Galatians 2:1-21

Did Christ Die for Nothing?

As we mentioned yesterday, the letter to the Galatians was written because this church was being weaned away from the grace of the Gospel into a religion of works and Paul was not about to stand for it. Knowing this it becomes easy to connect the dots in this chapter.

When he went up to Jerusalem after fourteen years in the ministry he took Titus along. Titus was evidently a gentile and uncircumcised. The leaders of the Jerusalem church accepted Titus without insisting that he follow this ritual in order to belong. It did become an issue but the church leaders rejected the idea that this outward work of righteousness was required.

Paul only mentions that the “leaders” sided with him in this because the Galatians were apparently impressed by human credentials. God, however, does not judge based on externals. God looks on the heart.

One of these leaders, in fact the chief leader, Simon Peter even started to go back to works and rituals, but Paul set his straight. (A side note here: Peter’s besetting sin seemed to be fear. That is not unusual in people with brash personalities. Even after receiving the fullness of the Spirit he apparently stumbled occasionally. He’s kind of like us.) 

Peter was in Antioch enjoying the revival along with all of the saints until the hard liners arrived from Jerusalem. Then Peter started to not be so friendly with the gentile believers for fear of this group. Believe it or nor that is not how God works in our lives. The poison started to spread through out the whole group in Antioch until Paul put a public stop to it. Apparently, once he was called on it Peter got back on track. (Good old Peter.)

It is by grace, friends. If we make it about anything else then we set aside God’s grace and Christ died for nothing. But it is never for nothing. Christ died to do what we could never do. Receive it. Enjoy it. Flourish in it.