Galatians When Prejudice Nullifies Grace Look At The Book! Galatians When Prejudice Nullifies Grace

A Tense Confrontation Galatians chapter 2 presents a time when one apostle of the Lord had to confront another apostle of the Lord. At stake was the very purity of the gospel, and the truth of the gospel. In the ensuing discussion, we can learn tremendous lessons about the importance of both preaching and living up to the truth of the gospel. We also learn the importance of God’s grace in a judgmental world.

Galatians 2:11-13 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.”

The Diverse Church At Antioch Acts 13:1: “Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. What an amazingly diverse leadership!

What Was The Problem? Peter content to be united with the Christians at Antioch, until the arrival of certain people from James in Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, he began to remain aloof and led others to follow his prejudicial example. It wasn’t racial prejudice, per se, but religious and nationalistic prejudice.

From James, But Not OF James These men did not represent James Acts 15:19-20 – “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” James’ only concern was abstaining from idolatry.

What Was The Source Of Hypocrisy? Mostly motivated by fear. They were afraid of being ostracized or judged by the Judaizers who had come from Jerusalem. These are certain Pharisees who refuse to surrender the Law of Moses, though Jesus nailed that law to the cross. They are in fear of political repercussions to the church – something Paul never feared.

Even Barnabas Carried Away! Something Paul never expected. Barnabas who had gained acceptance for Paul when he was still known as Saul – the persecutor of the church. Barnabas who had sold property to help provide for the Jerusalem church in the early days of her existence. Barnabas who was so encouraging that he was know as Son of Encouragement, rather than by his given name of Simon.

A Hard Challenge From Paul Galatians 2:14 – “But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Wham!

How Are We Justified? Paul understood that the prejudice wasn’t racial or even national. It was theological and ecclesiastical. So, he immediately addresses the question of how one becomes a Christian. How are we justified? How are we saved?

Galatians 2:16-18 “…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.”

We Are NOT Justified By Law In verses 15-16, Paul affirms that neither THE LAW, nor any system of law can justify a person. By its very nature, law condemns and cannot justify. To break even the finest stroke of a law, and especially THE Law, results in being a transgressor and therefore lost. Circumcision – the matter for which Peter and the rest of the Jews are committing hypocrisy, was a part of that Law – unable to justify or save.

We Are Saved By Christ Some question of translation in vs. 16-17 Are we saved by faith “in Christ” or are we saved by the faith “of Christ” (or the faithfulness of Christ). KJV, Darby, other early translations have “of Christ” meaning the faithfulness of Christ led to our justification. NASB, NIV other modern have “in Christ”, meaning our faith saves us. My preference is “of Christ” giving power to Him.

Why Build Any Other Form? Galatians 2:18 – “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.” Galatians 1:8-10 – “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

Modern Examples? One cup, one loaf? Kitchen in the church building? By what are we justified?

Living Crucified Galatians 2:20-21 – “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Crucified How? Put to death to all our prejudices and preferences because we’ve died to ourselves. Our life is now Christ John 6:54-56 Philippians 1:21 --

What Is Our New Life? Our life is now FAITH rather than a law observance system. Our salvation depends on the sacrifice of a savior – Jesus the Christ. If I could GOOD myself to heaven, then Jesus died for nothing. JESUS DID NOT DIE FOR NOTHING!