Galatians Chapter 2
Vs 1-5 Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles—but privately to those recognized as leaders—so that I might not be running, or have run the race, in vain. But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. This issue arose because of false brothers smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.
In this next chapter, Paul continues his history lesson for the church. We left off with Paul traveling through Syria and Cilicia preaching the gospel. Now it is 14 years later and Paul goes to Jerusalem with Barnabas. They did this in response to the teachings of some of the Jewish leaders who wanted the Gentiles to submit to the law of Moses and be circumcised. Circumcision actually started before the Mosaic law with Abraham. It was a covenant between God and Abraham and his offspring. Genesis 17:9-14 spells it out: “God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep My covenant. This is My covenant, which you are to keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every one of your males must be circumcised. You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and you. Throughout your generations, every male among you at eight days old is to be circumcised. This includes a slave born in your house and one purchased with money from any foreigner. The one who is not your offspring, a slave born in your house, as well as one purchased with money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” In Leviticus 12:3 it says that boys are to be circumcised on the eighth day. Circumcision was a physical sign of the covenant between God and His people. But God doesn’t just want physical signs. He wants our hearts right. In the same why that God says obedience is better than sacrifice, in Deuteronomy 10:16 it says, “Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer.” God is always more interested in our heart than what we do on the outside, and this is Paul’s point.
Vs. 6-14 Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism) they added nothing to me. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised, since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles. When James, Cephas, and John, recognized as pillars, acknowledged the grace that had been given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to me and Barnabas, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
The church at Jerusalem recognized the importance of Paul’s work God’s calling for him to go to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been called to the circumcised. We must remember that Peter (Cephas) had also gone to the uncircumcised as well when God gave him a vision that the gospel was for all nations. I love the way Paul puts this – there is NO favoritism when it comes to God. His desire is that all come to know and accept the good news! One thing we find is the discussion about circumcision was certainly not new, which is shown when Peter (Cephas) comes to Antioch. He is fine until – I will call them the pro-circumcision group or the PCG shows up. Suddenly, he separates himself from them and his example leads others, even Barnabas, to join in his hypocrisy. One thing you can’t say about Paul is that he is timid! NO, he boldly calls them out right away. You either believe in freedom in Christ or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways!
Vs 15-21 We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild the system I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
And finally we come to it. We are not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. On the contrary, the perfect and holy law of God put a spot light on how imperfect and unholy we really are. And that it’s purpose. God’s perfect and holy law was the standard that God says we must keep in order to reconcile ourselves to Him. It is impossible, and God knew that from the very beginning. It is the reason He set up an elaborate system of sacrifice so He could provide a way, even then, to continue to be in relationship. But we couldn’t even do that perfectly. So God did that for us as well through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus became the perfect holy sacrifice once for all. Through the law we can’t possibly be justified because we can’t keep it. But we are crucified with Christ – our sins, our works, everything. And we don’t live anymore – we don’t strive to save ourselves anymore – but Christ lives in us. Righteousness could not possibly come through the law – for the law is there to show me my need for God. It will never give me grace, because it requires me to keep it perfectly – IMPOSSIBLE! I can’t even circumcise my own heart – God had to do that for me too. “The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and all your soul so that you will live.” Deuteronomy 30:6
Paul’s point is that if we could find salvation through the law, then Jesus died for nothing. As we continue to explore the freedom we have, we must remember that the grace of God is our only way to reconciling a relationship with Him. Because of His love for us through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we can come into the presence of a holy, righteous and perfect God. His grace is truly amazing!
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