The Apostle Paul loves the church in Galatia. So he talks clearly to them. He reminds them that it was through seeing Jesus Christ crucified (by hearing the message of the gospel) that they received the spirit. It was not by being obedient to the law.

There's a warning here for us. For if the Galatians could be so bewitched, then it's possible for us to be led astray as well.

Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 

Today in focus is the whole question of how do we read words in the bible. In what sense are they directed to us? Here the Apostle Paul says 'You Foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?' (Galatians 3:1) But with what tone should we read these words? And how should we see these words as applying to us as modern readers today?

Today we are concluding a little two part series based on a work from John Piper, 'When Leaders Disagree', coming out of Galatians 2.

The first three points canvassed yesterday were:

1 Great Saints go astray – both sons of thunder and sons of encouragement

2 Ministry is made up of many judgment calls and we will have to learn to disagree on some things without rancor or bitterness or resentment
3 Every strength has its corresponding weakness and we are all vulnerable

The last three points from John Piper that we focus on today are:

4 Therefore we need each other’s different strengths and mustn’t envy one another but rather give thanks for God’s wisdom.
5 Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of future obedience.  Successful Christian living is made of vigilance and constant prayer.
6 The cause of God will triumph through all the weaknesses and failures of his people.  Our defeats are temporary and the celebration of our enemies is brief.

In his treatment on Galatians 2, John Piper has six concluding remarks about disagreements among Christian leaders that I found helpful when I first read them years ago. As I studied them again today, I found them helpful again, so thought I would reshare them here.

Today we focus on the first three:

1. Great Saints Go Astray

2. The Reality of Judgment Calls
3. The Vulnerability of "Sons of Encouragement"

A link to John Piper's article:
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/barnabas-the-weakness-of-a-great-leader

Today we explore the disagreement between the Apostle's Paul and Peter and how it is resolved. Paul takes us through what he and the Apostle Peter agree on, and the flashpoint area of disagreement.

There's a little nugget of joy in this passage in that this is the verse on which the great Christian hymnwriter Charles Wesley was converted and from where this great verse came :

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Galatians 2:15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

We start a new series today in the important letter of Paul to the Galatians. The key issue is preserving the freedom that a Christian has. Today we look at the importance of being Christ's, the authority of the Apostle and the trusting in God's gospel.

The whole future of the Christian gospel is at stake. The Apostle Peter who was led by revelation to bring the gospel to the Gentiles in Acts 10, is now refusing table fellowship with Gentile Christians. Lots have followed his lead, even Barnabas. Peter needs correction and the Apostle Paul issues a public rebuke.

Galatians 2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Peter in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?” 

Churches have had a habit of slipping into legalism. It's easy to see some of these in the past. But there are present temptations as well. Things perceived as good desirable perhaps cultural things become 'theological musts.' But as soon as you allow that you have denied the very heart of the gospel.

Paul takes his concern about the proposed imposition of circumcision on Gentile believers to the Apostles in Jerusalem and agreement is reached. The gospel is a gospel of freedom in Christ.

Galatians 2:6 As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

After 14 years Paul goes to Jerusalem, but I don’t think he’s going to get his gospel authenticated – that’s already happened – God did that.

Well without the confirmation, support, relationship, with the Jerusalem leaders – there might be two locus’ of authority in the wider church.

As one of the commentators writes –  Paul’s commission was not derived from Jerusalem – but it could not be executed effectively except in fellowship with Jerusalem. A cleavage between the gentile mission and the Jerusalem church would be disastrous. Christ would be divided….and the energy Paul had devoted to the gentile mission – frustrated.

Galatians 2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 

Today we learn the back story of the Apostle Paul. Significantly the story behind why he can say he is Christ's man, and will so fearlessly defend and proclaim his Lord Jesus.

Galatians 1:11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people 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, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me.