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!