Don't Look Back!

Gal 2:11-21[1] 

20 June 2010, Rolling Hills Church 

 This section of Galatians chapter two that I am preaching on today is so critical to the theme of this book, and in the truth of the Scriptures, that I beg God for you to be able to concentrate and listen well today. So sit up, listen up, and look up. Get your pen out, turn your phone off, and get ready. This is serious time, and serious business. Let's devote a few minutes to listen, to think, to seek God, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Do you believe Christ saved you? Do you believe He has called you to much more than devotion – to die to yourself, and to live to and for only Him? This isn't simply turning your life around – this is laying your life down in faith in Christ! Good news? This is the same One who saved You, and He can change you! We better believe it; He can strengthen our faith.

I want to address two centers, two questions, and the central theme of the book, the one thing to rejoice in.

In the grand scheme of things, it may seem small to us that Peter and Paul were equals as apostles, as preachers of the gospel sent out by Jesus Christ to take the gospel to the nations. But to the churches made up of mostly Gentile believers in the cities of Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and Antioch of Pisidia, it was crucial. And truth be told, it IS crucial to us today; that's why God had this story recorded for us, and why we have this good gospel book of Galatians. So here is the message from this text today: Don't look back, don't rebuild; you are dead to all that. Rejoice in the righteousness you have by faith in Christ alone!

Gal 2:11-21

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;

16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!

18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.

19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Two centers of early church Christianity: Antioch and Jerusalem. Location is critical here to the background of this issue and of this confrontation.

Jerusalem was the early HQ of the Jewish branch of the Christian church. It was where the temple was, where David ruled, and where Judaism was centered literally for centuries before Jesus died and rose again there. It was where the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and began preaching Jesus as the Christ, the Lord and Savior. Many Jews converted to faith in Christ there in that great city and founded the church there. Many law-abiding Jews had come to faith in Christ there, and it had not been such an issue to emphatically divorce the law from faith in Christ; He was, after all, the fulfillment of the sacrifices given under the law, right?

Antioch of Syria was the early HQ of the Gentile branch of the Christian church. It was where

What united these two Christian churches is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not much else could bring these two cultures together. Jews arrogantly disdained the Gentiles as fodder for hell, lost sinners who deserved what they would get; Gentiles reveled in debauchery and idolatry, and disdained the foolish Jews, their morals, their law, and their God. Christ saved both of them, and made them one in Him.

There were many differences in these cultures, but Christ saved folks from both. Peter came from the Jerusalem/Jewish culture to visit and worship with the Antioch/Gentile culture, and he enjoyed good meals, fellowship, and life with them – until some Jewish guys from Jerusalem came down to visit. Then he pulled back from the Gentiles, and went back to a measure of Jewish ritual and separation. So…

How can one die to the law through the law? 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. Answer:

The law makes us aware of our sinfulness. One can be led to evidence of their need for God through the law. When we read the law and see that we have broken God's law – and when we believe that God's wrath is on everyone who has broken that law – we see our sinfulness. Let's just turn there and look at a couple of examples. Ex 20…

12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

Now have you ever once not honored your father?

Have you ever, even once, been angry enough to wish for someone's death?

Have you ever looked upon a man or a woman to lust after him or her?

Have you ever stolen one thing – in your entire life?

Paul had, and he had been led to believe that he could still be justified by doing works of the law, by zealous growth in knowledge, and by adding new ways to obey the law. But when He saw Christ, the gospel in the Scriptures suddenly became clear to him; only by faith in Christ, the one the law foreshadowed, could a man be made right with God. More on that in chapter three.

One cannot then be saved by keeping that law, for no one does it perfectly.

So the law proves that we are law breakers; and the law proves that we need a Savior from God's wrath! So Paul, having believed in Christ alone for justification, had died to any hope of being saved by keeping the law. The law points to our sin and death, and it points us to Christ and life as well. Thus, "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God." Now that we have that settled, let's ask another question that comes from v 11-14…

What is the big deal!? I mean, to rebuke a fellow apostle in front of everybody – that's huge. It IS gigantic, after all: the question in v. 17 proves it. "But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin?" But v. 14 already gave us the essence of the problem: "…their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel". The NAS said "they weren't being straightforward about the truth of the gospel". That's the big deal; the gospel is being perverted by their actions, specifically Peter's actions.

