The Gospel Call
Galatians 2:1-10

Galatians is an important book for many reasons, but here are the major ones. Galatians has for its subject the core message of the Christian faith.

It answers the questions:

What does it mean to be a Christian?
How do you become one?
Why should I be concerned with the claims of Jesus?
If I become one, what does that mean for my life?

All great questions. All with answers of eternal significance.

Galatians also emphasizes the call upon all believers to understand the Gospel message- defend the message- and to take part in delivering the message to a lost world.

Among us this morning are some who have heard about the Gospel. There are others who have received the Gospel. And yet more, who have heard and received but may be uncertain about what they’re to do with the Gospel.
Yes, I believe this is a timely series us.

It calls us out of that confusion and to prepare ourselves to take up the mantle in our generation.

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Are we spiritually primed to stand as a counter-culture committed to a divine standard by which all things and all people must be judged?

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How will we fare when the labels of narrow-minded, hate-filled, and intolerant become criminalized?

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Are we building biblical disciples who are ready for the challenges before us, and the opportunities that will come our way?

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These are the questions that concerned Paul. He knew each generation of the Church would need to answer them. And in doing so, they would have to refocus. To awaken from slumber. To prioritize things of eternal value- and at the top of that list- the Gospel!

Without a doubt his heart’s desire was to present the Gospel, defend the Gospel, and share the Gospel! And here in the first letter Paul penned, we find him laying that foundation with the churches he launched in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (Acts 13:14-14:23) and reminding them of three truths:
The necessity of getting it right; the necessity of keeping it right, and the necessity of sharing it right!

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Gal: 2:1-3
Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that somehow I might be running, or had run, in vain.

What was that Gospel?

Well we need to step outside of our text to 1 Cor 15 to get a clear description of that Gospel. You’ll want to turn there, but for now, jot it down in your notes and read through it this afternoon. For now, just listen to me read a portion of it:

¹ “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if (since/because) you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

There it is- the centrality of the Scriptures- the Gospel!

Application:

There Rests with each of Us a Necessity to Get it Right!
Every Sunday, Pastor Chris ends his message letting people know that there are individuals who will be down front to speak with anyone who has questions, or who would like to know more about a relationship with Christ.

What if you were asked to be one of those individuals down front? Would you know what to say? Do you know how to share with them the only way a person can be made right with God? Are you confident you would get the Gospel right? Friend, each of us has that responsibility! We stand ready to prepare you because each of us are called to that blessing!
And once you have it right, you and I are to keep it right! Paul continues,

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³ But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁶ But from those who were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me.

Application:

Well we’ve heard about the Necessity to Get it Right, you and I add to it a Needed Devotion to Keep It Right. Have you surrendered to living a life that is counter-cultural? If not, do so. If so, share it right!

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⁷ But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel [c]to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been [d]to the circumcised ⁸ (for He who was at work for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised was at work for me also to the Gentiles), ⁹ and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

As a result of this encounter, the Church at Jerusalem agreed with Paul. Write down Acts 15 and turn to it this afternoon to see their whole response. But here, we are told the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem recognized in the true Span of the Gospel, v. 7. That God’s calling to repentance was to be shared with all people! Paul’s ministry was replete with evidence of the fruit of Gospel work among them. They acknowledged he had been “entrusted” by God as a steward of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and recognized they were responsible to share it with the Jews. They would walk hand in hand to Spread of the Gospel in harmony.
And the ministry to contend for the Gospel continues. Thirteen years after this event Titus received a letter from Paul (62-64 AD). It bore his name. And what do you suppose is the theme and driving message of the letter- the Gospel! Paul reminds him that the foes are still around (1:10), the fight still rages (1:11), and that the focus is the same- equipping believers to Share it Right (2:1)!

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So, where does all of this bring us today?

Application:

Family, each of us has a Call to Share it Right, vv. 7-10.

Where do you need to focus your time and attention when it comes to that Gospel?
1. Do you need to receive the Gospel?

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