By Sam Nobles
In chapter 1, we saw grace
declared in Paul’s message and modeled in the way he lived his life. In chapter
2, we will now see that same grace defended in his ministry relationship with
the church as a corporate body, and specifically with Peter on a personal
level.
The Runner (v.1-5)
Paul saw himself as a runner in
a race, and he was positive that he was on the right track and moving with a
sense of purpose. The Judaizers had somehow found a way to infiltrate the
church and were teaching that
circumcision was essential for salvation. This burden was getting the believers
off of the right track of following and trusting Jesus alone for their
salvation.
The Steward (v.6-10)
Paul summarizes his point: his
gospel or apostolic credentials did not depend on any sort of approval or
influence from men, even influential men.[i]
God committed the gospel into the hands of his people to not only guard it, but
to share it with others. The Lord is not in need of popular celebrities to
spread his message, rather he is looking for faithful stewards.
The Watchman (v.11-13)
Though Peter had been in
agreement with welcoming Gentiles into the church without bringing them under
the Law of Moses, when Peter came to Antioch (Paul’s home church), it was
another story.[ii] Peter refused to have anything to do with the
Gentile Christians when certain Jewish believers arrived from Jerusalem. Paul
was not afraid to confront the Apostle Peter when he moved away from the grace
of the gospel message.
The Destroyer (v.14-21)
Paul brings it to Peter’s attention that they are
justified before God only because of the finished work of Jesus, not by their
keeping of the law. Jesus destroyed the Law by fulfilling it perfectly. It was
his death and resurrection that tore down the wall between the Jews and
Gentiles. To go back to the Law is to rebuild what Jesus tore down and to say
that he did not really save us when we trusted him.[iii]
Scripture to
Claim:
“I have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 ESV)
David Guzik, Galatians and Ephesians
(Enduring Word Media, 2012).
[1] Ibid.
[1] Warren W.
Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Study Series: Galatians: Exchange Legalism for
True Spirituality, New edition (David C. Cook, 2010).
