![[20211006-GalatiansHeader.png]] **Topics** - [[#^c6300f | Paul’s gospel message]] - [[#^4c1cea | Confronting hypocrisy]] - [[#^e118e2 | Justification]] - [[#^0f520c | Law vs Grace]] ## Defending the Gospel ^c6300f ![[Defending the Gospel 2.1-10]] In verse 1 and 2, Paul is referring to the Jerusalem Council (see [[Acts 15.6-29]]). ***Who were those of reputation that Paul referred to?*** James, Peter, and John who were the leaders of the Jerusalem church (see [[Galatians 2.9]]). ***Why did Paul submit his message to these leaders?*** Because he was not walking in his calling[^1] outside of authority. The Apostle Paul was not doing his own thing separate from the church. He was submitted to others and accountable for his ministry. ***What was the message of the false brethren (“some so-called believers” NLT) ?*** It was a return to the Law. Paul contrasts their message with the gospel message by saying that the Law brings bondage whereas grace brings liberty. This is a continuation of the conversation of [[Galatians Chapter 1]]. ***Why was the Law considered bondage?*** Because you had to obey all of the Law in order to live (see [[Leviticus 18.5]], [[Romans 10.5]]). >[!note] Consider This To obey all of the Law, you had to know all of it. The Law had over 613 individual statutes and commands contained within the *Torah*.<br > Consider how difficult this would be…***can you recite all of the Ten Commandments*** ([[Exodus 20.1-17]])? These 10 are the most widely known and yet many people struggle with remembering and keeping them. How much more challenging would it be to know and obey all 613? Under the Law, our righteousness is dependent upon our perfectly keeping all the rules. How would you know if you perfectly kept all of the rules? Can you see how this brings you under bondage to fear and anxiety? **2 Corinthians 3.6 NKJV** > who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. This discussion is a part of Paul’s work to show that the old message of righteousness by works does not bring life but that the new message of grace through faith does bring life. Whereas before Paul was defending his calling, here he is **defending his message.** Notice that Paul continues to defend his authority and apostleship by setting himself up as a peer to Peter. He said that just like Peter was called to the circumcised, he was called to the uncircumcised ([[Galatians 1.7]]). The people would not question Peter’s pedigree. By using this argument, Paul is further establishing his credibility. Finally, he declares that James, Peter, and John recognized the grace given to him. **What was this grace?** It was the calling of God on his life ([[Galatians 1.15]]). >[!tip] **Principle** >This shows us a principle: **others will recognize the call of God on your life.** It will not only be something that God gives to you and begins to work in you, but it will be affirmed through leaders and others as they recognize what God is doing in and through you. > [!todo]- For Further Study: How does Jesus build the Church? > Do a [[Topical Bible Study]] of how Jesus is building His church. > Some key words and Scriptures include: *rock* ([[Matthew 16.18]]), *pillars* ([[Galatians 2.9]]), *living stones* ([[1 Peter 2.5]]), *foundation* ([[Ephesians 2.20]]), *cornerstone* ([[Acts 4.11]]). Paul concludes that the only addition to his message from the other apostles was to remember to care for the poor. And he stated that he definitely wanted to do that. ## No Return to the Law ^0f520c > **11** Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; **12** for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. **13** And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. **14** But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? **15** We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, **16** knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. **17** “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! **18** For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. **19** For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. **20** I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. **21** I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” ### Confronting Hypocrisy ^4c1cea ***Where were followers of Jesus first called Christians?*** Antioch ([[Acts 11.26]]). ***Why did Peter only eat with the Jews when they came from Jerusalem?*** It was due to peer pressure…“he separated himself *fearing* those who were of the circumcision.” >[!tip] **Principle** >This is important for us today because **if an apostle can experience peer pressure, we are not immune to it.** We must be aware of the effect of peer pressure and the fear of man in our own lives. ***Is there another time in Peter’s life where fear got the best of him?*** Yes, each of the times that he denied Jesus on the night of His betrayal ([[Mark 14.66-72]]). Could this be a **pattern** of weakness in his life? **Do we have similar patterns that we need to be aware of?** ***How did Peter’s actions affect other believers?*** Even devout men like Barnabas practiced hypocrisy. ***What is a hypocrite?*** The word hypocrite, *hypokritḗs*, means “actor.” For example, the WUESTNT often translates this word with the phrase, “Actors on the stage of life, playing the role of that which you are not” (see [[Luke 12.54-59]] for example). ***What do you think this story means for us and our influence on non-believers or new believers?