1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

4 This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Elise Le

I work among people who have all sorts of religious beliefs, and one of the more prominent religions in my workplace is Islam. Each year, many of my work colleagues observe Ramadan.

After work one night as I drove my friend home, I asked her a question about Ramadan. I asked, “Why do you fast? What does it all mean to you?”. She responded, “I’m not sure, I just do it because it’s a good thing to do and it pleases Allah. Allah sees my good deeds, and one day there is the hope that I can be in paradise because of it.” I then asked her, “How do you know that you’ll get to be in paradise?”, and she responded by saying, “You know what? I don’t actually know if I’ll really get to be in paradise, but I can try really hard to.” It was a conversation that made me quite sad. I was sad knowing that despite all her efforts in fasting and her prayers, she had no true hope that any of her efforts would earn her a place in paradise.

This passage reminded me of the great gospel message of grace, which so many people have not heard or don’t understand. We see in these few verses that Paul had met with the key leaders of the Christian church in Jerusalem to discuss the gospel that he was preaching. It seems some people within the church were saying that to be a Christian, you must be circumcised and follow the Old Testament law. Paul however wants to affirm the true gospel message, that we are freed because of Christ (vs 4), and are not required to keep the law to be saved.

How great is it that our salvation is found through faith in Christ and by God’s grace and mercy alone. After my conversation with my colleague, God opened the door for me to share about this grace that I have received through Christ. This idea of grace was foreign to her, since we live in a culture of needing to work or do things to receive a good reward. I wonder if you sometimes think in the same way, even as a Christian? Do you sometimes say to yourself, “God will only be pleased with me if I…”. It is so important to keep reminding ourselves that we can never add to our salvation, that we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elise is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.

18 Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

21 Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Yuan Vongsavanh

When something amazing happens that brings you into a very exclusive group of people – say if you’ve just been accepted into the fellowship of medical surgeons (the last census reported 668 surgeons in NSW) or given the title of Kings Counsel as one of the top barristers in the Commonwealth countries (last report 382 in NSW) – people would expect you to immediately celebrate with your fellow cohort, share experiences, or at least attend the gala dinner.

Not Paul. After he was appointed by Jesus himself as the apostle to the Gentiles, he went straight to work. In yesterday’s passage, Paul recounted his amazing conversion story. In verse 17 he explained that he did not go straight back to Jerusalem to meet with the other apostles and recount how Jesus appeared to him in the most dramatic way. Instead, he went straight to Arabia and Damascus to do what God instructed him to do: preach Christ among the Gentiles (v16).  In verses 18-19, he says that he didn’t return to Jerusalem until 3 years later – only for 15 days, and he only saw 1 other apostle (James) before going on to other cities to keep preaching about Christ. Very few people in the “mother church” in Jerusalem knew him, but they had all heard the report about him: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (v23). God used Paul’s conversion story and his life to bring people to Himself.

Paul knew the task that he was given and the purpose of his life, and he went straight to the work that he was set apart for – heading into 5 cities in the short space of 6 verses. Paul is able to say at the end of the chapter that “they glorified God because of me”. Let’s pray that we too can see our purpose and mission as clearly as Paul and take action without distraction, so that others hear about Christ through us and God is glorified!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yuan is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.

13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

It’s always encouraging hearing someone’s testimony about how God saved them and brought them to faith in Jesus. Whether it’s dramatic or ordinary, at the heart of every person’s story is the grace of God to an undeserving rebel. Paul’s conversion story is as dramatic as they come, but it was one of pure grace. It was all God’s initiative (if you’re hazy on the details, take a few minutes to read Acts 9:1-31).

But Paul’s conversion was also very different to yours and mine. The risen Lord Jesus appeared to him in glory, personally and directly, and set him aside for a unique task: to “preach Him among the Gentiles.” Paul’s conversion was also his appointment as Apostle to the Gentiles.

The reason Paul tells that story here is, again, to defend himself against the false teachers in Galatia. They were accusing Paul of teaching a muddled gospel that he heard second-hand. But Paul reminds them of what they already knew – that Paul received the gospel from Jesus himself on the road to Damascus.

But the way Paul describes how he came to understand the gospel is striking. He says God “was pleased to reveal His Son in me.” Paul didn’t just receive information, or a message, idea or truth. He received a Person. He came to see that God’s entire plan for the world is focused on his Son – and as Paul accepted that truth, he began to know Jesus personally.