The big deal is perverting the gospel. This, of course, is the big deal in the whole book of Galatians. Either it's right and we believe Christ and are saved, or we are lost regardless of our faith. It is right, and we must believe the gospel and hold fast to it!

The big deal is the work of Christ and the place of the law. You see, looking back to the law, rebuilding what was proven faulty brings the work of Christ into question to the church AND to the world!

The big deal is the influence of Peter's leadership. Hypocrisy always hurts a church, but hypocrisy in its leadership is magnified through visibility and status, so it's negative influence is magnified. So Paul addressed it to his face, in public – as he later taught the church to do if necessary. 1 Tim 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. So this is why it was such a big deal, and still is today. Now let's look at what can be a tough question that Paul brings out with a sentence.

Peter looked back to Jerusalem, to Judaism. So Paul shook him with a stern, public rebuke. You see, Paul wanted all in step with the gospel. This is what Paul then emphasizes:

Grace comes through faith alone in Christ alone.

Paul was justified by faith, and Paul lived by faith. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is not only the model given, (testimonial writing, I, I, I), but the message given as well here! In the context of this book it is not just 'here's how I do it', but it is the very heart of the message; we have received Christ by faith and we must continue to depend on, believe in, live by, and follow Christ by faith. The law – being circumcised to identify with keeping the law – didn't save the Jews, it didn't save me, a very dedicated law-abiding Jew, and it won't save the Gentiles.

So the simple message is that Peter shouldn't look back, he shouldn't rebuild; neither should any Jew look to anything or anyone to save them but Christ, and His shed blood alone.

Thus the simple message to this Galatian group of churches is the theme of the book; we receive grace from God by faith alone in Christ alone, and not by any works of the law. So don't be swayed toward that; remain steadfast in your faith in Christ only!

Now what do we gain from this passage? It depends, on some questions we need to answer:

-       Do you believe that you will stand before God one day to be judged? You will; you're fooling yourself if you don't.

-       Do you believe anything you have done (or will do) can make you justified before this terrible, holy, loving God? If you think that you can escape His wrath by any other way than the shed blood of Christ being applied to your life, you are sadly, grievously mistaken. Your life answers this question, not your words.

-       Do you have any hope in any religious experience, feeling, ritual, or event to save you, or do you have a faith in Christ alone to save you? If you are retaining any measure of hope in any religious works of your own, you are not crucified with Christ! Here is how you can know;

o   Do you live daily by faith in Jesus Christ?

o   Are you consciously aware of the Holy Spirit's conviction?

o   Do you often repent of sin?

o   Are you bearing fruit that reflects the work and character of Christ?

o   Are You convinced by the Holy Spirit that You are God's child?

o   Is your faith evidenced in love for and obedience to Jesus?

If you can't answer a hearty 'yes' in your heart, your inner man to these questions, you might not be saved. You might be mixing your faith with law, or with some other failed ingredient. I beg you today, to repent of your sin and to believe in Christ alone for your salvation. It is time to turn from your foolish sin, your death-directed life, to faith in the One who died for you out of love!

Here is how God describes those justified by faith in Christ alone.

Justified.

Righteous.

Saved.

Power of sin broken on that cross.

Grace.

Loved.

Sonship.

Forgiveness.

Acceptance.

Power.

Purpose.

Life.

Heaven.

So church family…

Don't look back to what you thought would save you; it couldn't.

Don't rebuild what you hoped would reach heaven; it didn't.

Rejoice that you have been justified by faith in Christ alone.

Don't nullify the grace of God.

