THE TITUS TEST
TEXT:
Galatians 2:1-10
I. PAUL’S JERUSALEM JOURNEY (v. 1-2)
A. PAUL WAS NOT A FREQUENT VISITOR TO JERUSALEM
1. His first visit as a Christian was 3 years after he was saved.
2. It was 14 years later, before Paul went to Jerusalem again.
3. Paul did not get the gospel from Jerusalem.
4. Since he did not receive the gospel from Jerusalem, he did not need Jerusalem to interpret the gospel for him.
5. This is important to note, and I’ll show you why…
B. PAUL HAD A PROBLEM WITH JUDAIZERS
1. Acts 15:1 tells us that Judaizers were following Paul around and teaching that the Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved.
2. Acts 15:2 tells us that Paul and Barnabas had a huge debate with the Judaizers over this issue.
3. The Judaizers claimed that Paul was preaching a distorted human version of the gospel.
4. They claimed that Paul had received the gospel at Jerusalem but had misunderstand it and distorted it.
5. With such accusations, can you see why it was important for Paul to establish where he received the gospel?
6. Paul did not even receive the gospel from Jerusalem, much less distort the gospel from Jerusalem!
C. GOD TOLD PAUL TO GO TO JERUSALEM
1. Notice in Galatians 2:2 that Paul says he “went in response to a revelation…”
2. Evidently, the Judaizers claimed that they had sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem in order to get their doctrine corrected.
3. They probably said something to the effect of, “We straightened out Ol’ Paul and Barnabas. We sent them back to Jerusalem so they can get it right this time.”
4. But the Scriptures tell us that Paul didn’t need to be corrected.
5. Both the book of Acts and the book of Galatians make it clear that Paul and Barnabas were directed by the Spirit to go.
6. Acts says they were “sent on their way by the church” at Antioch
7. Paul says he went “in response to a revelation.”
8. At first, Paul may have been reluctant to go to Jerusalem, but God revealed to him that HE wanted him to go.
9. Obviously, the Holy Spirit spoke both to the leaders of the Antioch church and to Paul about this assignment.
10. In any case, it was not the Judaizers but God who told Paul to go.
II. PAUL’S TITUS TEST
"3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek." (NIV)
A. PAUL TOOK TITUS TO PROVE A POINT TO THE JUDAIZERS
1. Titus was an uncircumcised Gentile.
2. Titus was exactly what the Judaizers were referring to.
3. They claimed that Titus could not be saved without circumcision.
4. But, the Jerusalem Council did not demand this of him.
5. Even though he was a Gentile, they recognized him as a Christian.
B. THE IMPORTANCE OF CIRCUMCISION TO THE JEWS
1. For the Hebrews, circumcision was a sign of covenant with God.
2. God had commanded the O.T. Jews to be circumcised.
3. God had given it to Moses as a requirement of the O.T. law.
4. Now, Judaizers said, “Unless you are circumcised you can’t be saved.”
5. But, Titus was living proof that the Judaizers were wrong.
6. Paul emphasizes this fact.
7. Titus was allowed to leave Jerusalem just as he had entered.
8. He came uncircumcised and left uncircumcised with the full blessing of the Jerusalem apostles.
9. If they didn’t circumcise him in Jerusalem, then why should he be circumcised in Galatia or anywhere else?
C. TITUS WAS LIVING PROOF
1. The fact that Titus was not forced to be circumcised was proof that the Judaizers’ doctrine was different from the apostles’ doctrine.
2. Titus was walking, living proof that the apostles at Jerusalem held the same beliefs as Paul.
3. Titus was living proof that the Judaizers taught a different gospel.
4. This proved that the apostles gospel was a gospel of grace.
5. Titus was living proof that we are not saved by the rituals and traditions of men but by the cleansing blood of Christ who died on the cross to set us free.
