Are you free?
The Church is constantly under attack and at risk of being distracted or pulled apart. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to set us free and enable us to serve God with all our heart soul mind and strength together. The unity of the Church does not require uniformity, but it does require a universal commitment to the universal and objective teaching of the Scriptures. We are to be grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for sending and empowering people like Paul to preserve the teachings of Jesus and keeping the Church unified in our mission.
Scripture
Galatians 2:1-10 ESV Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 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. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 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— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 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. 7 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 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. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Bible Study Questions
God sends Paul to Jerusalem
Paul preached the Gospel to gentiles (and Jews) for 14 years before going to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles. He didn’t decide to go to Jerusalem, God instructed him to do so. What was his mission in Jerusalem, why was it so important?
Galatians 2:1-2 ESV Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 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.
Acts 15:1-2 ESV But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
Galatians 1:8-9 ESV But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Paul takes evidence of the freedom of the Gospel
Titus was a believer and would have served as evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in gentile believers, even though they were not circumcised. The Apostles clearly did not enforce circumcision on Titus, how does Paul use this as evidence for his argument?
Galatians 2:3 ESV But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.
Romans 2:27-29 ESV Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
The truth brings freedom, the lie brings slavery
False teachers were tempting believers away from their freedom and back into slavery. How are some of the ways that our freedom is at stake when we try to add to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Galatians 2:4-5 ESV 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— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
Freedom to approach God
Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Freedom to Obey God rather than our own desires
1 Peter 2:15-16 ESV For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
Freedom from death and punishment
Romans 8:1-2 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
God shows no partiality
Paul highlights that though the Apostles were given authority over the Church, there was no hierarchy among them, nor were any of them in authority over the others (including Paul). How does this reinforce his teaching that the Gospel is from God and not from human beings?
Galatians 2:6-8 ESV 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. [7] 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles),
The truth is worth the fight
Truth is not relative but rather, it is objective and universal. true unity can only be built around truth. When we try and built unity around anything subjective the unity will fail, even when we have uniformity. How was their unity in the early Church and how was there still diversity?
Galatians 2:9 ESV 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.
Keeping the warmth of the Gospel
We are clearly encouraged to stand up for the truth of the Gospel and to fight against false teachers and teachings - but when we do this, there is always the danger of something else happening to us. What must we be careful not to lose when we fight for truth?
Galatians 2:10 ESV Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Revelation 2:4 ESV But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Matthew 24:11-14 ESV And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
What kind of Church should we be?
From the passage we can learn that we should be a Church directed by God (through His Word and His Holy Spirit) and not by people. We need to keep the preaching of the one true Gospel, which brings true freedom, at the centre of everything. We must fight for the truth and never submit to false teaching even for a moment, but also be careful that we aren’t hardened by the fight and forget our first love.
Revelation 3:14-16 ESV “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Additional Scriptures
Freedom from dietary constraints
Acts 10:14-15 ESV But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
Mark 7:18-19 ESV And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)