It is critical that we get it right, that we live it right – in step with the gospel – and that we preach it right as we make disciples, plant churches, and advance the one true gospel around the world. Let's pray…

 

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[1] All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved

False Brothers and a True Gospel

Gal 2:1-10[1] 

06 June 2010

Rolling Hills Church

Paul is saying some things in this letter that we don't need to miss.

You are deserting the gospel of Jesus Christ that I preached to you.

Cursed – devoted to destruction – is everyone who preaches a different or a distorted gospel.

This gospel is true because it was received from Jesus, the One who died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day. And today, we'll read that Paul says…

This gospel is true because the apostles who walked with Jesus affirmed it to be the sole and same gospel that they preached.

Gal 2:1-10

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.

2 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.

3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

4 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--

5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

6 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.

7 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

8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),

9 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.

10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

The false brothers fought the gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles.

The apostles affirmed the gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles.

The same thing happens today; false brothers and sisters fight the gospel the apostles gave to us in the Scriptures we hold. Let's look first at the problem revealed, timing, then at a few contrasts to help us outline this portion of Galatians 2.

Problem revealed: circumcision required of Gentiles to believe and follow Christ.

Circumcision, as representing obedience to the law of Moses, was being forced onto the Gentile Christians as pre-requisite or necessary to addition to grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The gospel was being added to, so that Gentiles had to go through Moses to come to Jesus. Paul said no, this is not the gospel.

False Brothers: fought the gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Paul refers to them as 'spying out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus'

Apostles: affirmed the gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Timing: Let's read Acts 14:26-15:2

14:26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.

27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

Why I believe this is before Acts 15 council: Paul could have simply played that trump card, and he did not.

Why I believe this issue, when it came to Antioch in Acts 15, was so big, is because of Paul's prior experience with this false teaching in the churches of Galatia here. It's not critical, but I think it's helpful to understanding this book in relation to Acts, and Paul's life and ministry. Now let's consider a few contrasts in this text.

Contrast: Paul's approach to circumcision with Titus and Timothy.

See here that Titus was not required to be circumcised: Paul would have vehemently opposed such a suggestion.

Gal 2:3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.

But let's go to Acts 16:3, which occurs after this scene in Jerusalem that Paul refers to with Titus, and see how this played out with Timothy.

Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

This is an apparent contrast, but I think it's not too difficult to settle.

Paul was opposed to circumcision as something that was necessary to be saved.

Paul was not opposed to circumcision as something that would remove an unnecessary hindrance to preaching the gospel.

So we're seeing here that circumcision itself wasn't actually the big ticket item; rather, it was the value or purpose assigned to circumcision.

Required for salvation? No go.

Helpful for ministry to Jews? Sure, let's do it.

You see, Timothy would be prohibited from entering the synagogues with Paul to preach Christ to Jews if he said no. Sure, let's do it. So there was an apparent contradiction, but not really.

Contrast: Freedom vs. slavery

Freedom is in Christ. When we believe in Jesus Christ alone to save us, and I mean by that believe that His death on the cross paid in full the debt of punishment I owe to God for my sins against Him. We have full assurance of salvation and freedom from the penalty for our sin! We are fully justified by faith alone in Christ alone. Free from laws, rules, systems, and works of man in order to be justified.

Slavery is adding to Christ. Here is connected with the OT Law of Moses, signified by circumcision. The church was being taught that belief in Christ for salvation was good, but they needed to be circumcised first or as well. Slavery, Paul called it.

Free people have no masters to whom they owe service, funds, or works. Slaves in biblical OT history were mainly slaves because of unpaid debts (or victims of lost wars). They OWED somebody, so they were enslaved. Prov 22:7 "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. " Slavery is a strong term, and Paul wanted it clear that adding to the gospel brought such. Peter would strongly affirm this in Acts 15. Now a no-contrast to consider…

No Contrast: gospel to the circumcised, gospel to the uncircumcised.

Here there wasn't a contrast; the apostles were unified, the gospel was clearly the same one they had both (the group, Paul) received from Christ.

Unity is good, isn't it? Unity in Christ, in truth, in love, that is a very, very rich thing. If you haven't experienced any division in a church, you are blessed, because it is painful.

