I hope that Jesus was reigning as King in your hearts last week! Today, we turn our eyes and hearts back to the Book of Galatians. If you remember correctly, we had just finished chapter one where Paul was displeased that the Galatians were deserting the Gospel. Now, we jump 14 years and start chapter 2! Now, for us, chapter 2 is not that big of a deal. We trust that the Book of Galatians was inspired by the Holy Spirit and is part of the Bible. However, put yourself in the Galatians shoes. They receive this letter from this man named Paul. He basically rips them apart verbally. If you were a Galatian, would you not be asking the same question “Who gives Paul this authority?” Well, Paul basically answers this question in Galatians 2:1-10:
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 I might be running, or had run, in vain. But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 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. They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.
Before we discuss the above passage, let me ask you a question from that last verse “Are you remembering the poor?” That is a great question for us to ponder! Paul already proclaimed several times in chapter 1 where his true authority had come – Jesus Christ. Now, he states that the leaders of the 1st century church also gave him authority “…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.” Paul told the leaders of the early church the Gospel he had been preaching for 14 years, and the pillars of the church, James, Cephas (Peter), and John said keep preaching! Now, if you are a 1st century Galatian reading Paul’s words, and you hear the names, James (Jesus’ half-brother), Cephas (the head Apostle), and John (“the disciple Jesus loved”), you are pretty impressed! This definitely gives Paul some weight behind his authority (although Paul was unimpressed with their high reputation in verse 6). But I don’t want you to miss the most important thing in this passage.
Look at verses 4 and 5 “But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.” Paul explains that false brethren were secretly brought in and tried to speak against their liberty in Christ Jesus. This is what the Book of Galatians is all about – Christian liberty! Now, we will really begin to flesh this out when we hit chapter 3. False brethren were preaching circumcision as a requirement for salvation. They were adding something to the Gospel. Let me ask you this question: “As a believer in Jesus Christ, does your life reflect a life of bondage or a life of liberty?” Answer that truthfully. Now, liberty doesn’t give you the freedom to sin (cf. 5:13)! True liberty always brings you back to Jesus! I will end with Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” As we progress through Galatians, we will see Paul expositing this point. See you next week!