We are early in our series on the Book of Galatians. Today we will pick up with the start of chapter 2. So far we are focused on the Gospel, and Paul’s confrontation of the churches in Galatia wandering from the Gospel and are allowing the Judiazers to pollute the Gospel. Up to this point, Paul has shared the Gospel briefly, he is calling them out, and giving record of his travels and what he has been doing, because the Judiazers are also discrediting him to muddy the water. Let’s pick with with chapter 2 verses 1-2.

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. —Galatians 2:1-2

So we have had a lot of time pass, and now Paul comes before the disciples and the church leaders and runs through his revelation through them to see if his message of the Gospel is accurate. Paul wanted to make sure that the message he is sharing is accurate, and worthwhile.

He is also making sure to be united to the church leaders. He acknowledges their role as the founding of the church, and Paul is not a separatist. He is coming, and speaking to the leaders in private out of honor and respect. We see here he is addressing a matter that should be behind closed doors, and we will see later that Paul will confront in a public matter too. We will talk more about this then, but there are ways to honor and correct other brothers and sisters, and here we see the meeting as leaders to deal with a larger issue within the early church.

Who is Barnabas?

Barnabas became a disciple early in the book of Acts. This man was an early convert, and was active from the beginning giving financially and serving as he can. Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus. One big thing he did was when Saul becomes Paul, Barnabas vouches for Saul and brings him into the fold with the disciples. **

Who is Titus?

Titus was an early church leader who travelled a lot with Paul, and was Greek. He will serve in the church of Corinth later, but was a faithful servant whenever we see him in the Bible. Both Barnabus and Titus were impactful people both for Christ and in Paul’s life.**

Interesting how Paul brings Titus. Can you imagine that conversation? Hey Titus come with me to Jerusalem, the heart of Judaism, and join me as I check my message with the leaders of the church. What happens if I am wrong, well snip snip for you. No this is probably intentional for dealing with this issue. I believe Paul is confident that he has not strayed and that it is grace alone that saves us both Jew and Gentile.

We see Paul come to make sure he is not preaching a wrong Gospel. What could be another Gospel?

But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” —Acts 15:1

Here is what the Judiazers were sharing. Why are they so concerned about upholding the Jewish Laws with the Gospel? That is a great question we will answer by the end, but I leave this for you to wrestle with until we come back with the answer. Why would the Jewish Christians be concerned about others upholding the Law?

Ok, lesson for us today, do you know what you believe or do you assume? I have known people that believe what others have told them. Maybe it was their parents, maybe family members, maybe they were seen as an authority in what they were discussing, but are you doing the research and are you knowing what you believe? We see here Paul, a leader of the church, an author who wrote a lot in the Bible, that he met with other experts, and checked his math so to speak. Do you check your beliefs, and if so how?

Story of teaching on dating and science

We are to conform to God’s way, and leave our own behind, because his way is always better than our.

Going back to the verses, let’s see what happens.

3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 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— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 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 2:3-6

We see that Paul makes a significant point to the original issue of the letter of Galatians. What was that problem? The Gospel being polluted, and specifically that Christians would have to also adhere to the Mosaic Law. We see here Paul makes a point that Titus the Greek Gentile was not asked to be circumcised by the main church leadership.

Now, we do see there were some who did create an issue, but the main chore had no issues and made no requests that Paul or his companions adhere to the Jewish traditions. Let’s read on for the sake of time.

7 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 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. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. —Galatians 2:7-10

We see that the pillars of the early church extended the right hand of friendship, this was an act or a pledge of friendship, and this was a way to communicate clearly their relationship. This would communicate that Paul is a welcome part to the ministry, and that he is valued in the group.

Now, we also see some of what I spoke about last week, that Paul and his companions were called by God and blessed by other church leaders to share the Gospel to the Gentiles, and that they would be the primary focus for this as Peter and his companions were to focus on the Jews.

Is this unhealthy or divisive for Peter and his lot to pursue the Jews, while Paul and his lot would seek the Gentiles?

Asked to still help the poor, which Paul wants to do anyways.

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” —Galatians 2:11-14

11
Paul opposes Peter face to face.

How do we handle people in sin?
How do we react to being corrected?

12
Fear is not of God. This goes back to Paul talking about are we doing things for man’s approval or do we do this for men?
Fear separates, love unites

13
Others and even Barnabas were acting hypocritically, and were not representing Jesus to the Gentiles.

14
Paul corrects Peter about falling into hypocrisy and leading others astray.

Peter will take this well, because we never see an issue with Paul and Peter after this.

We see in this interaction, not only does Paul confront one of the disciples, but he does it appropriately, and Peter will yield.

We will stop here for today. The main things I hope that we get out of these verses for us today are:

The Gospel is Jesus + nothing= Salvation
Do you know who God is and what He has done?
Where is God calling you?
How do we grow together as brothers and sisters in Christ