Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10
Sermon Series: Galatians – Set Free, Live Free – Sermon 04
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last! Those words were spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the 1963 March on Washington for Civil Rights. King’s words conveyed something besides freedom’s joy. They alluded to a long hard struggle for freedom. Slavery’s history in America teaches us that proclaiming freedom and possessing freedom can be two very different things. Freedom isn’t easily gained, once gained, it can be easily lost.
The book of Galatians is about freedom, freedom from humanity’s worst slave master – sin. Freedom in Christ was the Apostle Paul’s great concern as he wrote Galatians. This book is known as the Magna Carta of Christianity.
Paul knew how precious spiritual freedom is. He knew the high price Jesus paid to gain it for us and how easy it is to lose and return to spiritual slavery.
We’re continuing our study of the book of Galatians. Some were seeking to enslave again these young Christians. Like Martin Luther King Jr., Paul is crying out for True Freedom, gospel freedom. Please turn to Galatians 2:1-10 (913). “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
Paul has greater urgency than Dr. King had. What’s at stake is not just human freedom but spiritual freedom. What’s at stake is the gospel and grace and eternity in heaven. This is huge!
There were Jews, known as Judaizers, who taught the cross wasn’t enough. It was Jesus plus. It was the gospel plus. It was a lie from the pit of hell.
Paul goes to battle for the gospel. What he’s fighting for is not just truth, it’s THE truth, True Freedom, the only real freedom. There’s only one Christ, one truth and one gospel. It’s not enough to share the gospel or to preach the gospel. The gospel must be defended. But it’s not easy to defend God’s truth in an age of lies. You’ll be ridiculed. You’ll be attacked. We humans don’t want to be told that we can’t earn or work our way to heaven. In a world of options, we don’t want to be told there’s only one way of salvation. It’s why the church is under great pressure to soften and compromise its message.
If we have no gospel, we have no message, no hope, no salvation. Salvation only comes by His death and resurrection. We must not let anyone subtract or add anything to His cross. We can’t, eternity hangs in the balance. With Martin Luther, we say, We can stand the loss of our possessions, our name, our life, and everything else; but we will not let ourselves be deprived of the Gospel, our faith and Jesus.
We weren’t born free; we were born slaves to our sin. Because of Christ’s cross, we can be born-again free. Have you been born-again free?
We need to read this section with great fear and gratitude. It takes us to a meeting in Jerusalem where our hero for the faith, Paul, lays it all on the line.
Have you ever heard of The Great Schism? It took place in 1054 when the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church formally split. It was a result of disagreements over papal authority and other theological differences.
Paul goes to Jerusalem to prevent a Great Schism over the gospel, a division between Gentiles and Jews over Old Testament Law. In these verses Paul unpacks that his message is Christ’s gospel. It’s independent of even the disciples and Jerusalem’s pillars. He didn’t get his gospel from Peter, the arch-apostle. It’s Jesus’ message. So, if you’re taking notes…
1. The gospel is the MAIN thing, vss. 1-3.
Recently, I finished a biography of William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was a British politician who was elected to Parliament in 1780. Five years later, because of the witness of evangelicals in Britain, he came to Christ. He was a friend of John Newton’s who wrote Amazing Grace.
The gospel always brings transformation. After coming to Christ, Wilberforce realized how evil slavery was. He committed the rest of his life to ending slavery in Great Britain. It was his lifelong focus. He died just three days after hearing of the passage of the act to abolish that devilish evil through Parliament was assured. For Wilberforce, ending slavery was the MAIN thing. For Paul, the gospel is the MAIN thing. It must be the main thing for us.
We’re not sure when Paul went up to Jerusalem. There are five recorded visits of Paul to Jerusalem in the book of Acts. None of them clearly fit Galatians 2. With the mention of a revelation and the reference to caring for the poor, I tend to think it connects with Acts 11:27-30 when the prophet, Agabus, received a revelation from the Spirit and prophesied of a severe famine that would occur during the reign of Claudius. It would affect the entire world, particularly the poor in Jerusalem. So, the church in Antioch sent aid to the struggling churches. Paul, along with Barnabas, delivered the collection, demonstrating the early church’s commitment to care for the poor.
