Galatians 2 vs 14-21

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Galatians 2 vs 14-21

Calvary Chapel Cherry Creek

September 29, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes • Galatians 2:14–21

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Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 14 – 16

· “Not straightforward about the truth of the gospel,” was Paul’s issue. And I want you to notice, it wasn’t something Peter and Barnabas were saying, or preaching, or teaching…, it was something they were doing. It was the example they were setting and it was the message they were sending with their actions. What we say is important because its what we believe. And what we do is important because it is what we believe. If those two things don’t line up, that’s the definition of hypocrisy!

· The truth of the gospel is laid out excellently by Paul here and it is everything that Peter knows to be right and true. “Knowing that we are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Which we need to come back to in just a moment) Peter knows this, Barnabas knows this, I know this…, and I also know this about me…, that sometimes by my actions, motivations, reactions and the way I treat folks around me, I am saying, “You’re forgiven, justified by faith with Jesus, but not with me…” And I know that grieves the Spirit…

· What’s even more troubling to Paul is the impact of who Peter is… This is a plea for awareness for those that are somebody important in the lives of others. Like parents, employers, ministry leaders…, the more authority you have the more harm you can inflict. God save us from careless people in authority! The church in Antioch experiences Peter pull back as it were, a display of hypocrisy in that he denies what he knows to be true… If that’s a pillar in what I’m involved in…, why am I involved in it?! Paul can’t let this go…

· AND, this puts on display the needed partnership of different kinds of people. Peter was a good man. Brought up in his Jewish home, a simple fisherman that had found good success. Then he began to follow Jesus and he did so faithfully (with a few mistakes like us all). Pretty squeaky-clean dude. So much so that when he tried to be tough and swing a sword, he just made a fool out of himself…

· Paul was a murderer. Crass. Stiff-necked, street smart, a well-traveled criminal if you will… Who do you think would more understand salvation by grace through faith. Justification by faith apart from works…?

· I need the squeaky-clean homeschoolers in my life to give me a picture, an example and an inspiration towards squeaky clean living… AND, they need me in their lives to see that grace is truly grace…, and faith apart from works is truly the only reasonable salvation option for all of us!

· Paul lays that out so well here. I wonder have you received it? I wonder can you receive it!? That by the works of the law, their law, your law, your parent’s law, your churches law, your religion’s law, your denomination’s law, by following rules, traditions, rites and rituals, no flesh shall be justified… What’s more not flesh CAN be justified!

· It’s an impossibility! Complete impossibility! If it were possible then I could own heaven! Show up and I’m there not because the entrance afforded to me by Jesus but because of my own victory over all sin in my life…? That’s a ridiculous thought! Salvation, being right with a holy and a perfect God is only achieved through complete eradication of all sin…, no other way, there are no good people in heaven, only perfect people, perhaps you just cannot grasp that! Because if you can then you easily arrive at Paul’s perspective…, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,” because check this out, we keep one part of the law and then another pops its head up and calls us out…. Check out what Paul gives us next…

Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 17 – 18

· If justification is by Christ alone, and yet sitting with gentiles breaks that justification, then we were never justified! Does that make sense!? Think about that! Think hard for a moment…, that’s an intense thought with VERY far-reaching implications!

· We are justified by Jesus and what Jesus has done and that’s it. Can I undo what Jesus has done? Not a chance and the implied implication of that is incredible!

· That’s the gospel and we’ve already covered this, that’s the only way even feasibly possible for all that I have ever done wrong and all that I ever will do wrong to be forgiven, forgotten, cast as far as the east is from the west! And as that is truth, “we better not sit with gentiles or we will be rejected by the people of God,” is complete nonsense!

· “For if I build again those things which are destroyed then I make myself a transgressor.” Transgressor simply means I know something to be right and I deny it… There’s an English word for that too, “stupid!” HA! If Jesus has set me free from the chains of bondage and yet I create new chains for myself…, what on earth am I doing!?

Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 19

· There’s the cross! The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And Paul is rightly stating in a practical, empirical, personal way that He is now in Jesus, which is what it means to truly believe. He is not some sort of mindful believer; he has become one with Jesus through the indwelling presence of the King. That is what communion means and points to…, this is what circumcision of the heart is! This is what relationship is…, to exist as part of another!

