Sunday Night, June 27, PM

Paul’s Defense of the Gospel in Galatians

Your Bibles out. Joe DeForest is gonna come preach for us tonight, looking.

Forward to what he has to share. Brother, come on up and preach for us. Glory be unto God. Tonight we'll be in Galatians. We'll open up there. We'll be in Galatians 1, 18. We'll be reading through chapter 2, verse 13.

The last time God gave opportunity, we looked at the first 17 verses of Paul's epistle to the Galatians, and this is a letter that showcases Paul contending for the true and only gospel. He fights against the false gospel of faith plus works, brought to the Galatians by false teachers, by Judaizers, who promoted that one needs Christ, yes, but also needed to be circumcised and live under law.

Paul knows what is at stake for the Galatians, getting the gospel right, and he rightfully is concerned for them. After he finishes his intro of the letter, where the gospel of grace spills forth in his writing, the Apostle states he marvels that the believers at Galatia are turning away so soon, deserting the gospel for another one, a false one, which was no real gospel, no real message of hope for sinners.

There is one gospel and no other. Paul boldly declares the consequence of those who reject the grace-filled gospel of Jesus Christ and replace it with a man-made gospel. He says of those teachers, let them be anathema, let them be devoted to holy destruction.

Those teachers who would not just keep themselves from trusting fully and rightly in Christ, but also keep others from trusting in Christ. Strong words to be sure and a strong way to open his letter, yet Paul is not out to please man, but to preach that gospel that is not according to man.

It was through the revelation of Jesus Christ that this gospel came to Paul, who was formerly Saul, a severe persecutor of the true church, a highly intelligent Jew who devoted himself with zeal and the highest effort in his work in Judaism.

But it pleased God to grant Saul mercy, to save him and appoint him as Paul the apostle to preach the gospel. And this message that changed Paul radically is not according to man, but is a divine message that points to Jesus Christ and calls sinners to repent and place their faith in him alone to save.

This is the gospel that Paul fights for. And reading further in the letter, we'll see that in his contending for the gospel, that Paul demonstrates how it is a message not dependent on man. So beginning in chapter 1 verse 18, let's read the word and see what God has said.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed before God, I do not lie.

Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, he who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.

And they glorified God in me. Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run or had run in vain.

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in, who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.

To whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But from those who seemed to be something, whatever they were, it makes no difference to me.

God shows personal favoritism to no man. For those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter, for he who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles.

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. 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. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.".

This is God's Word. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for your Word, which is without error. Thank you for the direction and the light it sheds upon us, to give us knowledge of our theology of you, to give us knowledge of Jesus Christ the Savior, to give us knowledge of how we should then live.

We thank you, Lord, for Jesus Christ. And it's in his name we pray. Amen. Paul spoke on the true gospel not being according to man just a bit earlier in the first chapter. He has given a brief personal testimony and spoken on how he did not receive the gospel from man, not even from another Apostle.

No, he received it directly from Jesus Christ. And he continues with this idea that the gospel is not according to man in verses 18 through 20 of chapter 1. After his conversion, Paul spent time in Arabia and eventually came back to Damascus.

There was no contact with another Apostle, and it was three years until he went to see Peter. Three years passed, and what was Paul doing during this time? He was at work, hard at work preaching the gospel which he had received from Jesus Christ.

And now he comes to Peter and spends 15 days with him. There are many moments in the Word of God I wish I could just be there for. Many conversations I could just not necessarily be a part of, but just listen and observe what happens.

And first and foremost, absolutely, the walk and the talk that Jesus takes with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. To hear Jesus speak, and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And what wonders would there be in listening to the Apostle Paul speak with the Apostle Peter for the first time. To hear how Paul inquired of his Lord while he was on earth during his earthly ministry.

Where do you think Peter would start? And to hear how Peter might have inquired about Paul's conversion and intently pay attention to the glory of Christ that Paul would tell him. To hear of how Paul was hard at work receiving a gospel directly from Jesus Christ and not from man.

To hear also of who Paul was beforehand, before Christ. What wonders were there to hear these two speak of their Lord and God. The text doesn't tell us what they talked about or how their time together went specifically, but one thing is clear.

As William Hendrickson puts it, the two men were meeting on perfect equality, on a foothold of equality. Neither received his commission or his gospel from the other. As Paul mentions as well that the only other apostle he had contact with during his time here was James the brother of Jesus.