If you have a church background, then you know churches can be involved in lots of activities. Some organize food drives, clothing donations, and provide shelter for the homeless. They’ll participate in community clean ups, community gardens or host support groups and addiction programs.
None of those are bad or wrong, but they can’t be our main thing. We do some of those things, but we do it to be able to share the gospel and build gospel bridges. They are a means to an end. They’re not the end. Like Paul, the gospel must be the main thing.
For example, last year we encouraged you to make cookies to take to a neighbor to give you an opportunity to meet your neighbor or strengthen your relationship with them. We want to help you know your neighbor so that when God opens the doors, you can share Jesus with them. Paul’s purpose for going to Jerusalem is to strengthen the foundation of the gospel.
What’s the big deal about circumcision? In America, more than 80% of men are circumcised. For the most part, this has nothing to do with religion but is a health issue. But for a first century Jew, it meant everything. First, it was commanded in the Old Testament. It was a mark of the covenant. It reminded an obedient Jew, that his body wasn’t his own and he should honor God with all the parts of his body. Second, circumcision was a physical sign that a man belonged to God—body, soul and spirit. The Apostle Paul was circumcised. Before his salvation, as a Pharisee, he’d taught that a person must be circumcised to be a Jew.
With that in mind, it’s easy to understand why Jewish believers thought Gentile converts must be circumcised. The Judaizers added to this belief, demanding that Gentile believers be circumcised or they wouldn’t be saved. They made obeying the Law a salvation issue, adding to the gospel.
As a New Testament believer, not a Jewish pharisee, Paul stated the gospel clearly in Galatians 6:14-15, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” The only thing that mattered was the cross so sinners could be saved through Christ. If you want to be circumcised, fine. If not, that’s fine. It’s not the gospel and has nothing to do with salvation.
Why is the affirmation of the Apostles so important?Paul had no question about the gospel. Nothing threatened Paul’s certainty, but this threatened his fruitfulness. If the Apostles didn’t confirm his message and renounce the Judaizers, it’d split the early church between Old Testament law obeyers and those who believed in grace alone. Paul’s converts might abandon the gospel and return to the Law and a works salvation. It’s why Paul feared, I was not running or had not run in vain (Galatians 2:3).
Paul knew his message was revealed to him by God and therefore true. But this heresy would rattle new believers if he couldn’t disprove it. John Stott puts it this way: “It was one thing for the Jerusalem leaders to give their approval to the conversion of the Gentiles, but could they approve of commitment to the Messiah without inclusion in Judaism? Was their vision big enough to see the gospel of Christ not as a reform movement within Judaism but as good news for the whole world, and the church of Christ as the international family of God.”
What we need is a test case? It’s why Paul took Titus along. He was an uncircumcised Christ-following Gentile. Titus had experienced a gospel transformation and loved Jesus. He’s living proof of the power of the gospel.
Would they deny what they saw with their own eyes? Or. would the apostles agree with false teachers that Titus needed to be circumcised in order to be saved? Would they insist that Titus needed to trust Christ plus live according to the Law, like circumcision?
These Jerusalem leaders rose to the occasion. They saw the danger of adding to the gospel. Externalities have to do with our doing; internalities have to do with our being. Christianity is about who I am in Christ, not what I do for Him. The apostolic affirmation united the church and defanged the false teachers. The apostles affirm that The gospel is the MAIN thing.
2. Gospel perversion adds shackles to grace, vss. 4-6.
“Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you” (Galatians 2:4-5). Comedian Jay Leno conducted a “man-on-the-street” interview by asking random people to name one of the Ten Commandments. The most common response was something that’s not in the Ten Commandments, “God helps those who help themselves.”
That phrase, which is often used to emphasize a get-your-act-together approach to salvation, is frequently thought to be in the Bible but it’s not. The Bible teaches that God will only rescue those who first admit that they need rescuing because they’re helpless to save themselves.
These false teachers were destroying the freedom of the gospel by adding works or in this case, the Law to it. They slither in among God’s people and poison His truth of grace. J.B. Phillips translates this, who wormed their way into our meeting. One version calls them sham Christians.
