©2003 Pastor Tom Miles

The second chapter of Galatians is closely related to chapter one.  We will find as we go into this chapter that it is part of Paul’s same argument from chapter one.  We could also divide this chapter into two sections:

·       Paul’s visit to Jerusalem  Galatians 2:1-10
·       Paul’s rebuke of Peter at Antioch  Galatians 2:11-21

Father, guide us, lead us, and reveal unto us Your Word in Jesus name Amen!

Verse one begins giving reference to a journey to Jerusalem 14 years after having visited before hand.  It is not known for sure if this refers to the journey mentioned in Acts 11 or the one mentioned in Acts 15.  All we know for sure is that he had gone to Jerusalem shortly after his conversion and now 14 years later he is going again.  Paul goes on in verse two to further his claim that it was Christ that called him to go to the Gentiles to preach the gospel.  It didn’t come from man but from Christ.  Paul says it didn’t come from hiding or from fear but from direct revelation from the Lord and this revelation directed the manner and fashion of Paul’s preaching.  Paul says nothing comes before God and this is how it should be with all that preach the Gospel of Christ--put nothing before God so than your race will not be run in vain but instead will be run to the glory of God!  Law, as we see in verse three, is not required for salvation but law was totally removed by Christ for He came as an example of how to live and He came to fulfill the law.  Paul says that even Titus, a Greek, was not compelled to follow the tradition of the law and be circumcised.  Verse four says it is probable that the false brothers spoken here of are from the Pharisees (Acts 15:5) whether they were deliberately trying to come against Paul and others or just jealous perhaps is not really known from this passage.  One thing that is known is that Paul says if it were not for the false teachers there would be no reason for him to defend or explain this but now it must be done as a matter of discretion.  Paul always made sure everything he did was above board.  In verse five we see Paul taking a stand for what he believes and he did not waver from the truth of Christ.  Paul knew what Christ told him and what came from Christ to him to be delivered to the people and he stood firm on that.  There was no giving in to the false teaching by Paul and the others with him.

Paul now in verse 6 says that it makes no difference who you are or what position you hold.  Whether it be the apostles in Jerusalem, Peter, James, or John, Timothy, Titus, it matters not the position you hold but what matters is who do you come from!  If you are not from God--not speaking the truth of God you are nothing.  Paul speaks of the leaders spoken of in Acts 15:6 saying they gave him no reason to make changes in the Gospel he preaches.  Verses seven to 10 talk of the church leaders three of whom are mentioned above, Peter, James, and John, that testify to the work of Paul being from God.  They knew of and saw Paul at work for Christ and gave their approval.  Paul then says that he only desires that the poor and needy are remembered.  Paul desired for the Gentiles to also help to meet the needs of the poor Christians.
Father, keep me always aware of those less fortunate around me and allow me to give in every way I can to help deliver the message of Christ and His love to all people.

In verses 11-13 we read that when Peter came to Antioch, Paul rebuked him for he had done a wrong.  This reproving of Peter by Paul shows that Paul truly was an apostle respected even by the older ones.  Paul goes on to say that Peter’s wrong was in putting the wall back up between the Jews and the Gentiles because of certain Jewish leaders coming to him telling him he might be a stumbling block before them.  Even though those coming to Peter knew the wall between Gentile and Jew had been removed by Christ they were afraid to show their true feelings.  Similar in nature to many of us today is it not? Dear Lord help me to never deny You before man!

Paul in verse 14 questions Peter saying to him that it was time to be decisive in his actions.  Paul did not want to see a message go forth from Antioch that was not of the truth of God.  It is also made known that this rebuke was a public one also.  Paul says to Peter, you lived amongst the Gentile Christians according to their customs and now you attempt to cause them to live in a different way; it cannot be because Christ broke down the barriers.  Going on in verses 15 and 16 Paul says that Jewish Christians already know and realize they are justified by faith in Christ not by works of the law by which no flesh whatsoever can be justified.  Because of this knowledge there was no reason for Paul or others to act as if the Gentiles must follow the ceremonial laws--the only law to now follow was Christ Jesus!  Verse 17 leads us into a valuable truth that anytime we try to justify ourselves in a way that is not of Christ we make Christ a sinner and that just can’t be!  Christ is not the author of sin and His Gospel does not lead to or favor sin of any kind.  The Gospel of Christ does just the opposite and points out the sinners wrong doing and leads them away from sin and into the loving arms and grace of God!  Paul now says in verse 18 that if he continues to sin he is a sinner!  There is no other way to look at it, it’s not a maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m a sinner, if you sin  you’re a sinner.  The things pulled down refer to going back to the things of Moses and teaching those things to others.  This would be teaching the law to be better than Christ and works of the law cannot justify so they do no one any good.   And Paul continues in 19 to say that he now lives by the faith of the Son of God, free from the law, free from death because of the law, made new in Christ who paid the penalty of sin on the cross.  In the last two verses, 20-21 Paul says “I am crucified with Christ.”  This means that by faith Paul was crucified at his conversion dieing out to the old life, crucified in the flesh, alive through Christ who now lives in him.  Paul says that his old life is gone, put away and his new life is like unto that of Christ because the spirit of Christ is now within him.  Paul explains that he also lives by the faith of the Son of God which is a bond of his spirit to Christ’s Spirit enabling him to live in a new light with new wisdom and discernment to differentiate between that which is false and misleading.  Paul says “If righteousness come by the law” then Christ died for no reason!  In other words if there is any other way to receive salvation, justification other than by Christ--Christ died for nothing.  There was no reason for Him to go through the suffering, to leave heaven, to be born a baby, grow up and die a horrendous death if there were another way for us to receive salvation!  Any one that claims or offers any other means of salvation is renouncing the Gospel of Christ and proclaiming Christ’s death as void and meaningless!

Father I believe that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ Your Son and I pray that You keep me from ever teaching or guiding in any direction other than Jesus Christ!  Father, thank You for crucifying me with Christ, justifying me by faith through Christ Jesus! Amen!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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