*** Remember, we all have a sphere of influence where God is sending us and where we are responsible to represent Christ ([[2 Corinthians 10.13-16]]). At the same time, those who use the excuse of hypocrites in the church as a reason to leave it fail to recognize that as individuals growing in grace and learning to become children of God ([[John 1.12]]), hypocrisy has always existed within the church. In verse 14, Paul confronted Peter publicly. ***What do you think Paul is modeling here?*** Paul is modeling biblical correction. Notice how Paul corrected Peter. He didn’t slander him or go behind his back. He went to *his face* (cf. [[Matthew 18.15-18]]). He used appropriate means to respond to Peter’s error. **His silence would have meant approval because of his position as an apostle.** Due to the public nature of Peter’s error and its affect, Paul had to respond publicly. > [!tip] **Principle** > When leaders get off of the message, someone who has *similar authority* has a responsibility to correct them. This also is best accomplished when there is an existing *relationship.* ### Justification by Faith ^e118e2 ***In verse 16, what does Paul mean when he talks about the topic of justification?*** This word is a legal term. “[Justification](https://ref.ly/logosref/bk.pt:Justification) is a Christian’s judicial acceptance by God as not guilty because his sins are not counted against him.” Another way to remember justification is “as if I had never sinned.” Justification in Jesus’ eyes is not that we’ve perfectly kept the law. It is that our legal obligations are satisfied by our trust in Jesus, because He has perfectly kept the law. *Mirriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition)* defines legalism as, “strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code.” Legalism can apply to personal laws or moral codes as well. You can be legalistic about the type of clothing you wear or music you listen to. Often legalism can be about control. What is the danger of being legalistic when it comes to salvation? When rebuking the lawyers, Jesus said that they had the keys of knowledge but did not enter in and also hindered those who were trying to get in (see [[Luke 11.45-52]]). >[!todo]- For Further Study: How did Jesus view the religious of His day? > Examine the dialogue between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees in [[Matthew 23.13-31]]. What are some ways that Jesus describes the legalism of these groups? What tone or posture does Jesus take? Is it positive? What is the consequence of those who get caught up in this behavior? ***What is one of the core doctrines that Paul is highlighting here?*** We are saved by grace through faith alone (cf. [[Ephesians 2.8]]) and it is impossible that we can be justified by the works of the flesh (verse 16). ***Can church attendance, giving, serving, Bible reading or any thing other than faith in Jesus bring salvation?*** No! ***If believers act hypocritical and sin, does that mean that Jesus is a minister or a servant of sin (see verse 17)?*** Put differently, ***does our sin mean that Jesus condones or promotes sin?*** Absolutely not! Paul continues and says that if we go back to living according to the works of the flesh and to the keeping of the law, we become a transgressor (or sinner) again (v18). If we go back to the law, which did not work, after having experienced salvation through faith, we find that it is useless. ***What is the danger of identifying as a “sinner saved by grace” instead as a “saint” separated unto the Lord?*** What do sinners do? They *sin*. What do saints do? They live unto God according to the example of Jesus. In Christ, we are new creations who have been given power to become children of God (cf. [[2 Corinthians 5.17]], [[John 1.12]]). We are meant to be conformed to the image of Christ and follow His commandments. ***What does the law do, or what purpose does it serve?*** It defines God’s standard for living holy and then it exposes our sin and reveals our inability to live according to that standard. As a result, we discover that we are under a death sentence due to sin ([[Romans 7.7-11]]). We die to the law so that we can experience life in the Spirit ([[2 Corinthians 3.6]]). **Galatians 2:20 NKJV** > I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. ***What is Paul talking about when it comes to being crucified with Christ?*** Everything that he was – his acts, deeds, dreams, desires, etc. Applying that to ourselves, ***what do you think that you are going to have to die to in order to really live for Jesus?*** This approach to following Jesus, where we surrender our will to God’s will is what the Apostle Paul is advocating. He is teaching us to live the life that Jesus would live if He were us. This is the essence of justification by faith. It is ceasing from our own works and entering into His ([[Hebrews 4.10]]). In verse 21, the Apostle Paul further stresses that we receive the grace of God through faith in Jesus and because of that we have been made rightous. To believe that rightousness comes through the law means that Jesus died in vain and our trust in Him is misplaced. [^1]: For more on this topic, see the [[Our Calling]] topical study.