In the mid seventies, the Church of Latter-Day Saints completed a tabernacle in Kensington, Maryland. This tabernacle is alongside the interstate and is particularly striking at night. It is surreal and beautilful as its multiple spires are bathed in light. The gothic structure lends itself to a timeless, spiriual feel. A single angel appears atop one spire, holding something and blowing a trumpet. To many, this appears to be a Christian church. Yet, upon closer inspection, we realize the building has no cross anywhere. And the angel is portrayed as holding the golden plates of mormonism (these are supposedly the plates where Joseph Smith translated the book of mormon). The differences between Mormonism and Christianity seem subtle but they are distinct and important. The tabernacle in Kensington bears no crosses because their faith has no cross in it.
Mormons say they believe in Jesus; but their beliefs are vastly different from the teachings of the bible. They do not believe the authority of bible; they don't belief in one way to salvation; they don't believe in a literal heaven and hell. They teach that belief in Jesus isn't enough. Other things must be done. The man in the family must earn his way through different ranks to attain glory for themselves.
In Paul's day, the Judaizers were teaching very similar ideas. These false teachers had made their way to Galatia and messed up the beliefs of the Christians there. While they called themselves Christians and resembled a church, they had ascriped to these false teachings that said, "Believe in Jesus Christ, but there are some things we need to add…." They budened these folks with works. As these folks picked up these new dosctines and added them to the gospel; they removed grace and the cross and the real gospel.
The counterfeit gospel is alive and well today. It's packaged up in many different ways; ways to fool the unsuspecting, ways that make it appealing and spiritual. Just like it happened in Paul's day, it happens today; Christians lay down the true gospel, grace and remove the cross from their life to pick up religion, traditions, ways that please men, please the flesh and seem very spiritual.
The cross must remain at the center of the gospel; the gospel must the core message to which we responded in faith.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:9-9)
Paul defended his calling in chapter one; but only to point to the gospel message he brought to the Galatians. His entire life now revolved around delivering this gospel to an unbelieving world. As Paul said the gospel was given to him by Christ; the unsaid question to the false teachers was where their gospel came from. Paul contrasted his current life with the previous life to show the change this calling had made in his life. This begs the question, "What do the lives of the false teacher reveal?" The Christians, Paul former enemies, testified to the change in Paul's life.
As we move into chapter two, Paul speaks of his interaction with others over the years to solidify his calling and prove the authenticity of the gospel, not just in his eyes but to others the Galatians knew.
Paul's argument revolves around the idea that you can't separate the man from the message. The gospel message is a measure of the man; the life of the man brings authenticity to the message he bears. The man, the message and the power behind them were born at the cross of Christ. As Christ rose again; the message went out, men like Paul were changed and called to bear this powerful message to a lost world.
Galatians 2:1
This message wasn't new; it had stood the test of time. The defense of his calling and the handling of the gospel wasn't new. While Paul had dealt with all kinds of difficult situation, he still marveled at those incorrectly handled the gospel. On a trip to Jerusalem the gospel was validated by Barnabas, this man the Galatians knew. Barnabas was Paul's first friend among believers. We see in Acts 9:27 when the disciples were afraid of Paul but Barnabas took hold of him. Barnabas stood up for Paul and vouched for him. For a guy like Paul who used to beat and imprison Christians, friends were probably hard to come by, especially early on. So, this friendship was probably very meaningful. Barnabas ended up becoming Paul's traveling companion on his first missionary journey.
Titus, a Greek gentile, had also went to Jerusalem with Paul. The very fact that this gentile traveled and worked with Paul as well as accompanying him to Jerusalem showed this gospel wasn't linked to Jews, Judaism and the law. Even on this trip to Jerusalem these 'false brethren' attempted to destroy the liberty of Christians, to add burden and bondage to people and pervert the gospel. Yet Titus was not compelled to be circumcised by the Christians there. Among the believers, there was no submission to the demands or desires of these men, not for an hour. They held to the truth of the gospel. There is only one 'true' gospel, it is that we must hold fast to. It is that we take heed to guard closely from those who want to harm it, change it or push us to compromise.
Galatians 2:2
At this time, some fourteen years later, Paul didn't go to Jerusalem because a man called him there but because God directed him there. This was by revelation; God unveiling His plan. This revelation is the word 'apocalyse'; it's the same word Paul used when he spoke of the gospel message given to him by the Lord. It was God's plan unveiled; using the willing servant Paul in that purpose.