That’s another way in which Paul’s conversion story is like every believer’s story. Whether you heard the gospel through your parents, a friend, Scripture classes, or just from reading the Bible, when you believed it, you didn’t just receive information. You received Christ himself. In fact, God not only reveals Christ to us; as Christ dwells in us, God starts to form us into little reflections of his Son. And that means that as you go about your life – at work or school or with your neighbours – and as you seek to share something about Jesus with them, God will do something beautiful: He will show them Jesus in you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.b 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Amelia Lin

I think that a common experience for all of us is finding it hard to discern what is true with all the messages we get from the world, whether this comes from social media, our friends, our workplaces, pop culture, or even our family. Often, we want to believe the messages that sound nice and that the people closest to us believe. It seems that this is similar to what the Galatian Christians were experiencing.

Paul has just rebuked the Galatians for turning to other truths that undermine the gospel of Christ, and he has urged them to live in the grace of Christ. In today’s passage Paul continues to challenge them by asking some rhetorical questions. In verse 10, Paul asks whether the Galatians think he is seeking the approval of people or of God? This was probably one of the tactics of the false teachers – they tried to discredit Paul by saying he was a people-pleaser. But Paul assures them, in verse 11, that he is a servant of Christ, so he seeks only the approval of God. They can be sure of that because the gospel that Paul preaches was not made up by Paul or any other mere person. He received the gospel he preaches by revelation from Jesus Christ.

I am thankful that when it is hard to discern what it true, we can be sure of the truth of the gospel of Christ, as it has been revealed to us in God’s Word and by His Spirit. When we are confused by the different teachings of the world, we can come back to the Bible, which is not of human origin! I think this is also a challenge for us to make sure that we are not getting distracted by what other people say and try to convince us of, and instead be firm in our conviction of the truth of God’s Word.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amelia is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation

6 I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 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 under a curse!

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

I remember many years ago as an early Christian, I went to a conference where the speaker said to those attending: “Look to the right of you, look to the left of you – one day, one of them will no longer be a Christian.” It really shook up what I thought about Christians generally – that once someone turned to Jesus, it would be crazy to turn away from following him. I know that in God’s hidden purposes, he has chosen those he will save. But from our perspective, there is a real danger of abandoning the gospel. In today’s passage, Paul begins his letter telling the Galatians that they are deserting Jesus – and not just deserting him, but doing so “quickly” (v6).

How does this happen? Paul gives us some hints: firstly, they are turning away from the true gospel by turning towards a false gospel (which as Paul says, “is not even a gospel”). Secondly, someone else has preached this false gospel and led the Galatians to believe it.

Today, you’ll be hearing from many different voices. Some may be telling you about the way to have everlasting meaning in your life, some may be telling you about the right way to experience God. How do what these voices say stack up against what the Bible says? Do they complement the words of the true gospel of Jesis Christ which the apostle Paul preached? Or do they distort or pervert the gospel, or contradict what the Bible says? Let’s be wise towards what voices we are letting into our daily lives and check what they say against the words of truth that the Bible brings. And if you aren’t sure, talk with a trusted brother or sister and together, like iron sharpens iron, let’s sharpen one another in the true gospel.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.

1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

This month we are going to read Paul’s letter to the churches he had established in Galatia, a region in central modern-day Turkey. Paul speaks very bluntly (as we’ll see tomorrow), because there was a group of false teachers who were leading these young Christians away from the true gospel of the Lord Jesus.

Here’s a quick roadmap for what’s ahead. The false teachers were painting Paul as a false apostle who had taught them an incomplete version of the gospel. So in chapters 1–2, Paul defends his standing as a true apostle who received the gospel message directly from the risen Lord Jesus. That’s why he introduces himself in verse 1 as “an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” The apostles were people who physically saw the Lord Jesus after his resurrection, and who Jesus personally commissioned as his messengers. (That’s also why, if I ever introduce myself like that in a sermon, you should report me to my bishop … hi, Pete!)

Next, in chapters 3–4, Paul explains the key distortion of the false teachers: they were teaching that we are justified on the basis of faith in Jesus plus certain works of the Old Testament law, like circumcision. That tiny little “plus” completely destroyed the true gospel of Jesus, which says that we can only be justified as a gift of God’s grace, not “part gift, part our fleshly works.” Finally, in chapters 5–6 he explains how that true gospel of grace frees us to live the new life of the Spirit.