He didn't work with these disciples to craft a message. He didn't receive the gospel message from these apostles, from these believers. His gospel was not according to man. Paul makes this point before God.

Before God he makes this point. He does not lie. He is willing in full and complete confidence to state his truthfulness. He swears to have told the whole truth and nothing but the truth regarding these things.

Regarding the very gospel of God. This gospel is not according to man. Paul has shown that he has neither received it from man nor was he taught it by man. The gospel, the personal work of Jesus Christ was not thought up, conceived by man.

It was not created by the apostles of Jesus Christ even and then passed around and somehow made it to today. It's not man-made and as Hendrickson puts it, it's not of human origins. Man cannot create a method of salvation.

Yet the gospel is divine. It is from heaven created by omnipotent God of all things. It's the redemptive good news that the triune God purposed before time began, not according to man but according to the will of the Father, by the obedience and work of the Son, revealed to dead sinners by the Spirit.

It's according to God's grace and by faith in Christ alone sinners like you and I can be forgiven, are redeemed, are washed, are sanctified and justified before God. R .C. Sproul mentions a statement when preaching on Galatians.

He said, consider the source. Consider the source. Doing so with any message, who the author is, where does it come from, will determine how much faith you put in that message. When you receive a news article, do you consider the author?

Do you consider where it comes from? Yeah, those guys, they do some good work. They tell it to you straight. The organization that it's coming from is always trustworthy. On the other hand, those writers never give you the straight truth.

They never tell you what's up. Not trustworthy at all. Would you trust the salvation created by a sinful man? Many do, sadly, but through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, through the fear of God working in us to show us the way, we see the folly of such Gospels, such false Gospels.

But what if God was the source? What if God was the author of the message? The one who is absolutely holy. The one who is righteous and true with no potential of turning or changing. It's his gospel and the only gospel that effectively leads sinners to repentance in Jesus Christ, to salvation in Christ alone.

It's not according to man. The message is completely trustworthy because the author is completely trustworthy. Let this truth ever build your faith. For the Christian faith is not a blind one, but it takes the knowledge, the reality, the truth of who God is, who we are, and what he has done and believes it.

By the grace of God we say in our souls, Lord you are right and trustworthy. I am a sinner. I am wrong. I believe you. I believe your gospel and I trust in Jesus Christ who died my soul to save. Dwelling upon the trustworthiness of the gospel and upon how the Lord is utterly trustworthy will build your faith.

Let this truth fortify your hope, your certain expectation that Christ will continue the work he has begun in you. For he who is trustworthy to save you is also trustworthy to deliver you into final glory.

Let this truth cultivate your joy knowing it is Christ who saves, Christ who has secured all that was needed for you, for he has spoken, it's finished. It is finished. There is nothing that needs to be added to your salvation for Christ has accomplished it all on the cross and as our risen Savior.

The Gospel’s Divine Origin and Trustworthy Source

As the gospel is of divine origin and it being from God and focusing on the person and work of Jesus Christ, the true message is not according to man and it's also not dependent on man. We see this starting in verse 21 of chapter 1 of Galatians.

After meeting with the Apostle Peter, Paul continues on to Syria and Cilicia where he continues his work, the work of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles across different lands, across the world. And some believers in Judea hear of Paul, what he is doing.

They don't know him by face but word most definitely spread of the man who severely and zealously persecuted the church but now preaches the gospel which he tried so hard to snuff out. What was their response to this message?

This message that he who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy. Paul writes, and they glorified God in me. They glorify in God for the marvelous work that he accomplished in the life of a persecutor of the church.

They hear of what God has done and they recognize it as authentic. This is the true grace of God at work. This is the true gospel being preached by a former very committed enemy, one changed by grace.

These believers at Judea were not apostles or spiritual leaders but everyday believers, simple in lifestyle, unknown to the world but nevertheless personally known by Christ as part of his flock. And they recognize in praise to God that Paul has changed, that he preaches the real gospel.

And it's not just the everyday Christians that recognize this, but it's also those spiritual leaders of the day of the early church. For after 14 years Paul goes up to Jerusalem with his fellow workers Barnabas and Titus.

They go up by revelation, by special direction from God himself, to preach that gospel that they preach among the Gentiles. At Jerusalem during this time there was a gathering of believers and unfortunately some unbelievers to discuss and figure out a particular topic that had been previously brought up.

