Galatians 2
Randy ®
Theme: Salvation is by grace, not works.
1. Because God said so (1-2)
B. This message did not come from man (1:11 - 2)
By refusing to circumcise Titus (1-5), giving Paul the right
hand of fellowship (6-10), and receiving correction from Paul
(11-21), the other apostles confirm the gospel of salvation by
grace, through faith, apart from works, comes from God, not
man.
They refused to circumcise Titus (1-5). Paul took Titus, an
uncircumcised Greek, to Jerusalem with him. Not only did the
other apostles (whom the Judaizers apparently set up as the
authority for their false gospel) not circumcise Titus, but
they and Paul refused to circumcise him when some false
brethren insisted on it.
They gave Paul the right hand of fellowship (6-10). Far from
teaching a gospel which adds human merit as a term for
salvation, the apostles endorsed Paul's ministry to the
Gentiles as being equal to Peter's ministry to the Jews.
They received correction from Paul (11-21). The OT law
forbids Jews to eat certain kinds of food (Lev. 11:20-25; cf.
John 4:9, 27). In Acts 10:10-16, Peter received a vision from
God, in which he was instructed he could now eat this food.
This was symbolic of the fact that God had opened the door of
salvation to the Gentiles. From that time, Peter ate with
Gentiles (cf. Acts 10:17 - 11:19). When certain men came from
James, however, Peter withdrew himself from the Gentiles,
causing dissension among the other apostles as well. Paul,
however, confronted Peter over the matter, reminding him that
all believers are justified by faith in Christ, not keeping
the OT law (Gal. 2:15-21).
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Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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