Gospel Of Grace Is Approved Series

GALATIANS # 2

We saw last week how Paul was surprised how fast the Galatians left his teaching when a new false teacher came. So Paul starts showing them that his message came from God and not man. This week he will farther show that his words are the right ones.

1. Gospel of Grace Is Approved by Jerusalem Leadership 2:1 10

1. Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,

taking Titus along also.

2 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.

3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be

circumcised.

4 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.

5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the

gospel would remain with you.

6 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.

7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the

uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised

8(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised

effectually worked 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.

In Acts 15 we find this account that Paul is speaking about. The judaizers had come to Antioch to try to intertwine the Jewish religion with Christianity. So Paul and some of the others had to go to Jerusalem were the Apostles were and settle the matter, which they did.

ACTS 15:1 2

1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

So Paul met with them and explained what he was teaching and they saw it was good and this is their answer.

ACTS 15:22 32

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

23 and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

24 "Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,

25 it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 men who have risked their lives for the nairne of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 "Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.

28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell."

30 So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.

Paul has just shown them that if the apostles could find no wrong with him, so how could they.

II. Gospel of Grace Is Vindicated by Rebuking Peter 2:11 21

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood

condemned.

12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles;