Galatians 2 The Party of the Circumcision

Grace: ÷Üñéò  A First-Century Greeting (Gal.1:3)  Favor, Gift, Liberality, Generosity, an Expression of kindness (Rom.2:4)  Gratifying, Pleasure, Joy!  Galatians 1:6 “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;”

A Short Story (Matthew 20) 6:00 amNoon5:00 pm $80

Galatians 2:11-12 (NASB-U) But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

Galatians 2:13-14 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "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?

#1 “Grace is not fair!” “All of my good works are meaningless?” Paul’s answer (2:15-16): "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles…” “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”

#1 “Grace is not fair!” “All of my good works are meaningless?” All Equally Disqualified:  “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48  "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23  “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:10

#1 “Grace is not fair!” “All of my good works are meaningless?” YOU GOD “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

#1 “Grace is not fair” “All of my good works are meaningless?” All Equally Disqualified  “ nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (Gal.2:16) 1 2 3

#1 “Grace is not fair” “All of my good works are meaningless?” All Equally Disqualified All Equally Qualified!  “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (Gal.2:16) 1 2

#1 “Grace is not fair” “All of my good works are meaningless?” All Equally Disqualified All Equally Qualified! Either Saved by Grace OR Law: NOT BOTH  “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” - Galatians 2:21 (NASB-U) Ephes. 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Another Objection “But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not!” Galatians 2:17 (NLT)

#2: Grace is dangerous!  An Unhealthy Fear of Sin? Jesus said you must “love the lord your god with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.” Is this being expressed in your life? Do you love God more than any other thing? Is the most important thing in your life to daily know God and His will for you? Are you leading a Holy life? Would your neighbors describe you as “Holy” ? If these are not true of you, then you have never been converted. No matter what you may have been led to believe, you are not saved. You are another vicitm of “Easy Believism”.

#2: Grace is dangerous!  An Unhealthy Fear of Sin?  Works Promotes Sin (Hypocrisy): “If I rebuild something that I've torn down, I admit that I was wrong to tear it down.” - Galatians 2:18 (GW) Salvation is by Grace, but works keeps salvation around? A perversion of Grace! “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.” Galatians 2:19

#2: Grace is dangerous!  An Unhealthy Fear of Sin?  Works Promotes Sin (Hypocrisy):  An Improper Understanding of Grace is Dangerous! Grace is not “How can I get you off my back, God?” Grace is: “I don’t deserve a relationship, but I want a relationship with you.” “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” - John 1:12

#2: Grace is dangerous!  An Unhealthy Fear of Sin?  Works Promotes Sin (Hypocrisy):  An Improper Understanding of Grace is Dangerous!  Only Grace Provides a Superior Motivation for change! “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NASB-U)

The “Grace Chain” Gal.2:20  Understand Grace: “Christ gave himself up for me.”  Learn to Appreciate that “Christ loved me…”  Then Trust in Him: “I live by faith in the Son of God”  Depend on Him: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me…”  THEN: See Real Change “I have been crucified with Christ…”