III. PAUL’S BOGUS BROTHERS (v.4-5)
A. FALSE BRETHREN CAME ALONG TO CAUSE TROUBLE
1. Paul says this matter arose because (v.4)“…false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have...”
2. Some of the Judaizers came to Jerusalem to force the issue.
3. Paul used three words describing these men and their actions that are noteworthy.
B. THEY WERE FALSE BROTHERS
1. Paul called them false brothers - Gk. psuedo-adelphos
2. psuedo means fake or bogus
3. They were fake or bogus brothers in Christ.
C. THEY WERE INFILTRATORS
1. Paul said they had infiltrated his ranks – Gk. pareiserchomai
2. "para" means "with"
3. erchomai means to come in
4. The idea is of one slipping in with others.
5. Someone hiding with the crowd entering a building.
D. THEY WERE SPIES
1. Paul said they came to spy on them – Gk. Kataskopeo
2. kata mean against
3. skopeo means to look at critically - (skeptic)
4. Vine’s definition is - “to spy out with a view of overthrowing”
E. FALSE TEACHERS AND SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR
1. Evidently, these bogus brothers slipped among Paul’s companions.
2. They passed themselves off as fellow believers and brothers.
3. They attempted to spy out Paul’s actions with a view of overthrowing the gospel of grace.
4. Their actions demonstrated the connection between a false teaching and shameful behavior.
IV. PAUL’S APOSTOLIC ACCEPTANCE (v.6-10)
A. THOSE WHO SEEMED IMPORTANT HAD NOTHING TO ADD
1. (v.6) “As for those who seemed to be important… those men added nothing to my message.”
2. These men had tremendous authority and influence.
3. Between the men assembled at this council, they wrote 20 of the books of the New Testament.
4. This conference was a summit of the “pillars” of the church (v.9)
5. But, “those men added nothing” to Paul’s message.
6. There was no correction needed.
7. There were no changes to be made.
8. They accepted Paul and gave their full endorsement to Paul’s message.
B. THEY RECOGNIZED PAUL’S CONTRIBUTION
1. Paul said in (v. 7), “…they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles…”
2. They recognized Paul’s contribution to the cause of Christ.
3. Paul was gifted and anointed to minister to the Gentiles.
4. They only added their blessing to his ordination.
5. When the A/G gives a man credentials, we don’t “ordain” him.
6. We merely recognize that he is ordained by God for the ministry.
7. This is what the Jerusalem Council did for Paul.
8. They recognized that he was ordained by God for the ministry.
C. THREE AFFIRMATIONS WERE MADE AT THIS SUMMIT
1. They affirmed ONE GOSPEL – preached to Jews and Gentiles alike.
2. They affirmed TWO APOSTOLIC CALLINGS – Peter was called to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles.
3. They affirmed THREE PILLARS – Peter, James, and John were reputed to be pillars.
D. THE PILLARS ACCEPTED PAUL (v.9)
1. They “recognized the grace given” to Paul and accepted him as an equal.
2. They recognized his independent mission to the Gentiles.
3. They “gave (Paul) and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.”
4. Fellowship speaks of sharing and having all things in common.
5. This “right hand of fellowship” was a pledge to work together so that all men would be evangelized by the same gospel.
6. When these men shook hands as equals in the work of Christ, they brushed aside the troublemakers and established a new course for reaching the lost.
CONCLUSION:
A. TWO KEY THEMES OF GALATIANS 2:1-10
1. Widespread recognition of Paul’s gospel as the apostle’s gospel.
2. Increased unity in the church.
3. As a result of this summit, the apostles developed a practical division of labor for evangelizing the world.
4. But, there is more to this passage.
5. There is something underneath all of this.
6. There is an application for us here…
B. PAUL WAS A MAN WHO NEEDED ENCOURAGEMENT
1. Paul went to Jerusalem seeking encouragement.
2. He didn’t question his message.
3. He knew his message was from God.
4. He needed the encouragement and assistance of others.
5. He needed these fellow laborers to stand with him.
6. He needed their assistance in battling false accusations.
7. He was an encourager who needed to be encouraged.
C. WILL YOU ENCOURAGE AN ENCOURAGER
1. Who has strengthened you in your Christian walk?
2. Have you taken the time to thank and encourage them?
3. Was there someone who helped you and encouraged you during a tough time?
4. Have you taken the time to encourage an encourager?
INVITATION:
1. Perhaps you have had false teachers in your life like these Judaizers.
2. Perhaps they have confused you over the issues of salvation.
3. Is there one here this morning who has been troubled over the question of “WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?”
4. This is the gospel which Paul preached and which was accepted by all the apostles.
5. It is a gospel of salvation by grace through faith.
6. It is not a salvation by works, but salvation by the free gift of God.
7. For God so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son that if you believe on Him you will not perish but have everlasting life.
8. Have you put your trust in Christ to save you?
9. Would you like to do that right now?
