Galatians 2:11-14

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain m en came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles;’ but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to life like Jews?”

Cephas is the Aramaic name for Peter (“Rock”). Not so rocky and strong here however. Again when you see a “but” in Paul’s letters, it is time to stop and take note…somehow he is underscoring or preparing you for a large point.

Peter had no excuse, cause of his vision in ACTS to let the Gentiles into the church, to bow to this false teaching – not in line with the “truth” of the Gospel. Specifically that Gentiles can inherit the promises given to Abraham and can do it through faith and apart by “works of the Law” (becoming a convert to Judaism first).

Even Peter slipped back and depending more on man’s opinions than God’s revelation. And Paul was correct in rebuking him for it. He was not being a good example, and he was not following the Gospel of Jesus.

Bottom Line:
• It is the message, and not the messenger that is important. Though the messenger can destroy the message (false prophets, etc). All leaders must let the message shape their lives so much that it becomes second nature to live out the instructions that they now give. Not forced, but natural. Then these embarrassing scenes would be a lot fewer!

As I sit here in India:
• It is very important that the ‘cultural’ view of Jesus, Christianity, church governance (ie: 401C3) be left at the doors of the plane in Washington, D.C. and that I try not to transplant those issues here. It is biblical Christianity that people need, and even the church in America needs to discover core issues again. Why would I want to make people become “my type of Christian” before I will accept them? Why must they practice their faith our particular ways ?
• As I look over successful movements of Christianity here in India… the most controversial ‘contextualized’ approaches often seem the most likely to succeed. Without plowing up the Gospel and editing it… just as bad as adding to it… there are bridges already built by God for us to cross here to usher Christ into peoples paradigms. I must not shrink like Peter, or pervert the heart of God and the truth of the Gospel like the Judiazers.

Galatians 2:6-10

And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also though me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Well, Paul’s gospel was laid before the important men of Jerusalem—and they saw no need to add anything to how Paul conveyed the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. So, if they didn’t see that Paul was lacking anything…like…say…having to become a JEW first, then why do other “start up apostles” seem to be trying to take over Paul’s church plants?

In fact Paul states that those in Jerusalem also agreed that Paul’s vocation to the Gentiles was given by God, and his message (by God) was not in error. The Galatians are Jews and Gentiles in churches that Paul established based on his Gospel message. So, before he corrects the brethren—they must know that he is an Apostle of Christ, and he speaks the truth.

I always thought “right hand of fellowship” was some country lingo from Black River Falls, WI growing up… low and behold – it is in the Bible!!!

Bottom Line:

• Christ set the Apostles apart to witness to him and write down the accounts and teachings for the church to follow. It is their teachings and the letters that they have endorsed (and the Gospel they have endorsed) that we must follow. These issues are not up to some 2^nd Century theologian to pervert or distort… or a 21^st Century historical revisionist to tear apart. There is one Lord, one Hope and one Gospel.

As I sit here in India

• To simply sit and read this, and not think about the history, life experience and testament of ACTS that supports this man’s life fails to honor scripture, and Paul. Paul is defending himself, as much as he is defending the other Apostles…as much as he is defending the Gospel itself. To honor the Apostles teaching (NT Scripture and Practice) is to honor the chosen men of Jesus that established his movement.

Galatians 2:1-5

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

It is interesting that Paul is just breezing by so much of his life and ministry, to the point. This letter is lacking the charm of his usually letters – in fact the intro and prayer is the shortest of any of his letters. It seems that Paul is quite angry at the false brothers and their insistence on circumcision, and his surprise at how easily the churches in Galatia have left the freedom of the Gospel.

Paul goes out of his way here to show that the leadership of Jerusalem, the head “Elders” over seeing some 20-40 thousand individuals in Jerusalem, did not require Titus (the Greek, the Greek in Jerusalem!) to be circumcised. So, where is the argument then from the new brothers (aka – the Judiazers).

Paul even points out that this is not new to him. He had to argue and stand firm with men even on that trip who were insisting on enslaving Greeks to a law that no Jew could live under. Paul is in love with the FREEDOM that we get with Jesus. The idea of grace is revolutionary in the spiritual life of a believer—unless they never understand it. And some, even in Jerusalem can’t see past their own traditions and history.

Bottom Line:
• The argument against the Judiazers is beginning to be made – remember that this letter is written aloud in public by a letter carrier approved by Paul.
• There is a new era established with Jesus. A New Covenant, contract, testament. There is freedom and truth in the message of Jesus – the freedom to be free in your conscious and freedom to actually serve God for the correct reasons.

As I sit here in India:
• There is much in my life that I could slump back into. There is much in my history before Jesus and the last 16 years with him, that I could let drag me down. But I must not let the past rule me… nor must I let the Gospel become a chain about me. It has freed me from my chains, from myself even. Joy comes with proper perspective—Lord let me never see it any other way!