There was only a division of labor from the same brothers in the same church preaching the same message from the same Lord. This was beautiful to see. So…

The false brothers fought the gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles.

The apostles affirmed the gospel Paul preached to the Gentiles.

Closing

Church, our unity is in the gospel. The same gospel the Lord preached, lived, and sent the apostles out with, the same one Paul and Peter preached. If men don't hold fast to and preach the gospel, we have no unity with them. For those who add to it or take away from it, we have only reproof and correction, or warnings. We are compelled to oppose such lies, just as Paul did. For the sake of the gospel, and for the sake of the church – now, and in the coming generations!

We won't know false brothers and a false gospel if we don't know the true gospel well. Knowing enough of the gospel to recognize words, terms, and stuff is only a beginning place, and not a place to stop. Many of us can become comfortable with folks who have indeed added works to the gospel because we're uncertain of the gospel. Need I illustrate?

Many people in our own denomination have struggled with confusing church membership with saving faith. So much so that people have made some profession of faith, joined a church, and disappeared from any participation in Christianity at all; but they are considered to be members in good standing with some church, and they can come back to some business meeting and have as much say on a critical issue as the woman who is obviously and fruitfully believing and following Christ. This 'so-called brother' comes back for a business meeting to bring arguments, dissentions, and division over whether or not this group of believers should add a percentage to their mission giving for next year, or if they should work with the city to clean up parks. Why does he think he is saved? Because he is trusts baptism and church membership to save him, along with belief in Christ. Baptism is obedience, and church membership is good and useful, but let us be clear – neither one saves; these are things saved people do! But because this church I speak of has not exercised any discipline, they've let a disobedient, fruitless man continue believing lies and thinking he is OK with God due to works. This church of which I speak might average 115 people in worship on Sunday mornings, but they boast a membership of 390 people – many of which are apostate, dead, have joined another church or moved to another state or country. But if they're back for the meeting…

Now others trust in other things. In Galatians, it was the law that the church was being told to trust in as well as Christ. Paul's hard line was NO – justification by faith alone in Christ alone! So I ask you – what are you trusting in to be saved from the wrath of God against sin? Have you repented of your sin and believed in Jesus to save you from God's wrath?  Or have you sought to justify, redefine, or ignore your disobedience to God through a seared conscience or hardened heart? Are you trusting Christ alone, through His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection, to save you and make you and keep you right with God? Or perhaps you are trusting Christ's death plus baptism, plus church membership, plus homeschooling, plus not drinking or smoking, plus shining morality… name it… to save you? Our salvation is in Christ, and our unity is in the gospel, and if we aren't solid in the gospel, our unity won't be solid. Church, when our unity isn't solid in the gospel, division creeps in over a multitude of issues. Differences are magnified, and division looms as the devil whispers. Our unity is in the gospel.

Church, our freedom is in the gospel. We are free to do good works and bear good fruit because He has saved us! We are not demanded to do these things in order for Him to save us!

What we are free from is God's wrath, eternal judgment, damnation, and hell. We're not free simply from a wrong view or bad music in another church; we're free from being enslaved to sin and the promised wrath of God against sin. We are set free by Christ, and we are free in Christ. We must believe in Christ to be saved; believe with a faith that drives us to repent from sin and follow Jesus. We must value, treasure, and trust in His finished work on the cross! He makes us right with God.

Our ministry is in and of the gospel. Peter to the Jews, Paul to the Gentiles, but – they took the same gospel. Whether we're reaching Americans in the Upper Midwest or Hindus in Southern India, our ministry is unified through the gospel, and what those vastly different lost people are hearing is the same gospel!

The gospel that the apostles preached is the gospel I preach today, and the gospel that we remember as we take the Lord's Supper. It is the one Paul received and delivered to the churches, the one the other apostles affirmed, and it is the one false brothers will fight until Christ returns.

Let the brothers come and pass out the elements of the Lord's Supper as we consider this good gospel of Jesus Christ.

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[1] All Scripture, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved