Galatians 2:1-10
Download here: One Gospel(2)
This morning, I want us to look at a message I have titled One Gospel. As usual, let me give you my sub-titles so you can follow where I am taking you. Proclaim The Truth Of The Gospel (v.2), Preserve The Truth Of The Gospel(v.5), Practise The Truth Of The Gospel(v.10).
At the opening of the Chapter, Paul indicates he went to Jerusalem fourteen years after he had encountered the Lord on the road to Damascus to have a meeting with the apostles. I term this journey a verification tour. Paul went to verify that the gospel he was preaching is the same gospel the apostles were preaching.
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 (2:2).
Pay attention to the last phrase of the verse: in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. Paul wants to be sure whatever revelation he has received and whatever gospel he was proclaiming was the same gospel preached by the first apostles of the Lord. And indeed they confirmed and gave him a right hand of fellowship. That’s the point of Galatians 2:7-9. Paul and Peter were entrusted with the same one gospel.
There is only one gospel that saves. The same gospel for the Jew is the same gospel for the gentile. The same gospel for the rich is the same gospel for the poor. The same gospel for the literate is the same gospel for the illiterate. There is not a different gospel for different categories of people. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
There is an interesting thing to look at in the text. Is there any reason Paul carried Titus along? And is there any reason he indicated Titus was a Greek? And any reason he indicated Titus was not circumcised? Some commentators see it a mentoring relationship. But I see this as Paul sending them proof of the power of the gospel to save. Titus, a Greek, has been saved by the gospel and remains uncircumcised. He has been saved by faith in Christ and not by circumcision. I believe Paul carrying Titus along is a proof of the power of the gospel of grace to save sinners.
The gospel has only one message that Christ died, was buried and resurrected the third day so that anyone — anyone — who will believe in him will be saved from their sins. There is no other way by which sinners will be reconciled to God except by faith through Christ Jesus. We cannot be saved by any good works we do. We are saved only by grace and not of works. And this is the Christian message. Nothing, No one, No works saves, except Jesus CHrist.
Paul and Peter were all commissioned with the same gospel. Paul uses the word entrusted (Galatians 2:9). To be entrusted with something is to be made a custodian. You are given a responsibility to watch over, keep in good shape and be responsible for another person’s valuable. Banks are entrusted with money of customers. Governments are entrusted with the affairs of a nation. Parents are entrusted with raising godly children.
God has entrusted us with the Gospel. The gospel entrusted to Peter, and to Paul is the same one gospel that has been entrusted to Christians of all generations. It is the same gospel entrusted to you and I who have come to faith in Jesus.
Proclaim The Truth of The Gospel
Lets look at verse 2 again: “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. I am interested in the phrase the “gospel that I proclaim” The main responsibility of the Christian church, Christians, preachers and everyone involved in any form of ministry is the preaching of the gospel.
We often hear how we are to live out the gospel (and we will come to that in our third point). How our lives are to be exemplary. Indeed, Paul says our lives are like an epistle. The most important thing, dear friends, is that the gospel ought to be proclaimed wherever we find ourselves. Paul charged Timothy, calling the Godhead as witness that he should preach the word:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word…(2 Timothy 4:1-2a)
Jesus Christ our Lord himself was a preacher: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The apostles were preachers (Acts 2:14, 5:42, 6:2). In our days, we hear so many things that is not the gospel. The one gospel that saves is that Jesus Christ died to save sinners from their sins. And the only way by which sinners will hear this gospel is for it to be proclaimed: preached. In Romans 10:14 Paul issues a series of rhetorical questions which points out the necessity of preaching:
14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Preserve The Truth Of The Gospel (v.5)
Not only must we preach. But the truth must be preserved. We must take a stand for the gospel where the gospel is being twisted. And that’s the message of Galatians:” contending for the truth” borrowing from Jude. If you look at vv. 4-5, some persons, false brethren Paul calls them have come in with a false gospel seeking to deceive the Galatian churches. Let’s read the text.
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.
The teachings of these false brethren, which is that Gentile believers will also have to be circumcised to be saved, is the centre of the controversy in the Galatia churches and Paul will have none of that. He withstood them. “To them we did not yield in submission even for a moment” False teachers must be avoided at all times. Don’t give in to them a bit. The influence of these false brethren was so powerful that even Peter , Barnabas and some Jews were swayed (Galatians 2:11-14).
This is instructive for us. It tells us everyone of us is not immune to the influence of false teachers. If Peter, the one whom Christ prayed for that he be not sifted as wheat could be swayed by false teachers, then you and I have to beware. Every single one of us here has to be on guard not to be deceived.
Now the word preserve is to keep something in a good state. In its use here, it is to ensure the truth of the gospel remains. You see, many generations of Christians have come and gone and each generation will contend with falsehoods that seek to assail the church. Paul tells the Galatians “so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” That’s important. The Judaisers sought to corrupt and distort the gospel (v.7) and it was important Paul steps in. Whatever we do with the gospel now, will determine what will be passed on to another generation.
And the mess we see on our land with all kinds of nonsense passing as Christianity is because those of a previous generation didn’t contend for the gospel. What we are holding now is what has been passed on to us.
Error must be confronted so the truth will be known. We need to take a stand for the truth because not everyone who stands on a pulpit or claims to be a Christian is indeed a Christian. There are false brethren who slip in unawares to preach a different gospel. You and I have the responsibility of preserving the truth. Question, Challenge, Confront, Refute, Disagree whenever you hear a contrary message to the gospel. That also means you yourself must be sure what you have believed is the gospel
Practise The Truth Of The Gospel
Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do (Galatians 2:10)
This verse brings out the practicality of the gospel. The gospel must be lived out in our lives. This verse speaks specifically of acts of mercies in the gospel. But in a general sense, it points out also to us how our gospel truth must show in our conduct. What we have believed, we must practise. James says faith without works is dead. Good works must accompany our preaching. Good works must accompany our salvation. Why? Because good works are proofs of our salvation. Good works don’t add to our salvation, but good works are proofs that we indeed possess salvation. If your life portrays nothing of one who has come to the saving knowledge of Christ, then your salvation can be questioned. Just as Paul carried Titus along to show him to the Jews as evidence of the power in the gospel, he preaches. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 that we are God’s workmanship, created for good works.
Martin Luther says we are saved by faith alone but not by faith that is alone. In a grace community, it is possible to fall to the error of licentiousness, thinking how we live our lives doesn’t matter. It matters, dear friends. It matters.
Is your Christian life only theoretical, or it is practical? Are you generous? Are you kind? Do you extend love and help to others? Think about these things.
Let me end with a quote from the April 2022 issue of Tabletalk Magazine with the title World Missions and Reformed Theology. The article I am quoting from is titled What Is World Missions?
God’s plan for missions is to use His redeemed people to call the nations to faith in Christ and to disciple all who respond…not only are believers commissioned to evangelise and disciple, but they are called to model Christ in both capacities. Every lesson of instruction, every work of mercy, every deed of kindness, and every act of healing flows from — and portrays—the loving heart of God. These portraits adorn the gospel and become avenues to missions (Craig Sheppard).
Facebook Comments