Salvation Without The Law
Galatians 2:1-10
Intro. -
Some state statutes at DMV.ORG …
1) Tennessee, for example, has a law that bans shooting game, other than whales, from moving vehicles. Apparently, this law was authored during an unusually high tide or after too many dizzying spins on a Tilt-a-Whirl at Dollyworld. Chances
of any whale finding its way into Tennessee via the Cumberland River are about as likely as snow at the equator.
2) Alabama
* It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
* It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street as long as a lantern is attached to the front of your car.
* Driving barefoot is illegal.
3) Alaska
* It is illegal to tie a dog to the roof of your car.
4) Arkansas
* It is illegal for a person to blare the horn on a vehicle at any place where cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9 p.m.
5) California
* Any woman dressed in a housecoat is prohibited from driving a car.
* It is illegal in San Francisco to buff or dry your car with used underwear.
* No unoccupied vehicle may exceed 60 miles per hour.
6) Georgia
* In Marietta, Georgia, it is illegal to spit from a moving car or bus, but is okay from a moving truck.
7) Illinois
* In Evanston, Illinois, it is unlawful to change clothes while inside a car with the curtains drawn, except during a fire.
8) Kentucky
* If you stop for ice cream while driving, be aware that it is considered unlawful to transport an ice cream cone in your back pocket.
9) Massachusetts
* You will be ticketed if you drive with a gorilla in the backseat of your car.
10) Minnesota
* It is illegal to cross state lines, regardless if you are walking or driving, with a duck on your head. And, if you’re crossing into Wisconsin, the law also applies to chickens.
* You cannot ride a motorcycle without a shirt.
11) Nevada
* It is illegal to drive a camel on the highway.
12) North Carolina
* In Dunn, North Carolina, it is illegal to drive on a sidewalk.
12) Ohio
* In Oxford, Ohio, authorities will ticket you if you consecutively drive around the town square more than 100 times.
13) Oklahoma
* It is considered illegal to read a comic book while driving.
14) Oregon
* It is illegal to pump your own gas.
15) West Virginia
* It is perfectly legal, for road maintenance purposes, to scavenge road kill.
http://www.dmv.org/fun-stuff/bizarre-driving-laws.php
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* Outrageous laws, aren’t they?
* Some were relevant to the times in which they were written.
* We would be very resistant to anyone attempting to force many of those laws upon us.
* In Paul’s day, there was a group that took pleasure in forcing irrelevant laws upon Christians.
* It made no sense to Paul to force the Mosaic law on a Christian.
* Jesus had changed the heart of those who had received Him,… there was no need to place the bondage of the law upon them.
I. Paul’s friends v. 1-3
A. Gentile – Titus
* uncircumcised Gentile believer
* he was a test case
* His conversion stood as evidence that one could be saved apart from the works of the law
* BKC – "To impose circumcision on Titus would be to deny that salvation was by faith alone and to affirm that in addition to faith there must be obedience to the Law for acceptance before God"
* Paul did not yield for a moment!
Act 15:1-10 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (2) When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (3) And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. (4) And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. (5) But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. (6) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (7) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
* When it comes to adding to or taking away from the Gospel - we are not to budge an inch!
B. Jew – Barnabas
* Barnabas was a Jewish believer
* interpreted means- "son of encouragement"
* "put courage into"
* Why was Barnabas Paul’s friend?
Act 9:26-31 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. (27) But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (28) And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. (29) And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. (30) Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. (31) Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Act 11:19-30 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (20) And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. (21) And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (22) Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. (23) Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (24) For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (25) Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: (26) And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (27) And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. (28) And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (29) Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: (30) Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
* He was a trusted friend and companion.
II. Paul’s opponents v. 4-5
* Not only did Paul have great and close friends, he had hateful and real enemies.
* not deluded Christians
* not misinformed Christians
* "false brethren " – NEB = "sham Christians"
* "bogus believers"
* means lit. = "pretended associate"
* Not weak brothers but false brethren.
A. Their methods v. 4a
* "unawares brought in" - lit. = sneaked in alongside
* "privily" – like a stealth aircraft that comes in undetected by radar
* "spy out" – lit. "to inspect insidiously or subtly"
* NIV – "infiltrated"
* Methods were not open and public, but undercover type operations.
* Their methods were hypocritical.
* They pretended to be sheep, when in reality they were wolves.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
* They were one thing on the outside and something different on the inside.
B. Their purpose v. 4b
* "that they might bring us into bondage"
* To bring believers into bondage, was their purpose.
- to disturb and upset believers
- to make believers less effective
- to make them guilt-ridden and self-conscious instead of God-conscious.
* They had succeeded, at least to some degree.