When Paul got to Jerusalem he told them the gospel that he preached among the gentiles. He didn't receive the gospel, he told them the gospel that he preached to the gentiles. This is the gospel he got directly from Jesus not from men; not from the apostles.
Paul explained the gospel privately to those of reputation. He is referring to Peter, James and John who were the three main leaders of the church in Jerusalem. He went up there and had a private meeting with these 3 leaders and told them of his ministry to the gentiles. These three men were leaders in an established church full of Jewish believers. To have Paul come in there and tell them this was probably a little bit of a shock. Paul was clearly not a diplomat. The reputation of Peter, James and John may have been somewhat damaged to the Galatians; false teachers had come in behind Paul saying they were sent by these men of reputaiton. Paul's private meeting was not to reach an agreement or compromise. Paul boldly proclaimed the gospel and the work God was doing. He was finding out of Peter, James and John were holding to the same gospel. Paul knew he was right, he was verifying they were standing with him; both of which were then in Christ. The conclusion then is that these other men were outsiders with a false message.
As he sat before these men and told them the gospel he had to wonder if his ministry would be damaged if there were any opposition from the other apostles. That's why he said, "lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain". Because if he was at odds with these guys in Jerusalem things would be critical. These were the apostles who spent time with Jesus and learned from him. These were the guys who saw him crucified and saw the resurrected Jesus. If there were a division, it would be damaging and essentially Paul would be left standing by himself against these men of reputation.
Paul gave them the gospel because they didn't have it right if, in fact, they had sent these legalists. There can only be one gospel message. It can't be modified to suit men. So, this meeting was a huge moment in church history. Paul held it up before the Galatians to show a unified gospel among Jews and Greeks.
Galatians 2:3-5
Notice Paul called the legalists and these men teaching another gospel, false brethren. He doesn't mince words or soft sell it. They hadn't picked a path parallel to the gospel; and there wasn't any call for everyone to just get along. Paul simply said they were not among the true brethren. They might be fine men; they might be moral and even upright, but they weren't brethren.
Yet because of their aggressive tactics to harm the gospel, these men show they weren't moral and upright. They were in fact doing the work of the enemy; they being enemies of the true gospel. These false brethren were spies that were brought in to the church to act as though they were Christians. They wanted to see this liberty that the Christians proclaimed. This liberty is freedom from the law; its salvation by grace. The false brethren came to place burden and bondage where there was freedom. They were spies for Satan. They wanted to add work to the free grace offered by Jesus Christ.
The core belief of the Judaizers was that circumcision was a requirement to be saved. Circumcision was a requirement under the Mosaic Law. Under the Law of Moses, the Jewish boys were circumcised on the 8th day. This was a sign that they were born under the covenant of the law. The Judaizers were saying that even the gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved. In essence, they said you had to become as a Jew before you could become a Christian.
Paul said that Titus is living proof that you don't have to be circumcised to be saved by Jesus Christ. This matter was settled at the council in Jerusalem, you can see Acts 15:1-22 to further study that. Circumcision wasn't part of the gospel. Paul refused to waver on that point. As Paul presents his case, he enters the life of his friend Titus in as evidence. It was apparently clear to everyone there that Titus was saved. He was a gentile, yet he was clearly saved. This was just more proof that circumcision had nothing to do with salvation.
The false brethren were attempting to place the gentiles under bondage. Now, this didn't even affect Paul or Barnabas or others born as Jews, not personally anyway. Regardless, Paul said they didn't yield to them, not even for an hour. He stood his ground, not to prove he was right, but that the truth might continue with them. Paul wouldn't stand for this teaching, it was another gospel. He would not allow anyone to add a work to the requirement of salvation. Salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. You don't have to do anything, everything has already been done on the cross.
Galatians 2:6
Paul is referring to Peter, James and John as "those who seemed to be something." Many probably looked at them as the apostles of high reputation but that didn't mean anything to Paul. He didn't see himself to be inferior to them in any way. Paul was sure of his calling as an apostle and he knew the gospel message he was to teach. So, whether Peter, James or John agreed or not he didn't care because he was preaching what Christ gave him to preach. If they didn't agree, they would have to take it up with Jesus. Paul could neither confirm nor deny their apostleship, he could only confirm his own and what he was given.
Paul's statement regarding his confidence may come across as arrogance or maybe as indifferent to the other apostles. Paul wasn't being disrespectful to them as much as being respectful to what he was told to do by the Lord Himself. We can all learn from that.
As we are all called to our own ministries and exercising of the gifts God has given us, we can't change our message because some other person doesn't agree with us or doesn't care for our methods. God isn't impressed with the things of man; He's not concerned about the popular vote. God shows personal favoritism to no man. He has shown over and over he will use the humble and the weak to shame the proud and strong. But that isn't possible if the humble and weak back down, feeling intimidated by the proud and strong who hold grand titles, exalt themselves or are impressed because they have letters after their name.
As you exercise your gifts and work in the ministry God has called you to, in your life, someone will always be there to criticize you. Men will stand before you and say you have to do it this way or you have to do it that way; you can't say this, you have to teach that. It's nice if you can operate in you gifts and it pleases men, but not at the exclusion of pleasing God. You have to minister as directed by God and you have to let men receive it as they will. God will reward your faithfulness to your calling.
We don't really know what affect this meeting had on Peter, James and John. Paul held strong to what he knew was his calling. Peter, James and John knew the truth, knew the true gospel message, but one has to wonder if they were caught being tolerant of other stuff in the spirit of compromise. The outcome of the meeting and the relationship between Jerusalem and gentile church was healthy and testified to gospel message to a lost world, available to all of mankind.
Galatians 2:7-10
This gives us a look into the early church. These men were submitted to Christ and faithful to their ministry and obedient to the Holy Spirit. They weren't trying to control Christianity and the growth of the church; that was the job of the Holy Spirit. These men were servant leaders. They saw that the gospel to the gentiles had been committed to Paul. This was visible in the fruit of his work as an apostle. The power of the gospel to save by grace was evident in these churches. The work of the Holy Spirit was evident in the lives of men and women there. As men who walked with God, they recognized the work of God. They saw the handiwork of God in the lives of men.
Peter saw fruit from his work among the Jews; 'the circumcised' is a reference to the Jews. They saw the similar fruit in Paul's life and work as an apostle to the gentiles. Now this had to be an apocalypse moment to them. It was laid out before them or revealed to them that salvation is by grace. It's not about what a man can do, it's about what Christ has done.
Now, imagine how this went down. These three were leading the best they knew how when Paul came along and explained what God had done in his life and through his ministry. Through what Paul was saying, they saw the grace that had been given to him. As a result, they extended the right hand of fellowship. This 'right hand' was an agreement that they were in fact on the same side, preaching the same gospel. Their ministry, calling and path to apostleship was different but the gospel was the same. Jesus was the same, the message of the cross was in the center. This right hand of fellowship isn't joining up with anyone and everyone or any teaching or any religion that uses the name of God or Jesus. It has to be the God of the bible; the Jesus of the Bible. It has to be the gospel of the bible and the cross must be at the center. Then, that right hand of fellowship can be offered.
There was now unity between the part of the church extended to the gentiles and the other part that would preach to the Jews. This is a great blow to Satan. From the beginning of time the seed of the woman was to bring salvation. And in the promise to Abraham, all nations would be blessed by Him. This is it. This was how the message broke out of Israel to the whole world. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all those prophecies. This was the plan of God to bring salvation to all the nations. The Judaizers, these false teachers, spies among the fellowship, were tools of Satan to try to thwart that plan. They were intent on adding to the gospel, they were driving a wedge between these two groups. They were constantly making the message about you and what you needed to do. It was "do this" and "do that" and all those things denied the work already done on the cross.
Since these leaders were servants of Christ, that's Peter, James and John, there were committed to the truth and not to their own agendas. That is so important because it seems everyone has an agenda today. Peter, James and John were able to see Paul's point. They recognized the gospel of grace as the one that came from Christ Jesus. Unity came about because of the gospel message. These Jews were saved by faith in Jesus Christ. These Gentiles were also saved by faith in Christ. They were part of the same church.
When Peter, James and John extend that 'right hand of fellowship' to Paul, Barnabas and Titus, he also reminded them not to forget about the poor. There was unity and they were going on their way to their calling to preach in the gentile lands. However, they need not forget the poor there who were their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul said he was very eager to do just that. We saw how Paul took up a collection among the gentile churches on his 3rd missionary journey and then presented it to the poor there. He was a man of his word.
Galatians 2:11-13
This ought to make those of us who've been led astray feel better; and scare all of us by knowing we can all be deceived and drawn into hypocrisy. It even happened to the apostles, therefore we should be on guard. We are all prone to be man pleasers.
When Peter came to Antioch he was sitting down eating with the gentiles, not worried about the dietary restrictions the law placed on Jews. Peter did this because he was a Christian, no longer under the law. He had liberty from the law but then these men came to town saying they were sent by James. The political pressure got to Peter as he was trying to keep both sides happy. When these men showed up, Peter got up and wouldn't eat with the gentiles any longer. Suddenly he started keeping the law and the dietary restrictions of a Jew. He separated himself from the gentiles.
This might seem like a small thing but this liberty of grace came from the blood shed on the cross. To withdraw from the table with the gentiles was to withdrawal from the liberty and go back into the bondage of the law. Then, to make matters worse, others were watching. They saw what Peter did. They got up also, leaving the table of liberty and returning to the law. Even Barnabas got caught up in this. Many followed Peter and played the hypocrite including Barnabas. Paul was appalled at the hypocrisy and confronted Peter and the church. Paul said he withstood Peter to his face because he deserved it. He had to call him out on this hypocrisy.
A hypocrite is 'one who wears a mask.' That's what it meant back then. It was related to the theater. You put on a mask to portray a part in a play. That's what was going on here. Peter was setting there eating a pork sandwich with his gentile face on. When the Jews show up, he pushed away from the table and put on his Jewish mask. The mask hid his real feelings or thoughts. The hypocrites pretended to support the legalism of the Judaizers when in reality they believed in a gospel of grace.
We can't forget how this might have made the gentiles feel. Imagine how a new Christian might feel; inferior, inadequate? This could stumble a new believer and be a root of bitterness among any gentile believer. This created division among brothers and sisters in Christ and nothing good comes from that. Let the gospel be the gospel; let it shine; let God take care of those who desire it to be different.
Galatians 2:14-17
Paul called Peter on his hypocrisy. He asked him why he lived as a gentile and not a Jew, yet he wanted gentiles to live like Jews. If Peter really believed as the Judaizers then he was denying the grace that Jesus taught. By his actions of trying to do something, to perform some religious act, he was denying that the work Christ did on the cross was complete and sufficient. Paul was essentially accusing Peter of denying Christ by his returning to the law. Think about that a minute. Can you imagine what that would have felt like to Peter, especially if Paul actually said to Peter he was denying Christ?
Peter had denied Christ before and been forgiven. I wonder if that came to mind when Paul insinuated he was denying Jesus. I wonder if Peter heard a rooster crow in the back of his mind when Paul spoke to him of denial. The last time he denied Christ, he heard the rooster crow. Peter had to have cringed.
Jesus said there was no distinction between the Jews and the gentiles; between clean and unclean. Peter knew this and had sat with the gentiles and ate. Now he was pretending, and to do so was a sin. Paul objected to this behavior passionately. He knew no man was justified by the works of the law but by faith. No flesh will be justified by the law.
This justification is a judicial declaration of 'not guilty' before the law. This is only available by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. No man can "do" enough lawful acts to overcome the unlawful things he's done and continues to do.
Galatians 2:18-21
Man, if Paul said that to Peter, I feel sorry for him. Pete had to be feeling about an inch tall right now. To receive Christ is to acknowledge that He paid the just penalty for your sin. No one could stand before the law and be justified. The law found all men guilty and the penalty of sin is death. We died to the law when we identified with Christ. His death paid our penalty. We were bought by the shed blood of our savior. Paid once, in full, done deal, redeemed.
Since that is the case, it is no longer I who live because I died by the law. It is now Christ who lives in me. It's not about anything I could do, it's all about what Jesus Christ has done.
Whether its Peter or you and I, the man and the message must be consistent. The message must be the one true gospel that transforms the man; the man must be consistent, true and faithful to the message that changed him. God wasn't honored by keeping traditions and rules; it was Peter that was honored among men. He was already justified by faith; how could any man add to that?
The man of works righteousness is characterized by:
· Never-ending works
· Bondage
· Acceptance in the world
· Eat, drink and grab all you can in this life (here & now)
· Privelege in the courts of the world.
The religious man of works can never stop; he'll be forever trying to attain something he can never be. This will put him in bondage as he seeks acceptance among men in this world. His life, joy and contentment are all contingent on his circumstances. His privelege is liminted to this world, this time, to the courts of the klingdoms of this world he might find himself in. Then, when he breathes his last, he will suffer eternally paying for the sin that's upon him.
The man justified by faith:
· Grace
· Liberty
· Sonship (adoption)
· Inheritance laid up in heaven
· Privelege in courts of The King
Therefore, the man lives in liberty, both receiving and offering grace, a son of God most high, fully aware that his inheritance is laid up in heaven and he has full access to the courts of the King forevermore.
©2017 Doug Ford
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