The world we live in today is a warzone, whether looking at global conflicts, in the political area, or even conflict closer to home, in marriages, in families and in day-to-day life. Each of us also face our own personal battles, whether in your health, finances or career.  

 Few people like conflict and most of us would just like a quiet life but many times we must fight in some way or other whether we like it not. For if we do not fight, we may lose our freedoms, our blessings and even our families and children.  

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. One of the biggest battles we must win, is the fight for the truth of the gospel in our lives and in the life of the church. In fact, the church is often one of the biggest battle grounds for truth because if the gospel is watered down or corrupted then worldly culture will conquer the church rather than the church being a light of hope in the surrounding darkness.  

In our current series on Galatians, we learn about Paul’s battle to preserve the truth of the gospel against powerful religious opposition and human thinking. Although the first century church was growing so fast amongst the Gentiles or non-Jews, the apostle Paul saw that there were powerful groups who were insisting that new believers had to strictly follow old Jewish traditions and practices, including the practice of circumcision (Galatians 2:4-5). 

So, what is this truth, and why is it worth fighting for? Let’s explore how the truth of the gospel is revealed, how it confronts us, and how it transforms us.  

1. Revelation of the truth of the gospel (Galatians 1:12; Galatians 2:16) 

2. Confrontation for the truth of the gospel. After revelation comes confrontation (Galatians 2:11-15) 

3. Transformation through the truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:19-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17) 

Apply  

1. Revelation of the truth of the gospel. Paul’s revelation of the gospel didn’t come from human teaching but from a direct encounter with Jesus (Galatians 1:12). This revelation was that knowing God comes simply through faith in Jesus Christ and not by following religion (Galatians 2:16). This revelation was the catalyst that changed everything for Paul, transforming him from a religious man and persecutor of Christians to a passionate leader giving his life for the freedom of the gospel. Paul, who been highly trained as a Jewish leader, understood that real Christianity centred solely on faith in Christ alone and that meant a radical change of mind and behaviour from old ways of thinking and religious tradition. Everyone, Jew or non-Jew, can now enjoy the grace of God because it is the free gift of God and not the works of man which leads to religious slavery. To this day one of the most dangerous enemies to freedom in Christ is being trapped in a religious mindset and behaviour. Many people may go to church regularly, but this does not necessarily mean that they have had a revelation of salvation through faith in Christ alone. We need to real about this. What is Christianity to you? Is it following rules and judging others? Is it just duty and expectation to carry? Is it all outward? Or is it freedom, love, joy peace? When you have a revelation of freedom and relationship with Jesus, everything changes. Revelation brings excitement, passion and purpose! Paul was driven by the conviction that God had entrusted him with a mission to spread the good news of freedom in Christ and that was something he was prepared to stand for and fight for. 

2. Confrontation for the truth of the gospel. After revelation comes confrontation (Galatians 2:11-15). This was a defining moment for the early chair, for Cephas is none other than Peter, the main disciple of Jesus, and the most prominent leader in the early church before Paul had even become a follower of Jesus. Peter had seen how the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius and accepted that the non-Jews did not need Jewish laws forced on them. Yet now as Paul writes in Galatians 2 he had needed to directly confront Peter (Cephas) for acting in a way that contradicted the truth of the gospel. Peter had allowed cultural and peer pressure to influence his actions, which led to hypocrisy and confusion among other believers. Even Barnabas, the much loved and respected leader in the early church, who had in fact launched Paul into ministry in Antioch, had been taken off track. Religion was creeping in to corrupt the life of the early church. This is quite a challenging passage as it shows us even those who walk closely with God can be swayed by cultural pressures, past upbringing or fear of what others think. Sometimes people you have previously looked up to or even your whole group of people you have known, can get off track and compromise. But you must not be shaped by the behaviour of the group or the herd. You must test everything by God’s word. You must be led by the Spirit of God not by social or historic relationships. You must not fall into the trap of automatically doing the same thing as everyone else does. You must focus on your own relationship with God and in bringing your family up in obedience to God and not worry what other families are thinking or doing. The truth of the gospel will confront our wrong thinking and behaviour. It confronts our past. It confronts the culture we live in, which constantly pressures us to conform to worldly and materialistic standards rather than biblical ones. Not only will the gospel confront us, but we must be willing to confront and challenge others who are going off track. That’s not easy if there is strong pressure from a whole group of people who are self-righteous and insisting that you must conform to old ways which is what the apostle Paul had to do. And it will take a lot of courage to stand for truth especially if it involves people that you know well, maybe even family members something Jesus Himself had to face. However, the future of the gospel and the church and also your family depends on us being willing to engage in confrontation and to stand up for the truth of the gospel. How often do you allow fear to dictate your behaviour, to push you away from standing firmly in the truth of the gospel? How much do you conform to the standards of the world or empty religious traditions? How often do you compromise your beliefs to avoid conflict or to fit in with your friends and the world around us? How much are you living fully in the freedom and grace of Christ, or are you still trying to earn God’s favour through your own efforts? Today, like Paul, you too may need to stand up for grace particularly if you come from a religious background or culture. The control of religion doesn’t let go easily! When we make a stand, it is then that we can live a life of real freedom in Christ. When we do this that we can protect and bless our families and can step into the future of generational blessings and inheritance that God has for us.  

3. Transformation through the truth of the gospel. The truth of the gospel doesn’t just involve revelation and confrontation: it brings profound transformation (Galatians 2:19-21). This isn’t just a poetic statement, it’s the reality of the gospel’s transforming power. When we accept the gospel, we die to our old selves, to the law, to the need to prove ourselves through our own works. We are crucified with Christ, and in exchange, we receive new life through Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). The gospel doesn’t just change a few behaviours here and there; it completely transforms our identity. We are no longer slaves to sin, no longer bound by the law, no longer defined by our past mistakes or failures. We are new creations in Christ. This transformation affects every part of who we are: our spirit, speech, thinking, emotions, purpose, values, and behaviour. The gospel isn’t about working our way to God, it’s about accepting the grace of God and allowing that grace to transform us. This transformation is ongoing as we continue to walk with Christ. Take up this challenge to fight for the truth of the gospel in your life. Don’t give in to the pressures of the world or the fears that hold you back. Don’t settle for a watered-down version of the gospel. Stand firm, as Paul did, and preserve the truth of the gospel for yourself, your family, and your future. Let the truth of God’s amazing grace guide you, confront you, and transform you as you live in the freedom that only Christ can give.