Galatians 1:10-2:21
Paul, the Apostle
The Galatians had been suddenly, dramatically pulled away from the gospel.
Judaizers had come into the church and supplanted the gospel of grace with a
gospel of grace and works (which is ANOTHER GOSPEL \\#Gal 1:7\\. Now Paul
is writing this book to get them back on track.
The theme of this book is How Far Into Judaism Must A Person Go to Be Saved?
DIVISION OF THE BOOK
I. Chapters 1-2 - A Defense of the Gospel
II. Chapters 3-4 - Understanding the Law
III. Chapters 5-6 - Walking in the Spirit
There is an inherent warning in this Book; namely, others can lead you astray.
\\#Gal 1:10\\ The Galatians were facing pressure from religious leaders to
compromise the truth of Christ. Sometimes, religious people can be the greatest
enemy of truth. They use the respect we have for them as leverage. Paul teaches
a lesson that sooner or later, every faithful Christian will have to learn.
We can not please both men and God.
A. \\#Gal 1:1-1:5\\ We worship a living God.
B. \\#Gal 1:6-10\\ There is but one gospel.
C. \\#Gal 1:11-2:21\\ Paul certifies that he has preached the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
1. \\#Gal 1:11-12\\ That is the statement made.
a. The Judaizers had questioned Paul’s authority. Basically,
they said Paul is not preaching the same gospel as the
apostles. He is a rogue.
1. The Judaizers’ intent was to force Gentile Christians
into Judaism.
2. Paul’s clear message was that the Gentiles need only
accept Jesus as their Savior, not the Law of Moses as
their form of worship.
3. By discrediting Paul, they hoped to annul his message.
b. Paul’s answer was that the gospel He preached was not handed
down from man but was revealed by Jesus Christ.
c. The accusation made against Paul needs to be considered and
answered. Much of what Christians practice comes from the
epistles written by Paul. What makes Paul different from….
1. Joseph Smith - Mormons
2. Mary Baker Eddy - Christian Science
3. Charles Tazz Russell - Jehovah Witness
2. \\#Gal 1:13-2:21\\ Paul’s Testimony - Paul needed to vindicate his
apostleship for his teaching to have any weight so he shares his
testimony.
a. \\#1:13-14\\ Paul describes his former life. \\#Acts 7:58-8:3\\
b. \\#1:15-18\\ Paul describes his salvation and then the three
years in Arabia and Damascus. \\#Acts 9:1-31\\
c. \\#1:18-2:1\\ Paul describes a trip to see Peter in Jerusalem
and then 14 years of service. \\#Acts 11:25-14:28\\
d. \\#2:1-10\\ Paul describes the council in Jerusalem and their
recognition of him. \\#Acts 15:1-35\\
3. This reading is good history, giving us a chronology for Acts; but
we need to understand WHY Paul is connecting himself with the
church.
a. It was Christ and the church which opened salvation’s door to
the Gentiles, not Paul \\#Acts 10:9-48\\.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
b. \\#Gal 2:7-10\\ It was the church that recognized Paul’s
apostleship.
1. The church is given authority by Christ.
Matt 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but
if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a
publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
2. I take that to mean that the Lord will lead His church.
3. The church’s behavior at this time is important.
4. \\#Gal 2:3\\ The church did not demand that Titus, who was
a saved Greek, be circumcised.
5. \\#Gal 2:10\\ The only condition placed on Paul for the
work to Gentiles was that he should teach them to care
for the poor.
c. \\#Gal 2:11-21\\ One of the church's strongest leaders, Peter,
recognized Paul.
1. Paul rebukes Peter.
2. Peter encourages his followers to obey Paul.
2Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even
as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are
some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
d. Paul’s interaction with other New Testament Christians within
the church shows that he was not an outsider, but apart of the
mainstream Christian faith.
1. We know Paul maintained fellowship with Barnabas, Silas,
Peter, and John Mark.
2. Romans 12 lists no less than 27 people within the church
that Paul worked with.
4. Note the doctrinal truths that Paul gives out of these statements.
a. \\#Gal 2:16\\ Some things will never save us.
1. \\#2:16\\ We are not justified from sin by works.
2. \\#2:16\\ No human flesh will be justified by the law.
b. \\#Gal 2:19-20\\ The law has crucified the old sinful man
along with Christ.
1. The sinful part is what the Bible terms the "old man."
2. The law condemned our sinfulness, and Jesus died for it.
3. Our freedom from sin comes in dying WITH Christ.
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
4. Dying with Christ is a decision which must be repeatedly
made.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry:
Gal 3:20 I am crucified with Christ….
c. \\#Gal 2:20\\ Now, Jesus lives through us. (As we believe in
the substitutionary death of Jesus, we should practice the
substitutionary living of Jesus.)
d. \\#Gal 2:20-21\\ We are saved by grace to live by faith.
1. Faith allows Christ to live through us.
2. Grace allows us to come to salvation.
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