· The King of kings and Lord of lords has taken up residence in Paul’s heart of hearts and so although it was Jesus who through the law died to the law and it was Jesus that was resurrected unto life eternal, (because the wages of sin are death, Jesus had no sin, yet He submitted Himself to death but when He got there, death couldn’t hold him…), Paul says that if Jesus did it and He did it for me, then I DID IT! The law against Paul was satisfied by life of Jesus Christ! Think of it! Death was satisfied, by LIFE! And Paul says I have placed my faith there and therefore…, I’m in it too! That’s the gospel!!!

Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 20

· One of the most important verses in all of scripture. This isn’t just the mantra of those building their courage for their day. This is the gospel to be apprehended even on your worst of days!

· My faith is in Jesus and although I live on…, I don’t live on in the confines, under the power of or even the constant cognizance of the amercement of sin! Jesus paid it ALL! It is finished! And now I live, good days and not so good days, by faith in Him!

· Let me talk about faith for just a moment. Faith is a normal and expected response of a believer. Believers believe. We serve a merciful God…, and His call on us for salvation is to believe and yet faith and belief are and are not interchangeable. I am a faithful husband not because I believe April exists or even that I believe April is my wife. I am a faithful husband because I reserve myself for her. This is the same in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

· So, when the Bible says, “Whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life,” understand a genuine belief will have measurable results. Those measurable results in a life build our confidence…, belief + results + confidence is the Biblical concept of faith.

· AND without confidence in that belief the enemy sows false converts at worst and ineffective kingdomless Christians at best! If we are believers, if we have given our lives to Jesus, this is the definition of those that have faith…, then check this out…, The Spirit of God has taken residence in us and He exudes confidence in Jesus!

· Faith is the most normal response to the discovery of who God is! Someone says they find it hard to be faithful… That’s not an issue of the will. That’s an issue of the heart. Seek God for a season. Watch your strength grow as you encounter more and more the truth of Jesus and the Word of God! It’s all a heart thing! It’s not a mind thing! And that’s tough because as much as everyone thinks we are led by our hearts, most people are led by their minds… But that doesn’t work well in terms of the Kingdom… Let me show you…

· 2 Corinthians 3:14-15 says, “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains on their heart. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” From what? The heart! Faith comes first, then understanding… And that is opposite of how we operate as humans. We see, we process, we think, we conclude, we progress… But with faith, it’s a surrender. Romans 10:9 says, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…” So, Paul is defending the faith he has in Christ which is a heart-trust in the gospel and a soulish and spirit-filled embrace of grace!

Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 21

· If righteousness come through the law, (and the implication is ANY law), including the laws of man, the traditions of a church denomination, the laws of a prophet, the laws that I self-impose, if righteousness comes through any other, then Christ died in vain…. So, the conclusion of the matter is clear… Romans 5:18-19, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

Galatians 3 vs 1-6

October 6, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes • Galatians 3:1–6