Circumcision is no longer a hot topic for the church, but the deeper issue is still relevant. Ever since Paul’s time, the enemies of grace have been trying to add something to the gospel. They tell us you’re saved by faith in Christ plus something. There’s nothing to be added to the finished work of Christ. Jesus Christ has done everything that needs to be done for our salvation. If we try to add anything, it’s like taking an Olympic gold medal and having it bronzed.
The good news of the cross and empty tomb can’t be improved. God’s grace can only be destroyed with an eternal cost. Those who pervert the gospel are those who C.J. Mahaney defines as anyone who behaves as if they can earn God’s approval and forgiveness through personal performance. They emphasize rules over a relationship. They focus on Christian standards rather than Christ the Savior. It’s about the law instead of love.
When you don’t live in the freedom of the gospel, you continually feel like you’re a disappointment to God and not measuring up. And we don’t measure up. It’s why Jesus had to die. It’s why He went to the cross. It’s our only hope.
You’ll be anxious and insecure if you try to add something to the gospel in order to be accepted by God. It robs us of the freedom of the gospel, turning us into slaves. Whenever we look to anything other than Jesus’ cross for our acceptance before God, we’ve lost the gospel and believe a lie.
It’s not some obscure problem that Paul faced hundreds of years ago; it’s the problem we all face every day. Even we who believe in grace, think we still must do something for God’s approval. We can’t and never will. Anything good we do is because of God’s grace and His Spirit working through us.
Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, pastored in London during the last century. People often came to him with problems. He was very good at getting to the heart of their problems. Sometimes he’d ask them, “How do you know that you’re a Christian?” Do you know what they would answer many times? “I’m trying!” That set off alarm bells in his head. What they were saying is, “I think I’m a Christian because of Jesus plus my efforts.” They were trusting in something else other than the finished work of Christ for their salvation. They were making the very same blunder Paul is confronting. John Gerstner minces no words about gospel perversion: There is nothing that separates us from God more than our damnable good works.
If grace is free and salvation has been paid for, why would anyone pervert the gospel? Why would anyone try to work their way to God? We want to be in control of our own destiny. One of our core desires is to be in control, which includes our eternal destiny. Salvation by works appeals to pride and desire to be in control. Being saved by works appeals to that desire.
Then, we have an inherent sense of justice. Even the most ardent atheist believes in some type of justice and has a sense of right and wrong, even if he has no moral basis for making such judgments.
Our inherent sense of right and wrong demands that if we’re going to be saved, our “good works” must outweigh our “bad works.” When man creates a religion, it always involves some type of works for salvation. Salvation by works appeals to our sinful nature. Biblical Christianity is so different from all other religions. It’s the only religion that teaches salvation is a free gift from God and not by works. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Another reason salvation by works is the predominant view is that We don’t understand the extent of our own sinfulness. The human heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9) and God is infinitely holy (Isaiah 6:3). The deceit in our hearts contaminates our perception, keeping us from seeing our sinful state before a God whose holiness we can’t comprehend. Our sinfulness and God’s holiness combine to make our best efforts like “filthy rags” before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6).
The idea that our good works could ever balance out our bad works is a totally unbiblical concept. Not only that, but the Bible also teaches that God’s standard is nothing less than 100% perfection. If we fail in keeping just one iota of God’s righteous law, we’re as guilty as if we had broken all of it.
James 2:10, For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. There’s no way anyone could be saved if salvation were in any way dependent on our works or morality. We’re all a hot mess.
This is very relevant to us. There are gospel perverters in the church today, teaching you can’t be saved unless you’re…baptized as a baby or an adult. I’ve been to funerals, and you probably have to, where the clergyman said, “We know that the dearly departed is going to one day be in the presence of God because they were baptized.”
Others pervert the gospel reasoning that giving money, serving or volunteering will get them into heaven. Some have made the gospel political. “No Christ-follower could be a member of that political party.” Or, you have to have gotten saved through the right version of Scripture. If you’ve never spoken in tongues, you’re not born-again. Or, if you don’t believe in social justice. The list goes on and on and on. They’re shackles keeping us from the free gift of grace. It’s very serious to tamper with the gospel.
Freedom talk is dangerous talk.The anxiety of these who slithered in to spy out Paul’s freedom in the gospel wasn’t irrational. Is it possible to tell people they’re free and forgiven and expect that their behavior will be godly and moral? Isn’t a little fear a good thing? No. We don’t try to live righteously out of fear. We live that way because we love God, the One who forgave us for all of our mess and the only One who can.
For the love of Christ controls us… (2 Corinthians 5:14). We know this experientially in our own fallen humanity. What parent wouldn’t in love die for their child? When we see the infinite love of God for us, how can we blow that love off? It’s that gospel love that bring us back to the cross with “Father, I blew it again. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me again and again.”
For some the word freedom is the idea that we can do whatever we want. No one restricts us. We have complete freedom in what we see, hear, or say.
This version of freedom is paralyzing and destructive. There’s a superior version of freedom that the gospel gives.
Here’s how John Ortberg explains it. “Think of freedom coming in two flavors, two kinds of freedom. There is freedom from external constraints, somebody telling me what to do. This is freedom from. But there is another kind of freedom that might be called freedom for. There’s the freedom for living the kind of life I was made to live, freedom for becoming that man I most want to be — freedom for.” This is the case Paul is building in Galatians; that we should use our freedom to fly into a life of love and goodness with God.
3. The gospel brings unity in diversity for the mission, vss. 7-9.
Paul’s contacts in Jerusalem may have been few and interchanges brief. One thing is clear: the leaders of Jerusalem endorsed his gospel. Paul is using both sides of the argument to support the gospel.
He’d argued earlier that the source of his gospel was a revelation from Jesus Christ, and he needed no endorsement. Now he points out that his message is endorsed by the pillars in Jerusalem. He’s protecting both sides of the gospel.
All of us have had people encourage and affirm us. Enter Peter, James and John into Paul’s life. These spiritual pillars made Paul realize that he wasn’t only needed, he was wanted. They encouraged him in his ministry.
Who have you done that for? Who have you encouraged? Between Peter, James and John, they wrote seven of the books of the New Testament. If we include Paul’s writings, we have twenty New Testament books. It was a great conference. These gospel leaders gave their total support to Paul and Barnabus. They realized Paul had a distinctive contribution with his ministry to the Gentiles. They accepted him and put him on the same plane as Peter. They encouraged and urged Paul to press on with his unique ministry.
With the gospel we accept anyone and everyone who is “in Christ Jesus” regardless of their cultural, ethnic background or mission focus. As American Christians we have more in common with Christ-followers living in Sudan than with a non-believer who lives down the street. Christian unity takes no account of cultural distinctives and is never dependent on cultural similarity.
The “right hand of fellowship” wasn’t just friendship. It’s unity. It’s a partnership. While we may not dot our i’s the same, we must have unity with all who trust the gospel. Fellowship with Christ is a sufficient basis for fellowship with each other. We must never exclude someone God includes. John Wesley is reported to have said, If your heart be as my heart, give me your hand. That was the spirit shown by these leaders to Paul.
Fellowship isn’t just nice; it’s a necessity. I need you and you need me. You can’t experience fellowship watching church on television or on your computer. If you don’t believe me, try to hug your TV.
4. Proof that the gospel has transformed our lives is care for the disenfranchised, vs. 10.
Philip Yancey shares this story: “I recently heard from a friend who visited a barrio in São Paulo, Brazil. He grew nervous as he noticed the foot soldiers of drug lords standing guard holding automatic weapons. They were glowering at him, a gringo invading their turf. “Then the chief drug lord of that neighborhood noticed my T-shirt, which had the logo of a local Pentecostal church. He broke out with a big smile: ‘O, evangelicos!’ he called out, giving us hugs. Over the years, that church had cared for the children of the barrio, and now we were joyfully welcomed.”
Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do (Galatians 2:10). Proof of a transformed life is caring for those who can give nothing in return. It’s what Jesus did for us. We had nothing that we could give for our salvation. He gave it all in love for us.