And that was, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. So the early church meets to figure out this topic and it's recorded in Acts 15, this Jerusalem council. They meet to discuss this idea and to try and answer the questions, is circumcision needed for salvation?

Is following the law of Moses needed to be right with God? As Paul and Barnabas and Titus come to this council, but before they speak about their work preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, they meet with the spiritual leaders Peter, James, and John.

Paul writes that they meet with them privately, lest by any means I might run or had run in vain. The Apostle wanted to ensure that he, his delegation, and these spiritual leaders at Jerusalem were all on the same page and of the same mindset regarding the gospel going forth to the Jew and the Gentile.

And they were indeed on the same page. We see this as Paul continues describing that his brother in Christ Titus was not compelled to be circumcised. So why would Paul mention this? Why would he bring up Titus?

The text here says he was a Greek. Titus was a Gentile, not circumcised, standing in Jerusalem in Jewish territory, believing by faith in Jesus Christ. The private interview with Paul and company and Peter, James, and John goes very well so that Titus is not compelled to be circumcised.

And Paul states here in this particular letter why Titus might be compelled. Why was this an issue potentially? Because of false brethren secretly brought in who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.

And yes indeed they were the enemies of the gospel Judaizers who promoted another gospel, very likely part of the same group that at the time of Paul's writing seeks to trouble the believers at Galatia, seeks to promote to them a false gospel similar to the one in Jerusalem.

This group of enemies at Jerusalem were the reason why some believers would be misled to believe that one would be needing to be circumcised in order to be made right with God. Paul wasn't going to let this attack at Jerusalem slide.

By the grace of God the Apostle contends for the gospel once again at Jerusalem. He states to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour. As always by the grace of God he contends and does not give them any more ground.

He comes back to the private interview in his writing with Peter, James, and John. And before he gets to their response to him explaining his work among the Gentiles, he addresses in his letter to the Galatians an accusation that was brought against him by the false teachers at Galatia troubling those at that church.

In seeking to promote another gospel they sought to undermine the Apostle Paul to dismantle his credibility and to tell the believers at Galatia to trouble them that Paul had no authentic authority. His gospel was not right.

They pointed to the Jewish leaders of the church, Peter, James, and John, as the real authentic Apostles. The false teachers promoted these men as pillars of the faith, people of reputation, certainly something.

And Paul identifies these men like so as pillars of the faith, as seeming to be something of reputation, because in his writing he doesn't do this out of respect, out of disrespect, for the other Apostles, but to combat the accusations that the false teachers brought against him.

And to also speak on the idea that God chose personal favoritism to no man. The Apostles Peter, James, and John, as well as Paul and the rest, they were certainly unlikely servants that God used to make an impact for the kingdom by the grace of God working in them and around them.

They were indeed spiritual leaders equipped by God in the ministry that he gave unto them. Yet this does not mean that they were the spiritual elite, that they were the special, special people of God, that they were close to the top of the pyramid right underneath Jesus Christ.

Yes, Jesus Christ appointed them, gave them authority, but they were saved by grace, by faith in Jesus, just like every other believer that has ever lived or will ever live. As undershepherds, they were to be faithful with what they were given in the task that God gave unto them.

They were not cornerstones of the church, but stones nonetheless. And they were not above the Apostle Paul, another leader appointed by God. As Hendrickson has stated, Peter and Paul met on equal footing as servants of the Most High God, saved by grace.

And Paul has already begun to combat the accusations brought against him, stating in the earlier parts of his letter that his authority is not from men, but from God, giving his personal testimony and showing that the gospel that he preached was not rejected by fellow believers, but actually joyfully accepted by believers.

And this is how the leaders at Jerusalem react to Paul's gospel, his work among the Gentiles promoting the gospel of faith, not of works. Concerning these leaders, Paul states that they added nothing to me.

Speaking on how he preached the gospel to the Gentiles, the other Apostles respond with nothing to add. They didn't come to Paul and say, your gospel is lacking here, it needs to be fixed here, it needs to be adjusted.

They had nothing to add to him. They see that God is at work in Paul and Barnabas and Titus. Contrary to adding something to them, they recognize that the Lord is effectively working in Peter for the salvation of the Jews and working effectively in Paul for the salvation of the Gentiles.

And this was not in giving each ethnic group of people different gospels, but it was merely dividing the work, giving the same gospel to all the believers, to both Jew and Gentile. Perceiving the grace God has given them, Peter, James, and John gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.