Galatians Chapter 3 Verse 1 · What you can know and essentially even what you do know, you’re not thinking it through enough for it be used by you! (Employed to the benefit that it carries with it!) Knowledge is there. Understanding is there. Application, using those things, is not there! Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy…, AND keep those things which are written in it!” · Do you know the amazing things that have been done for you in Christ? Great! Do you understand them? Even better! Now, do you apply them? That’s everything! · Paul asks them how they are bewitched (and he wiggles his nose)! WOW, my age is showing! HA! The word he uses here is unique and it means, who has coaxed you or hypnotized you into feigning for an evil eye! Sounds so odd but check this out… My endeavor to add anything to my right standing before God being Christ alone actually and only takes away from it because to do so I have to take my eyes off of Jesus and place them on me! Evil eye!! · Let me let you in on something before we go any further. Righteous acts/works in the life of a believer are expected, they are necessary and they are right. They are pleasing to the Father and carry with them God’s promises all the way to the in zone! The point is that acts/works of righteousness are not the reason someone is righteous; the acts and the works are the proof that someone is righteous. Righteous works are the manifestation of righteousness. They don’t originate the right standing with God but without them we have no right to claim we do have right standing with God. This is why James said faith without works is dead…. Faith is not works. Faith is a work of the Spirit as a result of a heart of hearts yielded to God. But no works…, no faith..., because a heart yielded to God will show it measurably! Galatians Chapter 3 Verses 2 – 4 · This is such a good point being made by Paul. I love points that are so eloquent and intelligent that its foolish to argue with, (just like ALL of my points), HA! Paul says here, how is it that you’ve swallowed this lie that beginning something in the Spirit, (the only reason any of us are saved is a work of the Spirit of God through the power and provision of Jesus Christ), how is it that if we started there, we think we are somehow now going to further that work in the flesh!? · It’s like adding glass to a diamond to make it more valuable. You actually add zero value and even hide its original qualities! Stupid and weak illustration, but you get it! The point is that the work of the Holy Spirit unto salvation in you, in me, in anyone is a not a prize to be won by the best behaved among us…, or in their circumstance, by someone who can best keep the law… · Folks, it’s actually quite unlike that completely! Salvation comes by grace through faith. Grace is applied where? Only where it is needed. If you don’t need grace, it won’t be applied. If you can do the works worthy of God yourself, no need for grace… · There was a day where Jesus described this in real time. Luke 18:10-14, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” · Salvation is by the application of grace…, through faith. Faith does not come from striving but from surrender. Another word for surrender is yielding, abdicating… To abdicate is to lay down your weapons and join the force you are fighting… Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Faith is a willful opening of the heart to the Word of God and allowing yourself to accept what God has said as what God has said… And then a work of the Spirit happens… · One of the reasons that I love teaching the Bible line upon line, one of the reasons that I love the design of ministry of Calvary Chapel, to simply teach the word of God simply…, because that makes opportunity for faith! · This also is an important verse for the Christian life/experience. Why? Because we get some knowledge, don’t we? And what does the Bible tell us is the danger in that? 1 Corinthians 8:1, “We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies!” Love, Galatians 5, is a work of the Spirit. Knowledge, not necessarily. And so, this is important, so so important, even for the seasoned saint because our own foolishness shows up that we think our maturity and total reward package in our life is because of our behavior, our service, our knowledge…, not so. · The maturity of the believer is based not upon the works of the flesh but rather the continued simple faith and abiding in Jesus. Walking in the Spirit. Bearing the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… But we get this idea somehow that now that we know all these things, being a narrow-walker makes us more mature than others. Actually, loving the wide-walkers more makes us more mature than others… I know some of yall don’t like or agree with that… I implore to revisit the cross which is the epidemy of perfect maturity… That God would send His only Son into a world full of unrighteous people… · And lets just talk about rewards for just a moment. Those of you that base your rewards system with God on your personal goodness and righteousness. If you got rewarded based on your own righteousness then we’d all be frying by now! All of us, (and this is a great thing!) all of us get rewarded based on His righteousness and what Jesus has done for us! When we realize that and face that and compute that then what we have is always enough…, because all that we have been blessed with is not based on us working to earn it! Galatians Chapter 3 Verse 5 · This is such a practical statement! How’d you, each of you, receive the indwelling Spirit of God? Did God send His Spirit as a result of you keeping the law? Think about how you became a Christian. Think about how you became right with God. This is for them and US! Did God take a look at you and conclude that you are a keeper of all of the laws of righteousness then here you go…, the reward of the Spirit of God! The reward of salvation! Not a one of us! · If we went one by one through everyone who today is a born-again Spirit-filled Christian, the only ones that would say they were saved by good works are the people that aren’t actually saved because in truth, no one is saved by personal achievement of righteousness! Just like we talked about last week, it’s not even a possibility because to be saved by achievement has little to do with what you do right and far more to do with undoing what you have done wrong, which NONE of us can do! · Paul also brings miracles into this mix! God works miracles. God heals. God saves. Salvation itself is a miracle. The simple definition of a miracle is an occurrence of the divine… That’s not us… That is only God! And so, without going into a long teaching on this, no one has the gift of healing, the gift of healing is imparted to them for the occurrence of the divine. No one has/possesses the gift of tongues, words of knowledge… These are all as the Bible calls them, “Manifestations of the Spirit.” Let me show you… · 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” · Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water though because we should covet these manifestations of the Spirit! We should welcome them, and we should recognize what they are… A work of the Spirit and not any person. Paul even said in 1 Corinthians 12:31, “Earnestly desire the best gifts…” · So let me show you what gifts are imparted to us for us to possess… The Bible calls that our designed function. Romans 12:3-8, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Galatians Chapter 3 Verse 6 · Case in point, Paul calls to witness the most important figure in the history of the Jews, father Abraham. And he quotes from Genesis 15 and that belief that Abraham placed in the God was astronomical, literally! Genesis 15:5-6, “Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” · As awesome as this is, it shows that Abraham himself placed his belief in God, (specifically the word of God) and righteousness was accounted to him for that belief! It was not, couldn’t have been, because he kept the law because the law was not yet given…