In the Bible, there’s a common theme – care for the disenfranchised. There are over 300 verses in the Bible about caring for the poor. Sometimes it’s just speaking for those who can’t speak for themselves.
It’s not always money or soup kitchens. Often, it’s speaking out for justice. I met with a Christian lawyer last week. One of the great injustices of our day is that low-income people often go to jail because they can’t afford an attorney.
The disenfranchised are the elderly who may not be able to care for themselves. Have you ever seen a senior citizen at a grocery store and they have difficulty putting their groceries in their car because of limited mobility?
Recently, I helped an elderly woman who was trying to handle a 25 lb. ice bag. That’s what we’re supposed to do. It means that we have our eyes open. It means we take the time. True faith is proven through acts of mercy. Giving to those who can give nothing in return is evidence of a gospel transformed heart and Paul was “eager” to do it. Are we?
Todd Wilson censures us as he writes: “This is the tragedy of conservative Christianity in the last century. Evangelicals have remembered the gospel but forgotten the poor…The tragedy of liberal Christianity, on the other hand, is that it has remembered the poor but forgotten the gospel.” And we must never forget that their greatest need is the poverty of their souls. If we feed their stomachs, yet never share the gospel, we’ve failed. A kind attitude toward the poor is proof that the gospel has transformed our hearts.
Conclusion
Paul won his fight for gospel freedom, yet the fight for freedom in Christ won’t end until Jesus returns to make us free forever. This morning, are you free? Have you accepted the gospel? Christ’s sacrifice for your sin?
Galatians 2;1-10 is Paul’s story of presenting the free gospel to the apostles. They stood with him, recognizing the gospel of free grace from Christ.
We have a similar decision. Our defending the gospel won’t alter church history but will greatly influences those around us.
Will we think of acceptance by God as something we can earn through good works? If so, we’ve destroyed the gospel. Will we allow ourselves to come under human controls that tell us we must add some behavior to the gospel to be approved by God? If so, we’ve destroyed the gospel.
Instead, we must accept this unearnable, freeing gospel message just like Paul did, just like the apostles did. Have you done that?
Some years ago, Ben and I went to Charlotte to see Tony Stewart inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. While in Charlotte, we visited the Billy Graham Library. In the last room in the Billy Graham Library tour, they show Billy at one of his many crusades preaching the gospel to a massive crowd. He shares the gospel—grounding this truth in the death and resurrection of Jesus which gives every person the opportunity for redemption and eternal life through faith. What more fitting place to end could there be?
It’s a journey through the life of a man committed to sharing the gospel and you end by listening to him share the gospel. It makes you wonder, how many have come to Christ in a venue like that, by visiting the Library and listening to Graham preach? What we do know for certain, is that God knows.
The freedom of the gospel is that Jesus defeated sin on the cross and conquered death in His resurrection. One act provides forgiveness, and the latter promises eternal life, but only through faith. Every person is a sinner punishable by death (eternal separation from God) which is his or her just punishment for rejecting Christ. However, God has chosen not to let people live in that state. Because of His great love for us, He sent Jesus to die for our sin so we can have a relationship with a holy God.
The final step of the gospel always requires a response. God has provided the way. He’s extended an invitation. But you must reach out and accept the gift of salvation known as grace. You must confess your sin, ask for His forgiveness, believe in the person and work of Jesus, who saves us, and make Him Lord of your life. When a person gives their life to Christ, that life is instantly changed. It’s a life that will never be the same.
My friend, do you know Him? He’s calling you today, He’s calling you to commit your life to Him and believe in Him today? Will you do that? Will you believe it? Maybe it would help you to form your words into a prayer? Even while I encourage you to pray this prayer, I caution you that saying words alone won’t save you. Prayer doesn’t save. Only Christ can save. Prayer can be a means of reaching out to the Lord in saving faith. If you pray these words in faith, Jesus Christ will save you. You can be sure of that.
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door of my life when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I’m ready to trust You as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you’re the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.
We’re going to keep that prayer up on the slide. You can ask for God’s salvation and forgiveness right now, right where you are.