 confirmed it. “James(brother of Jesus), Cephas(Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars(of the church), gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we might go to the Gentiles and they (would go)to the circumcised.”

Here, Paul is not only affirmed by the apostles (as one of them), but confirms the message of grace to the Gentiles as well!   

However, just like in every family there are disagreements, so too it is in this early church.  In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul finds himself in the position of rebuking one of his own.

“And when Cephas(Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”  Galatians 2:11

Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Well, here is the back story.

As reported in Acts 10, Peter was compelled by the Lord to visit a Gentile, Cornelius, where Peter ate and stayed with him and his family. Eating together demonstrated acceptance and fellowship. Peter had fellowship and preached Christ to these Gentiles where they were then converted.  

However, it seems that when Peter was with the apostles, he removed himself from fellowshipping with the Gentile believers as if they were second class Christians.

Paul called him on it, publicly. Paul knew that his behavior (Galatians 2:12-14) was influencing other Christian Jews, including Barnabas. That was unacceptable. In love, Paul corrected Peter.

Paul knew what we would need even today, to be responsible with the message of grace.

He ends this part of his letter with a powerful and personal summary of his relationship with Christ:

“For through the Law, I died to the Law that I might live to God,

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me,

and delivered Himself up for me,

I do not nullify the grace of God;

For if righteousness comes through the Law,

then Christ died needlessly.”

Galatians 2:19-21

jeannaswann 

#nowuntohimwhoisable

 Question for discussion: (your email is never posted or shared)

These select Christian Jews pushed for circumcision to be included in the saving message of Jesus Christ. Obviously, Paul nipped that, but looking at today, where do you see Christians just as guilty of trying to add to the Gospel?