Legalism Is Sin & Slavery (Galatians 2)

Paul was directly taught by the resurrected Jesus, but was not a rebel. He cooperated with the Apostles before him. Was the commandment to be circumcised still valid in the flesh, that is, in the letter of the law? Is there a spiritual application of the law of circumcision? Are works of the law and good works of obedience to Christ different things? Does the law define true righteousness? Let’s find out in Galatians 2.

Where did Paul go to double check his teachings about the law and the Gospel?

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. (Galatians 2:1 ESV)

Did God inspire this journey? Why did he confine his conversation to church leadership?

I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. (Galatians 2:2 HCSB)

Was the commandment to be circumcised still valid in the flesh, that is, in the letter of the law?

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: (Galatians 2:3 KJV)

Is there a spiritual application of the law?

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. (Colossians 2:11 NLT cf. Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4)

Did false brethren want to enslave Christians?

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. (Galatians 2:4 NASB)

Did Paul give in to these legalists?

We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Galatians 2:5 NIV)

Was Paul impressed by titles or positions in the church?

But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. (Galatians 2:6 NKJV)

Were there different targets in their outreach ministry?

Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles. (Galatians 2:7-8 NLT)

Did they accept them as coworkers?

and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. (Galatians 2:9 WEB)

Was there a reminder of something important? Is this far less quibbling over minutia than some Christian discussions?

They asked only that we would remember the poor, which was certainly something I was willing to do. (Galatians 2:10 CEB)

Was Peter corrected on a point?

When Peter came to Antioch, I told him face to face that he was wrong. He used to eat with Gentile followers of the Lord, until James sent some Jewish followers. Peter was afraid of the Jews and soon stopped eating with Gentiles. He and the others hid their true feelings so well that even Barnabas was fooled. (Galatians 2:11-13 CEV)

Jesus told us to go to our brother alone when correcting a major fault, but are elders in a very different position? Are elders to be publicly corrected? Why?

But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. (1 Timothy 5:20 NIV)

What was Paul’s specific correction of Peter?

But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:14 HCSB)

What specific point was Paul leading up to? How are we justified? Are works of the law and good works of obedience to Christ different things?

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:15-16 KJV)

Does that mean that we can freely sin?