Nov. 05, 2023

“THE ROAD TO FREEDOM”

“THE FREEDOM FIGHTER”

GALATIANS 2:1-10

Acts 15:4-7 “And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”

1.   Defending The Gospel- Galatians 2:1-5

*Presentation of the Gospel- He preaches to the Gentiles

Galatians 2:1-2 “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.”

Acts 14:27 “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”

Acts 15:1 “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 

When Paul and Barnabas confronted these men with the truth of the Gospel, the result was a heated argument.

Acts 15:2 “Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.”

vs.2 “lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.”

vs.2 “And I went up by revelation.”

What was the result of his private meeting?

The apostles and the elders approved Paul’s Gospel. They added nothing to it, and thereby declared the Judaizers to be wrong. 

*Circumcision not required:

Galatians 2:3-5 “Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

The Jerusalem council recorded- Acts 15:6-21- Several witnesses presented to case for the Gospel of the grace of God, beginning with Peter: 

Acts 15:7-11- Peter makes it clear that there is but one way of salvation, faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:11 “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

Then Paul and Barnabas told the assembly what God had done among the Gentiles.

Acts 15:12 “Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.”

James then gives the summation of the arguments and the conclusion of the matter (Acts 15:13-21). 

Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way, by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. 

Paul took a stand for the liberty of the Gospel, his concern was for the truth of the Gospel;

Galatians 2:5 “…that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

It is serious to tamper with the Gospel, God says don’t add to my Word or take away from my Word.

2.   Paul, The Freedom Fighter- Galatians 2:6-10

*Confirmation

Galatians 2:6 “But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.”

Not only did they approve Paul’s message and oppose Paul’s enemies, but they encouraged Paul’s ministry and recognized publicly that God had committed the Gentile aspect of his work into Paul’s hands.

Galatians 2:7-10 “But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.”

Peter and Paul would both preach the same Gospel, and the same Lord would be at work in and through them, but they would minister to different people.

vs.8 “(For He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles).”

The Jerusalem meeting began with a great possibility for division and dissension, yet it ended with cooperation and agreement:

Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Among those who love God, there can be no such thing as “competition.” 

We need to stand up and be freedom fighters, defending the truth of the Gospel.