1 Division in Antioch

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

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Acts 11:27-30; 12:25 & Gal 2:1-10

a) A private meeting – Gal. 2:2

• Acts 15:4 was a larger, public meeting

b) Went by revelation – Gal 2:2

• Acts 11:28-30 Agabus prophesies by the spirit

• Acts 15:2 Brethren determine to send Paul

c) Remember the poor – Gal. 2:10

• Acts 11 visit to provide a contribution

• NIV: “continue to remember the poor”

d) No mention of the Acts 15 letter

• Paul does not mention the “circumcision not required” ruling of the

council – this in a stroke would have settled the trouble in Galatia

e) Inconceivable for Peter to separate from Gentiles after Acts 15

• Peter’s lapse fits best before the conference, around the time of

Acts 15:1

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Peter’s Response to Rebuke

Gal 2:14-21 “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the

Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like

Jews?”

“man is…justified …through faith in Christ Jesus…the

Grace of God”

Acts 11:7-11 Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren…God, who

knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy

Spirit, just as he also did to us; and He made no distinction

between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing

upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our

fathers nor we have been able to bear?

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the

Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."

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Was Paul too harsh on Peter? James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren,

knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter

judgment.

1 Tim 5:19-20 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except

on the basis of two or three witnesses.

Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence

of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.

1 Tim 1:6-7, 20 For some men, straying from these things, have

turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be

teachers…among these are Hymenaeus and

Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan,

so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

2 John 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this

teaching, do not receive him into your house, and

do not give him a greeting…

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Gal 2:15-21 – Summary

v15-16 No Jew or Gentile cannot be made righteous by works

• Generic: A man is not justified by works of the Law

• Personal: Even we…not (justified) by the works of the Law

• Universal: By the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified

(Psa 143:2 – also Rom 3:20)

Law makes shows us to be unrighteous – We are made

righteous by the “faithfulness OF Christ”

v17 We still sin when “in Christ”. But this does not mean that he

is a “server (‘promoter’ – NIV) of sin”

• Similar to Rom 6:1-2 – “Shall we sin that grace may abound?”

v18 If I go back to the law, all I prove is that I am a sinner, it won’t

save me

• Law was being promoted as a way to overcome the problem of

sinning while in Christ

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Gal 2:15-21 – Summary

V19 The law taught me that it was worthless as a means of salvation

(also it was the means of its own demise), pointing to the one

who could give life

v20 Like Christ, I died (to self, law, flesh), but now live by the

“faithfulness OF Christ” – He lives in me!

• Saved by PARTICIPATION NOT SUBSTITUTION

• A key verse (like Gal 1:3-4) showing primary motive of

atonement is SELFLESSNESS NOT SELFISHNESS

• Very personal section – I, I, me, I, I , me, me – atonement

should not be merely intellectual theory

v21 The Judaizers are rejecting God’s grace

If righteousness comes from works of Law, then Christ’s death

was pointless

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God begins, Flesh completes? (3:3) “Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people

would think they could complete by their own efforts what was

begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to

begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?” (The Message)

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good

work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 1:6)

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

(1 Thessalonians 5:24)

…who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of

our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were

called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(1 Corinthians 1:8-9)