Gal 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
* "trouble" – means to stir or agitate (idea is mentally and spiritually upset)
* This was not an attack on the body of Gentiles to have them circumcised, this was an attack on the very heart of the gospel!
- in essence they were saying that Jesus is not enough for salvation!
- that it takes more than the cross for salvation
* Paul makes the point that Christianity does not need to be mixed with Judaism.
C. Paul’s response v. 5
* "We didn’t give in"
* We didn’t require or persuade Titus to be circumcised.
* We did not submit to this at all
* We didn’t yield even for the shortest period of time
* We did not waver in our opposition to their demands
Barnes = "Paul means, in the whole passage, to say, that a great principle was settled. That the question came up fairly whether the Mosaic rites were to be imposed upon Gentile converts. That false brethren were introduced who demanded it; and that he steadily maintained his ground. He did not yield a moment. He felt that a great principle was involved; and though on all proper occasions he was willing to yield and to become all things to all men, yet here he did not court them, or temporize with them in the least. The phrase “by subjection” here means, that he did not suffer himself to be compelled to yield. The phrase “for an hour” is equivalent to the shortest period of time. He did not waver, or yield at all.
* What was of utmost importance to Paul was the preservation of the TRUTH of the gospel. (v. 5b)
III. Paul’s ministry v. 6-10
A. Unique calling v. 6-7, 9b
* Just as Peter was called to the circumcised, so Paul was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised.
* Paul had a unique call to the Gentiles.
* Peter was most effective with the Jews,…Paul was most effective with the Gentiles.
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Rom 15:15-16 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, (16) That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
* The majority of Paul’s ministry was with the Gentiles.
* Paul could touch their lives and reach them like none of the other Apostles could.
* Each of us can reach different people. (We are more effective with certain groups of people)
* Illus. - Charles Colson has effective ministry with prisoners.
* Paul and Peter had the same message, but they differed in whom that message went to.
* Everyone can’t do everything! We have different gifts. Use them for God’s glory
B. Effective power v. 8
* Paul’s ministry was one of power,… power of the Holy Spirit
* Paul is speaking of God’s inner working in his life.
* HS gave Paul extraordinary gifts,… worked miracles through Paul’s hands.
* Peter -
- curing the man that was lame from his birth,
- striking Ananias and Sapphira dead for telling lies,
- and raising Dorcas from the dead,
- miracles of healing by the imposition of his hands;
- conversion of a large number of souls, 3,000 by one sermon.
* Paul –
- striking blind Elymas the sorcerer,
- healing the cripple at Lystra,
- raising Eutychus from the dead,
- with many other signs and wonders wrought by him among the Gentiles
- Gospel preached by him led to the conversion of multitudes,
* Lives were changed by the preaching of both Peter and Paul.
C. Apostolic endorsement v. 9
* Equal acceptance of Paul and Peter’s ministry.
* "right hand" was a token of a covenant or agreement between them
- they took them, as it were, into partnership with them,
- they admitted them as apostles into their society
- they were giving their full consent to the ministry of Paul.
* Robertson’s Word Pictures – "these five men shook hands as equals in the work of Christ’s Kingdom."
Lessons For Life
1) Even the godliest of men will have their enemies.
* It’s not possible for us to live committed lives to Jesus Christ and not have enemies
* Paul had his.
- He was hated for the message of salvation that he preached.
* You will be persecuted and hated for His name’s sake, if you live and declare the truth. Why?
John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
* Joseph had his enemies
* Daniel had his enemies
* Even Jesus had his enemies and He was a perfect man.
* Some things are worth fighting for,… the purity of the gospel is one of them.
* Paul took a stand against those that wanted to pervert the gospel,… against those who wanted to change it or water it down.
2) Even the strongest of Christians need the support of others.
* v. 1 – You don’t see Paul as the lone ranger!
* Early in Paul’s Christian life Barnabas took Paul in and supported him when no one else would.
* He believed in Paul,…encouraged Paul
* He took a risk, no one else was willing to take.
* He was demonstrating true Christian love.
* When others were doubting Paul, Barnabas was standing with him.
* We really do need each other.
* We need to encourage (put courage into) one another, and so much the more as the end approaches
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
3) Even the strictest obedience to the law is not enough for salvation.
* Obedience to the law cannot save a person.
* Living in obedience to God is not what gets you into heaven.
* We all are guilty of breaking at least one the ten commandments and therefore guilty of all.
Jas 2:10-11 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
* Jesus Christ alone is our only hope of salvation.
* Not Jesus plus …
- keeping the law
- doing the best you can
- living a good life
- being baptized and going to church regularly
Hymn – On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my Hope and Stay
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne. throne
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