As a final reflection on these first verses: It’s very helpful to have right expectations. If I expected the Eels to win the NRL every year, I’d be very depressed by now. That’s why I find the phrase “this present evil age” helpful (v2). It reminds me that we shouldn’t ever expect human society in this world to become good, let alone godly and Christ-centred. It will always be an “evil age.” But there is another age coming – the age of the Spirit, of eternal life, of righteousness and joy in God’s new creation. Jesus has already rescued us from this evil age by dying for our sins, and he has entered the age to come by his resurrection. So if you trust in him, you belong to the age to come, and your resurrection life with him is assured. What an amazing hope – a certain expectation – to anchor your identity and fuel your prayers this week.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our senior minister.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

PSALM 53

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

1 The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”

They are corrupt; their ways are vile.
There is no one who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven
upon the sons of men
to see if any understand,
if any seek God.
3 All have turned away,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn?

They devour my people like bread;
they refuse to call upon God.
5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to fear.
For God has scattered the bones
of those who besieged you.
You put them to shame,
for God has despised them.

6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When God restores His captive people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

Psalm 54

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “Is David not hiding among us?”

1 Save me, O God, by Your name,
and vindicate me by Your might!
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers rise up against me,
and ruthless men seek my life—
men with no regard for God.

Selah

4 Surely God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
5 He will reward my enemies with evil.
In Your faithfulness, destroy them.
6 Freely I will sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.
7 For He has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eyes have stared down my foes.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

Context: The title of this Psalm links it to an episode in the life of David in 1 Samuel 21–22. King Saul had become mad with jealousy at David, because he knew that God had chosen David as the future king. Saul was bent on killing David, and David had to run for his life, alone and afraid. He stopped for food and supplies from a priest called Ahimelek, but he didn’t realise that he was putting Ahimelek’s life in danger, because one of Saul’s servants was there – a man from Edom called Doeg. When Doeg informed Saul that Ahimelek had helped David, Saul sent for Ahimelek’s entire family, and ordered Doeg to murder them all. Only one of Ahimelek’s sons, called Ahitub, escaped. He joined David, who promised him, “You will be safe with me” (1 Sam. 22:23).

~~~

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
2 Your tongue devises destruction
like a sharpened razor,
O worker of deceit.
3 You love evil more than good,
falsehood more than speaking truth.

Selah

4 You love every word that devours,
O deceitful tongue.
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin;
He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent;
He will uproot you from the land of the living.

Selah

6 The righteous will see and fear;
they will mock the evildoer, saying,
7 “Look at the man
who did not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his wealth
and strengthened himself by destruction.”

8 But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in the loving devotion of God
forever and ever.
9 I will praise You forever,
because You have done it.
I will wait on Your name—
for it is good—
in the presence of Your saints.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your loving devotion;
according to Your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me clean of my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You may be proved right when You speak
and blameless when You judge.
5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

6 Surely You desire truth in the inmost being;
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones You have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from Your presence;
take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
and sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
and sinners will return to You.

14 Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart,
O God, You will not despise.

18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
in whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.

As you read, keep in mind our two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 The Mighty One, God the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from where the sun rises to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God approaches and will not be silent!
Consuming fire precedes Him,
and a tempest rages around Him.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that He may judge His people:
5 “Gather to Me My saints,
who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim His righteousness,
for God Himself is Judge.

Selah

7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak,
O Israel, and I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.
8 I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,
and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.
9 I have no need for a bull from your stall
or goats from your pens,
10 for every beast of the forest is Mine—
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are Mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Sacrifice a thank offering to God,
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

16 To the wicked, however, God says,
“What right have you to recite My statutes
and to bear My covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate My instruction
and cast My words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you befriend him,
and throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You unleash your mouth for evil
and unharness your tongue for deceit.
20 You sit and malign your brother;
you slander your own mother’s son.
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I was just like you.
But now I rebuke you
and accuse you to your face.

22 Now consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you to pieces,
with no one to rescue you:
23 He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and to him who rights his way,
I will show the salvation of God.”

REFLECTIONS

Now think about the two questions:

1. What things in this Psalm can I relate to?

2. Is there anything in the Psalm that makes me think of Jesus?

Then pray, seeking to delight in God or to depend on God.