Galatians 2. A First-Century Greeting (Gal.1:3) Favor, Gift, Liberality, Generosity, an Expression of kindness (Rom.2:4) Gratifying, Pleasure, Joy!

THE PARTY OF THE CIRCUMCISION

Galatians 2

‘Grace’ - What’s it mean?A First-Century Greeting (Gal.1:3)Favor, Gift, Liberality, Generosity, an Expression of kindness (Rom.2:4)

Gratifying, Pleasure, Joy!Galatians 1:6 “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;”

The Question of AUTHORITYFor I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12 (NASB)

A Short Story (Matthew 20)

6:00 am

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.


6:00 am 9 am

"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them… At noon and again around three o'clock and at five o'clock that evening he did the same thing

Noon 3 pm 5 pm


6:00 am 9 am Noon 3 pm 5 pm

"That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage$80 $80 $80 $80



[10] When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage.

$80 $80 $80 $80$80 !!



They protested! 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat!'

$80 $80 $80 $80$80 !!



"He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.$80 $80 $80 $80$80

!!



Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind? $80 $80 $80 $80$80

!!

Galatians 2:11-12

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.

Galatians 2:13-14The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

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?

#1 “Grace is unfair!”“All of my good works are meaningless!?”

Paul’s answer (2:15-16): "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles…”

“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.”



We’re All Equally Disqualified:

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter

the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Romans 3:23“Whoever keeps the whole law and yet

stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:10


B.K. GOD

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Romans 3:23


All Equally Disqualified “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.” (Gal.2:16)

1

2

3


All Equally DisqualifiedAll Equally Qualified!“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.” (Gal.2:16)

1

2


All Equally DisqualifiedAll Equally Qualified!Either Saved by Grace OR Law: NOT BOTH “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”- Galatians 2:21 (NASB-U)

Ephes. 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Another Objection

“But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not!” Galatians 2:17 (NLT)

#2: Grace is dangerous!

An Unhealthy Fear of Sin?Jesus said you must “love the lord your god with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.”

• Is this being expressed in your life?

• Do you love God more than any other thing?

• Is the most important thing in your life to daily know God and His will for you?

• Are you leading a Holy life?

• Would your neighbors describe you as “Holy” ?

If these are not true of you, then you have never been converted. No matter what you may have been led to believe, you are not saved. You are another

vicitm of “Easy Believism”.


An Unhealthy Fear of Sin?Jesus said you must “love the lord your god with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.”

• Is this being expressed in your life?

• Do you love God more than any other thing?

• Is the most important thing in your life to daily know God and His will for you?

• Are you leading a Holy life?

• Would your neighbors describe you as “Holy” ?

A Missing Question:

• Are you as perfect as God?• "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


An Unhealthy Fear of Sin? Works Promotes Sin!!

(Hypocrisy)“If I rebuild something that I've torn down, I admit that I was wrong to tear it down.” - Galatians 2:18 (GW)

LawGrac

eLaw



(Hypocrisy)Salvation is by

Grace,

But works keeps

me saved

A perversion of Grace!

‘Works Smuggler’



(Hypocrisy)Grace

Works

Works

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.” Galatians 2:19



(Hypocrisy) Defective Grace is Dangerous!• “How can I get God off my

back?”Grace is

not:

•“I don’t deserve a relationship, but I want one…”Grace is:

A LIE!!



(Hypocrisy) Defective Grace is Dangerous! Grace Motivates change!“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.”

Concluding Thoughts

Are You Willing to ‘Receive Christ’ ?

• “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” - John 1:12

What motivates you today?

• For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his sins (2 Pet. 1:9)

Documents

Galatians 2. A First-Century Greeting (Gal.1:3) Favor, Gift, Liberality, Generosity, an Expression of kindness (Rom.2:4) Gratifying, Pleasure, Joy!