They committed to the work of the Lord together in fellowship and respect. Wanting to continue in the work that the Lord already established between them, Peter, James, and John make sure to address one more thing.

They asked Paul to remember the poor, remember those who are needy, who are lacking in various needs. And Paul likewise was also concerned with this work and eager to do so. Remembering the poor demonstrates in the very outward sign that these two groups of believers were unified in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Both groups of servants were part of the church which seeks to remember the poor and show mercy to those who are suffering. The leaders at Jerusalem recognized the true gospel that Paul and company preached and labored in.

The Jerusalem Council, Circumcision, and the Right Hand of Fellowship

Yet everything did not go so well later on. There arose another situation in the church of Antioch. Antioch was a new frontier for the church, for redemptive history really. It was the first recorded church body to bring Gentile and Jew together as Christians.

And it was at this church that the term Christian was first applied to followers of Jesus Christ. This body of believers represented a brand new day for the church. Yet there arose a significant issue and Paul describes the situation.

The Apostle Peter had come to Antioch and had begun to distance himself from Gentile believers. Why did Peter do this? Because of certain men that came from James, not indicating that they were faithful servants under the guidance of James, but from the same church body where James served at.

They came in as Judaizers and before their arrival Peter had no issue with eating with brothers and sisters who were Gentiles. But after their arrival he began to distance himself and to eat with only the Jews.

What was the motivation for Peter to do so, to begin to distance himself? The text says that Peter was fearing those who were of the circumcision. He had allowed the fear of man, an unholy fear, to rule his heart and his mind rather than the fear of God, which is a right and holy fear that is beginning of wisdom.

This action led others to do the same, to follow the same path that Peter was foolishly going down. The rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Yes, Barnabas too, that man who is a co-worker and encourager for Paul in the preaching to the Gentiles, the gospel of faith, not of works. Even Barnabas was carried away. The brand-new day at Antioch was getting dark.

The wall of separation between Jew and Gentile that had been torn down by the gospel of God's grace was starting to be rebuilt. Yet Paul, by the grace of God, does the Christian thing in this situation.

He writes, I withstood him to his face before them all. Paul knows what is at stake for the believers at Antioch, getting the gospel right. But now he contends not against outside forces, against spies coming in from the outside to bring spiritual bondage to Christians.

He contends against the Apostle Peter and against the Jews that are following his example. As a beloved brother, as a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Paul has the courage to face off against his fellow Apostle and brother and tell him, you're out of line.

The gospel is not according to man. It's not created, not defined, not established by man. It does not change with time or culture. It does not change with the current beliefs or understandings or wisdom of men.

It is not dependent on man. And it's not dependent on true believers. It's not dependent on spiritual leaders. It's not dependent on Peter, the Apostle Peter. And if the reader of Galatians is familiar with the rest of the Word of God, he has to stop and think about the Apostle Peter for a moment.

That simple fisherman who was called by Christ himself and said, I will make you a fisher of men. He saw demons cast out, the sick healed, lepers cleansed, a dead man rise from the grave. He's mentioned as the first of the twelve, if not always, most of the time.

He had a bold faith and was very impulsive in his speech. He failed many times. As when he was walking on water, he took his eyes off of Christ and began to sink. He strongly asserted to Jesus at one point, I will never leave you.

Yet after the arrest of the Savior and being asked the question, are you not one of his disciples? Peter answers three times, I don't know the man. I don't know him. After the burial and resurrection of Christ, Peter, along with John, hear the news of the empty tomb and they book it to the scene.

They find it empty and later they encounter the risen Christ, very much scarred, but very much physically alive. They're commanded to go to preach the gospel across the world. Across the world. And Peter's the one who preaches at Pentecost.

He is the one who boldly proclaims, therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. He, with the other apostles, faithfully minister in the church, give them godly guidance in this new age.

And he's later seen with John standing before the Jewish priests and the Sadducees. The two apostles are instructed not to preach or teach Jesus Christ any longer. And in response, the two say, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Peter was the apostle who received the vision of the sheet from God. He heard in the vision what God has cleansed you must not call common.

And shortly after, Peter, by God's direction, came to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, a Gentile. There the apostle preached the gospel, and this centurion and other Gentiles were saved authentically by the power of God.

