Galatians: My Chains Fell Off
Defending the Gospel of Jesus
Galatians 2:1-10
March 16, 2014
Hebrews 7:25 — 25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them.
John 17:15 — 15 “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
…Galatians 2:1-10.
…Acts 13:38–39 — 38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is
proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could
not be freed through the Law of Moses.
Galatians 5:1 — 1 IT was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject
again to a yoke of slavery.
Let’s review a little:
Gospel – Christ in my place;
Legalism – I earn God’s forgiveness;
Christianity – Christ lives in me.
Publish the Gospel COOPERATIVELY, STRATEGICALLY & PRACTICALLY!
Galatians 2:1-10
Acts 11:27-30 & 12:25
3 Reasons for Defending the Gospel of Jesus…
1. Defend the Gospel of Jesus for the UNITY of the Church. Galatians 2:1-2
Galatians 2:1–10 — 1 THEN after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
taking Titus along also. 2 And it was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel
which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might
be running, or had run, in vain.
First, that Paul went to Jerusalem under the direction of Jesus Christ ought to tell us how important it is that
we confront disagreement head on.
Second, it ought to remind us that there is a right way to defend the Gospel that protects the unity of the
church and a wrong way that destroys the unity of the church.
Third, this ought to remind us that we really should be focused on important stuff in the church and if there is
division about what is important in the church, that ought to bother us.
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2. Defend the Gospel of Jesus for the CLARITY of the Message. Galatians 2:3-5
One of the problems we have today in the church is that we’re sending mixed messages about the Gospel.
We’re publishing a message that says believe in Jesus and you’ll be saved as long as you don’t do the following
things…and every group has their own list. Or trust Jesus and also do these things and you’ll really be
saved…and again, every group has their own list. Let’s be crystal clear about the message that we publish.
Gospel – Christ in my place;
Legalism – I earn God’s forgiveness;
Christianity – Christ lives in me.
Titus 3:4–7 — 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us,
not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of
regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, 7 that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Acts 4:12 — 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been
given among men, by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6 — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but
through Me.
The good news to the world is that a right standing before God was totally paid for by the death of Christ at
Calvary and can be enjoyed only through faith in Him. ---John Piper
3 But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was
because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order
to bring us into bondage. 5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the
gospel might remain with you.
“It is impossible for us to estimate how much we owe to the Apostle Paul. Of all who have ever lived, we who
are Gentiles owe more to him than to any other man. See how he fought our battles for us. When our Jewish
brothers would have excluded us because we were not of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, how
bravely did he contend that if we were partakers of the same faith, Abraham is the father of all the faithful,
that he was loved of God, and the covenant was made with him, not in circumcision, but before he was
circumcised, and that we are partakers of that covenant.”---Charles Spurgeon
3. Defend the Gospel of Jesus for the GLORY of the Lord. Galatians 2:6-10
And here’s where I want you to see the big idea for today. When we defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the
glory of the Lord, we will…
Publish the Gospel COOPERATIVELY, STRATEGICALLY & PRACTICALLY!
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6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no
partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I
had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He
who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the
Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were
reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we might go to the Gentiles,
and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to
do.
When it comes to methods, be STRATEGIC.
When it comes to the message, be STUBBORN!
Let’s talk about defending the Gospel of Jesus…
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4.
Where does Paul’s visit, described in Galatians 2:1-10, fit into Luke’s account of Paul’s travels in Acts?
Why would Paul be fearful that he was running or had run in vain (v.2)?
Why was the Jerusalem leaders’ decision about Titus (v. 3) so significant?
If they had agreed with the “false brothers” and made the opposite decision, how would “the truth of
the gospel” have been lost?
5. How does the gospel give liberty in Christ Jesus?
6. In what ways does the gospel give people freedom that “earn-your-salvation” religions don’t?
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8. Can you think of examples of churches not prizing gospel unity sufficiently; or pursuing institutional
unity at the expense of gospel truth?
9. Have there been times in your life when you have begun to think that your performance counts toward
your salvation? What caused you to think this way?
10. What are the “nice” and “proper” attitudes that your culture and upbringing has taught you? How
could you add these on to belief in Christ as an expectation for other Christians?
11. Do you ever feel guilty or insecure in your relationship with God? What might this be telling you about
how you view your acceptance with Him?
12. How are you remembering the poor? How has Galatians 2:10 encouraged and/or challenged you?
13. Both personally and as part of your church, do you tend to over-adapt or under-adapt the gospel for
the culture around you?
14. How deeply rooted are you in church life? What are you doing to maintain, and show, unity with fellow
believers?
15. When might you be in danger of picking and choosing what you feel you need from church life, rather
than serving others throughout church life?
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