Galatians 2 Verse 6-13

September 22, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes • Galatians 2:6–13

Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 6  Paul had an open heart to anyone that was with Jesus. And he would protect his heart from anyone who wasn’t. “Makes no difference to me,” sounds harsh but it’s a statement of alignment and priority. His decision and his loyalty are primarily influenced in/by his relationship with Jesus. And played out, that might look harsh to some… And that’s ok…  He makes a statement here that is one to remember. God shows personal favoritism to no man… Not a person that has ever lived has been more important than any other in the heart of God. This one is not easy to navigate in terms of my own and your own conduct. Because while showing partiality is sin, (several places in the Bible including James 2, Deuteronomy 10, Romans 2, Ephesians 6, and Acts 10), God takes pleasure in those who love Him, which is wonderful and good.  So, for me, for you, it’s an issue really of the heart. Some folks we mesh with because they are good to us, but the folks we don’t mesh with (different life goals typically), do we degrade their importance to us (which is ok) or do we degrade their importance to the Lord (which is not ok). Because even those that we don’t get along with are as important as you are to the Lord…  Different life goals…, it’s ok to degrade their importance to us personally? Of course! I’m not saying to be unloving or uncaring or ungraceful AT ALL. What I’m saying is how can two walk together unless they are in agreement? (Amos 3:3) What I’m saying is 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness.” What I’m saying church is Romans 16:17, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses (obstacles; ESV) (also can be translated, ok with hurting others), contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”  It’s the prayer life. That’s the measurement. Will you remember them in your prayers with a heart of love… Even though they are the opposite of your favorite? That’s a good measurement. AND, consistency in your dealings with folks. The moment you treat someone differently than another in an identical situation…, that could be an easy target for the enemy to mess things up! Because you typically are tempted to lie to get out of it if you’re called to the carpet regarding your unfair behavior… Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 7 – 10  I love this! Problem solved in a Godly way! Recognizing that we each have our ministries but they are different. And they don’t have to be the same, look the same or even administrate the same. God has called you to the circumcision? Great! Go for it, Peter! God has called you, Paul, to the gentiles? Great! Go for it! They were dealing with different kinds of people who needed a different style and emphasis, but the same message!  “When they saw the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to Paul,” Peter, James and John listened for what was the message and the motivation of what Paul and Barnabas were telling them and they perceived/discerned and understood that it was the gospel and grace (or better said, the grace of God through the gospel/testimony of Jesus Christ), hey…! That’s it! We are IN!  So, Paul has his calling which he is sure of and Paul has alignment with those really in a position of authority…, anyone else who seems be something, whatever they were it makes no difference. Words of Paul… Pretty awesome!  The only thing asked of Paul would be that he remembers the poor throughout his ministry which is a reference actually to the church/believers in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem first century although it was gaining steam and growing in number, business was bad. The Jewish/Judaist culture was certainly not embracing those that no longer followed the law of Moses… And so financially there was struggle…  There was also a famine at this time. Acts 11:27-30 we read, “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”  Paul’s response was generosity and sharing and even being mindful of the financial needs of Peter, James and John…, all that wasn’t something he had to do… But was something he was eager to do! The appropriate response from someone who realizes they’ve received so much…, an eagerness to give and to share… A ministry of the presence of God on earth (which is also an echo of our original nature…, a manifestation of a redeemed nature)! Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 11 – 13  The gospel to the Jew and the gospel to the gentile comes toe to toe in this scene. But this isn’t a UFC octagon, this is an inflection point. Paul is using sharp language but again, the motivation of Peter and the motivation of Paul are the same. That’s why Peter gave Paul the right hand of fellowship in the first place.  Interesting here…, Barnabas gets “carried away” with this hypocrisy (Paul’s word) also. Peter and Barny no doubt are respecting their Jewish brethren. Avoiding an opportunity for them to stumble and be offended… They live in Jerusalem, around almost all Jews…, and here they are in Antioch, let’s take is slowly (no doubt their motivation),…  But their serving of one group causes great offense of another. Do you see that? So, what should be done? An inflection point… Paul’s ticked and he is the writer of this book so we get his default words under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Peter decided not to write about this… I am SURE his account would have been written under the same guidance, with the same message, but with perhaps completely different words and even tone…  One will be served, one will be hurt. That’s a problem. So, what must we do…? Well, we will never please everyone. That’s a first piece of information to know…, but the servant of the King must always seek to please the King. That’s what servants do…., they serve. We are about to see what Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10 played out, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” And there you have it. When in a sticky situation like we see here, like we will all face all the time as we walk in Christ in this upside-down world, when the chips fall, what matters is what is right in the eyes of God!