And the church's response, then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life. And at that very council in Jerusalem, where Paul and Barnabas and Titus came to, where many believers gathered, as well as many spies, regarding the issue, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

Peter, after much dispute, rose up and spoke this. Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us that by my mouth the Gentile should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Is it any wonder that many considered Paul a pillar of the faith? He had seen so much, he had done so much by the grace of God. He had preached so boldly. He had tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

He had seen his risen Christ and been appointed by him personally. But now at Antioch he sins. He fails once more. He withdraws from eating with Gentile believers, fearing those who are of the circumcision.

I don't believe that Peter was abandoning the gospel completely or preaching another, but as Paul puts it in verse 14, they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, and their actions presented them as plain the hypocrites, stating one thing when the group of Judaizers wasn't there.

Gentile and Jew, there is no distinction in Jesus Christ. But when the group comes in, they live differently. They live to say there is a distinction, and we will physically separate accordingly. Paul here shows to the Galatians that the gospel is not according to man, and it's not dependent on man.

Even when someone like Peter, an authentic believer, a real apostle, sins and does not hold the gospel correctly, this does not change the gospel. It remains the same. It's not dependent on man. It's not dependent on spiritual leaders, whether fake ones or authentic ones saved by grace.

It's not dependent on Peter. It's not dependent on Paul. It's not dependent on any believer. It's not dependent on you. The gospel is not reliant on your performance or your works. For like Peter, we Christians of today have seen so much.

We have seen the Lord work mightily. We have seen his power. We have done so much more than we ever thought we could by the grace of God. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, yet we still sin.

We still struggle against the flesh, but the gospel remains the same. It's not dependent on us or our works. For it's a gospel not according to man, but according to the will of our God and Father, according to his mercy.

And actually, it's dependent on a particular man, on the man who is utterly sinless, completely righteous, and fully God himself, one who never fails, one who is worthy. The gospel is dependent and relies on Jesus Christ, for it is his message about his person and his work.

The gospel does not change because Christ does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, his gospel does not change. It remains the same through all times and culture and is not dependent on fallen man.

We have no need for popes, for high priests, for privileged special leaders to create or interpret salvation for us. We don't rely upon men for our salvation. We rely upon God. His message is enough. Christ is enough for us.

The question that should be asked by every individual, how can a sinner like me be saved, is answered by the gospel. Repent and believe, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. May we never replace this gospel or distort it.

May we never believe that there is another message by which sinners can be saved. Fallen man cannot achieve salvation for himself. We have no capability to do so. There's nothing we can do, no hope we can create that will ever suffice for our need, our need that is met in Jesus Christ.

May we determine to know nothing among those around us but Christ and him crucified, and may we determine to know nothing within our heart of hearts, within our very soul, nothing but Christ and him crucified.

Let us remember that the gospel is not dependent on us or our works, so that when we sin we may know and rest in the fact that our position in Christ does not change. Regardless of the sin we commit, the severity of it, regardless of the number of times we sin, our position in Christ remains the same.

We still stand before a holy God with a record that is perfect and spotless. Our justification stands because Christ stands. Our sanctification is still being worked out, even through your personal failures and sins.

For God takes what is meant for evil and uses it for good. This gospel is not of works, but one of faith and one of grace, and Christ is still enough for you. He's still enough. He has not changed. His gospel has not changed.

It's the same gospel that it was last Monday. It's the same gospel that it was last year. It's the same gospel when you first believed. It's the same gospel that Paul contended for, and it's the same gospel that God purposed before time began.

And just like Peter, through all of his failures, we grow in grace. We grow in grace. When the Lord allows, we will next examine how Paul specifically confronts Peter. What does he say to this apostle who's out of line, the apostle who's playing the hypocrite?

Everything written so far in Galatians has led up to Paul's speech here, and in his speech he will bring the main idea of the letter of Galatians. He will bring the main thought he wishes the Galatians to rest in and believe, that the gospel is of faith and not of works.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you for your gospel. We thank you that it does not change. We thank you for Jesus Christ, and though we were sinners, you demonstrate your love for us and that you send Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners.

You save us, Lord. You pluck us out of this present evil age, and the gospel that saves us is the same gospel during our walk with you. Christ is still enough. He does not change. His gospel does not change.

May we never believe that our times require another gospel, another message. May we never believe that the gospel is outdated or unneeded. For yes, our times change, our cultures change, but our need doesn't change, for we are still sinners.

Thank you for justifying us, for washing us, for making us spotless before you, Lord, through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for enduring the cross for us and for our salvation. And it's in Christ's name we pray, amen.