The Way - Day 047 (Galatians 2)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Galatians 2
Paul then recounts his return visit back to Jerusalem fourteen years after he had made his first visit. He took Barnabas and Titus with him on this visit to Jerusalem and the details are given in Acts 15:1-22. Paul, as well as the other apostles, stand before the Jerusalem Council to discuss the issue of salvation. It appears that some of the Jews were trying to add circumcision as a prerequisite for salvation. The apostles stood firmly against this belief and concluded that salvation is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Now, the false teachers within the churches of Galatia were again trying to oppose the true message of the gospel and establish certain prerequisites in order to be saved. Paul wanted his readers to know that the gospel he preached was the same gospel of the church in Jerusalem and this message was directly from God, not man (2:2-5). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit who worked in Peter to preach the gospel to the Jews was the same Spirit which worked in Paul to preach salvation to the Gentiles (2:6-8). The only difference between Paul and Peter was that they spoke the gospel to distinct groups of people, but the message of the gospel was still the same. Peter, James, and John (the main leaders in the church at Jerusalem) detected the spirit of grace within Paul and the "right hand of fellowship" which was a sign of partnership (2:9-10) was given to him. The gospel has not changed since the time of the first sin of Adam and Eve. Salvation has been promised to be given by grace through faith. Although Jesus Christ had not yet died during the times of the Old Testament, by faith they looked forward to the One whom God had promised to save them from sin. We now are able to look back and put together God's plan from the beginning and salvation is still by grace through faith. Paul wrote to defend the purity of the gospel and guard it from those who attempted to distort its' message. We also should stand up for the gospel!

In the previous passage (2:1-10) Paul recounted some history of his life as well as the beginnings of his interactions with the leaders in the Jerusalem church. He continues remembering some of the things which happened in the past, especially relating to his experience with the false teachers of Judaism. In verse 11 he begins to unfold an instance where Paul had a confrontation with Peter because of his association with these false teachers (2:11). Peter had been in Antioch and often fellowshipped with with Gentiles, but "certain men came from James" who had apparently lied about their beliefs in order to spy on Peter. These men were Judaizers and when they came to Peter, he withdrew himself from the Gentiles because he "feared those who were of the circumcision." Although he had given up following the Mosaic law, Peter feared what these Judaizers would think of him and his belief in the gospel of grace. Unfortunately, Peter confused many of the Jewish believers in Antioch and they to were led astray with Peter's sudden fellowship with these false teachers of legalism (2:13). Paul writes about his defense against the actions of Peter by clearly communicating the gospel of grace. Paul says "a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ...by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Paul was standing for the true gospel which only comes through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. Christ had abolished the dietary restrictions associated with the Old Testament law and classified all people, Jew or Gentile, who believed by faith to be a part of His family. In essence, Paul was exposing Peter's actions as deceiving because even Jesus Christ did not adhere to the Mosaic law (2:17-18). On the basis of Paul's words, he has "been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." When salvation takes place, the old man dies (sinful flesh) and the new man is born again being indwelt by the spirit of Christ who enables the new man to live through Him. Anyone who believes that righteousness comes through the law causes Christ's death to be unnecessary.

Dear God, I thank You that Jesus' death declared me righteous and that His work on the cross is made available to anyone who will repent of their sins and have faith in His sacrifice!