Galatians 2 vs 1-10

September 15, 2024 • Pastor Matt Korniotes • Galatians 2:1–10

The chapter break between chapter 1 and chapter 2 is one of the worst ones in the scriptures, ha! Paul encounters Jesus on his was to Damascus. He then goes to Arabia and back to Damascus. After three years had passed, he goes to Jerusalem, sees Peter and James (Jesus’ brother), departs and goes to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 1 · Now, the rumor and fame of Paul begins to spread in Judea because this was the same Saul who had petitioned and received letters from the High Priest that had authorized him to be a marshal of sorts against Christians…, but that was three years ago and no one had heard from him since. What happened to him? And the talk churned up when it was heard that he had in fact returned, empty handed, and had lodged with Peter!! WHAT?! He should have been arresting Peter! · After that, he returns to the regions of Arabia and Cilicia and remains there fourteen years. What was he doing? No record at all. Other than in the next verse he says he’s been preaching to the gentiles and no doubt making tents. Paul was a tent maker by trade. And after these fourteen years, he returns again to Jerusalem and with him are Barnabas and Titus. · These two were a perfect pair to accompany him. Barnabas was a well-known and well-respected leader in the early church. A Jew. His name actually wasn’t Barnabas. That was his nickname of sorts. According to Acts 4:36-37, his name was Joses which means “Exalted One,” but the apostles started calling him Barnabas which means, “Son of Encouragement.” · Then there was Titus. A Greek. A gentile. And the scripture has actually a lot to say about him. He even has his own book, not written by him but written by Paul to him. He was a true son in the faith to Paul. Paul refers to Titus as having his same heart in 2 Corinthians and also makes the statement in 2 Corinthians 2:13 that not having Titus with him caused him to have no rest in his spirit. · Do you have someone like these in your life? A Royal Table? One person to inspire you. One person to correct you. And one person who is just a raging fan of yours? Everyone needs a Royal Table. But that’s all about you. Which is a lesser thought. So…, what about you? Are you a Barnabas, a son of encouragement, in someone’s life? Are you a Titus, giving someone absolute rest in the spirit, in their life…? Christian, not only are we to be this to one, we truly are to be this to many… And we have no right, not even for a minute, to complain that folks aren’t taking the time with you when you aren’t being these things for them… · So, Paul has a prominent Jew and a stout Greek with him, and here he comes back to Jerusalem! Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 2 · This by revelation bit doesn’t mean Paul is having visions and dreaming dreams…, this simply means he is going under the guidance and direction of God. That is truly part of the life of a Christian. The physically measurable reality of being a believer. What you do, where you go, what you say, how you react, how you act, all those things and more, you are in sync and synergy with the Holy Spirit. · Part, if not all, of our role and job on this planet is to minister the presence and reality of Jesus Christ. You know that right? Salt and light… And on one hand the flesh is so strong (the fear is so great – because somewhere along the way you were hurt so deeply) that folks just live looking so much NOT like Jesus and justify it through the condemnation of others… I’m this way because they did this, said that, on and on… · And on the other hand, we have Christians that cannot relate, reach or love the lost or anyone that doesn’t buy-in to their perspectives because they are too blinding…, too salty. Oh, I’m about to ruffle some feathers now… No master chef pours salt on their recipe…, and do you know they actually make lights that are weapons!? The key is always to live by revelation, the guidance and communion with God through the Person of the Holy Spirit. Ministering the presence of Jesus… · So, what is the point that Paul is making here in talking about his visit to Jerusalem to the Galatians… Let’s read a few more verses… Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 3 – 5 · The point Paul is making here is that Peter and James and the leaders of the church there in Jerusalem (as Paul says “to those who were of reputation”) accepted Titus without the necessity of the law proving his point to the Galatians that salvation and fellowship in the Body of Christ and in the faith is secured by the grace of God… · And yet some spied them out… slipped in secretly, with some sort of stealth, looking like brothers, acting like brothers, but when it came time for obedience to the Word of God, they weren’t brothers. And that’s how you know. And that’s hard. The “I love you’s” and the encouragements and the compliments and the smiles and the hugs and the warmth and the affection…, none of that truly communicates partnership. The only thing that is true in identifying family in the Lord is obedience to the Word of God. Which is really just trust and loyalty to Jesus… · Paul wouldn’t yield to them at all… And thank goodness that he didn’t. If he had then perhaps Christianity would have simply become a new sect of Judaism. But Paul held to salvation by grace through faith under the guidance and revelation of Jesus Himself and even at times, Jesus only! Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 6 · Paul had an open heart to anyone that was with Jesus. And he would protect his heart from anyone who wasn’t. “Makes no difference to me,” sounds harsh but it’s a statement of alignment and priority. His decision and his loyalty are primarily influenced in/by his relationship with Jesus. And played out, that might look harsh to some… And that’s ok… · And this statement is one to remember. God shows personal favoritism to no man… Not a person that has ever lived has been more important than any other in the heart of God. This one is not easy to navigate in terms of my own and your own conduct. Because while showing partiality is sin, (several places in the Bible including James 2, Deuteronomy 10, Romans 2, Ephesians 6, and Acts 10), God takes pleasure in those who love Him, which is wonderful and good. So, for me, for you, it’s an issue really of the heart. Some folks we mesh with because they are good to us, but the folks we don’t mesh with, do we degrade their importance to us (which is ok) or to the Lord (which is not ok). Because even those that we don’t get along with are as important as you are to the Lord… · It’s the prayer life. That’s the measurement. Will you remember them in your prayers with a heart of love… Even though they are the opposite of your favorite? That’s a good measurement. AND, consistency in your dealings with folks. The moment you treat someone differently than another in an identical situation…, that could be an easy target for the enemy to mess things up! Because you typically are tempted to lie to get out of it if you’re called to the carpet regarding your unfair behavior… Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 7 – 10 · I love this! Problem solved in a Godly way! Recognizing that we each have our ministries but they are different. And they don’t have to be the same, look the same or even administrate the same. God has called you to the circumcision? Great! Go for it, Peter! God has called you, Paul, to the gentiles? Great! Go for it! They were dealing with different kinds of people who needed a different style and emphasis, but the same message! · “When they saw the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to Paul,” Peter, James and John listened for what was the message and the motivation of what Paul and Barnabas were telling them and they perceived/discerned and understood that it was the gospel and grace (or better said, the grace of God through the gospel/testimony of Jesus Christ), hey…! That’s it! We are IN! · So, Paul has his calling which he is sure of and Paul has alignment with those really in a position of authority…, anyone else who seems be something, whatever they were it makes no difference. Words of Paul… Pretty awesome! · The only thing asked of Paul would be that he remembers the poor throughout his ministry which is a reference actually to the church/believers in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem first century although it was gaining steam and growing in number, business was bad. The Jewish/Judaist culture was certainly not embracing those that no longer followed the law of Moses… And so financially there was struggle… · There was also a famine at this time. Acts 11:27-30 we read, “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” · Paul’s response was generosity and sharing and even being mindful of the financial needs of Peter, James and John…, all that wasn’t something he had to do… But was something he was eager to do! The appropriate response from someone who realizes they’ve received so much…, an eagerness to give and to share… A ministry of the presence of God on earth!