Sunday School Lesson

Sunday School February 5^th, 2012 Galatians 2:15-21

The Epistle to the Galatians (Smith’s Bible Dictionary)
was written by the apostle St. Paul not long after his journey through Galatia and Phrygia, ( Acts 18:23) and probably in the early portion of his two-and-a-half-years stay at Ephesus, which terminated with the Pentecost of A.D. 57 or 58. The epistle appears to have been called forth by the machinations of Judaizing teachers, who, shortly before the date of its composition, had endeavored to seduce the churches of this province into a recognition of circumcision, ( Galatians 5:2,11,12; 6:12) seq., and had openly sought to depreciate the apostolic claims of St. Paul. Comp. (Galatians 1:1,11) "Since the days of Luther the Epistle to the Galatians has always been held in high esteem as the gospel’s banner of freedom. To it and the Epistle to the Romans we owe most directly the springing up and development of the ideas and energies of the Reformation." --Meyer.

GALATIA (guh lay’ shuh) (Holman Bible Dictionary)

Geographical name derived from Gaul because its inhabitants were Celts or Galli (Gauls). The original settlement was in central Asia Minor. See Asia Minor. King Nicomedes of Bithynia invited the Celtic warriors across the Bosporus River to help him fight his brother in 278 B.C. The invaders fought on their own capturing cities until stopped by Antiochus I in 275 B.C. They then occupied the northern part of Asia Minor, bounded on the north by Pontus and Bithynia, on the east by Tavium and Pessinus in the west. For the most part, true Galatians lived in open areas, leaving city occupation to their predecessors, the Phrygians. The true Galatians constantly switched sides in ongoing battles in the area. Finally, in 25 B.C. Rome made Galatia a province of the empire and extended its borders, adding Lycaonia, Isauria, and Pisidia with Ancyra serving as the governmental center. Various Roman rulers added and subtracted territory from the province, so its precise boundaries are difficult to draw.—

2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

Peter’s failure

I had to start a few verses before our lesson for this lesson to make sense. Paul was a real man of God. He attempted to maintain peaceful relations with all men, but he was very forward to confront hypocrisy and weakness. Peter is the guilty party here. He fellowshipped with Gentiles at Antioch until certain Jewish brethren visited. When they arrived Peter shunned the Gentiles as many Jewish folks were wont to do. Under Jewish tradition, it was a sin for a Jewish person to even eat with a Gentile. Peter wanted to have it both ways. He wanted to minister to the Gentiles when the leaders of the Jewish church were absent and look down upon them when they were present. Peter was living as a Gentile. (Relying on Jesus Christ for his salvation, not the works of the Law) If he wanted to preach Christ; he could not have one foot in grace and one in the Law of Moses. It was hypocrisy. We need to be careful that we are not guilty of the same thing. Some folks like to live what I call a closet Christianity. They want to attend church on Sundays and fellowship with the brethren, but they don’t want to acknowledge these same brethren before their worldly friends during the week. This is wrong! A brother is a brother whether he is considered to come from, humble circumstances or not. If we can shake his hand in church, we should be able to shake it on 2^nd Avenue in downtown Gallipolis. My Christian brethren are closer to me than a lot of my fleshly family. I could never be ashamed to befriend them in public.

Jews by nature

Some folks converted to Judaism; they were called proselytes. These were folks from other countries and racial backgrounds who converted to Judaism. Some were made Jews by the Holy Spirit of God when they were born again. Notice the words of the Apostle Paul from Galatians 3:7 “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham..” The promise of blessing through the Messiah was made to Abraham and his seed. Through faith in Jesus Christ all believers are the children of Abraham and therefore Jews by the Spirit. The last type of Jew is the one Paul is mentioning here; Jews by nature. This phrase means those who were born of Jewish parents. The verses preceding our lesson concern a disagreement between Paul and Peter over Peter’s dissimulation towards Gentile believers in the presence of his Jewish friends. Before they arrived in Galatia Peter ate and fellowshipped with these Gentile converts; upon their arrival he separated from them. Paul rebuked Peter for his hypocrisy. They were Jews by nature, but they were no longer living like Jews. They now believed salvation is through faith, not by the works of the law. They were no better than Gentile believers. The old feeling of superiority handed down by the rabbi’s was no longer valid. In Christ Jesus we are all one. One church; one Saviour; one Lord!

2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Justified

Justified means “to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be.” Notice it does not make you righteous; you are declared righteous. The Christian is still subject to committing sin. He is not perfect, but he is justified. He has been pronounced righteous. I like to make it easier by saying justified is just-as-if-I’d never sinned. This justification comes only through faith in the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. It cannot be achieved by works.

Works of the law

The law could not save anyone. Paul declared the law spiritual, but he knew himself to be carnal; sold under sin. (Romans 7:14) Let me show you a couple more scriptures to re-enforce what I am saying: “1^st Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: The second is “Hebrews 10:4-5 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:” Clearly the sacrifices of the law could not justify men. They could only appease an angry God until the time came to send His only begotten Son to die in our stead. If there was any other way to save us God would have gone that route. This is what Jesus meant when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” The cup was the horrible death on the cross. It was not possible for God to redeem man in any other way. God had pronounced death in the Garden of Eden due to the disobedience of mankind. If God was to be just, somebody had to die. The choice was either to let the entire creation of mankind die and spend eternity in Hell or for a perfect, sinless man to willingly give up his life in their place. The only being in the universe qualified to pay this price was God’s own Son. Why did God allow such a thing to happen? John 3:16 answers that question: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”

Justified by Faith

If mankind cannot be justified by works, then how can he be justified in the sight of God? We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. This question has been debated for centuries, but there should be no debate at all. Let me show you God’s way to salvation: “Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” It is clear from the Bible that salvation comes by faith through grace. It is not from paying tithes, being good, church membership, being baptized, making vows, or good deeds; it is by faith. By the way, an easy way to spot whether a movement is a church or a cult is how they respond to this question. Any group that requires a person to work to get to heaven; (selling roses, taking vows of poverty, forgoing marriage, repeating prayers, making missionary journeys, making pilgrimages to Mecca or any other such places) they are cults. If you could get to heaven by good works then Jesus died in vain. Do not sell the gift of God short. There was no other way.

2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Ashamed of Christ

What Paul is saying is: if these believers who have come to Christ are ashamed to be seen as Christians (found sinners) then they are saying Christ made them sinners. They were Jews by nature. (born Jewish) They converted to Christ. If they now are sinners, then Christ must have made them so! Paul answers them strongly: God forbid. I echo this warning to modern Christians; never be ashamed of who you are in Christ. If you are you are saying to Christ that He has damaged you by saving you. That is dangerous ground!

2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Hypocrisy

Paul had been preaching justification by faith. He was not going to go back on that just because some important brethren from Jerusalem were visiting. That would be hypocritical. He would not “build again the things which I destroyed.” I admire Paul’s adamant nature. He was determined to stand for the word of God. He would not compromise. Neither should we!

2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

Dead to the law

When the knowledge of Christ came to Paul, and he saw his faulty obedience to the law, he realized that he was dead in sin, slain by the law. Lets compare another of Paul’s writings: “Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 7:8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 7:10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” This sheds more light on the subject. At one time Paul thought he was alive through the law, but when the revelation of Christ came into his life, he realized he had been dead all along. He was separated from God. Only faith in Christ could bring life. When that knowledge came; he realized he was now dead to the law. He also understands he must now “live unto God.” Not by the letter of the law which brings death, but he will now live by the Spirit of God which brings life and freedom. Freedom from guilt! Freedom from shame! Freedom from condemnation! I often hear Christians say they would like to have lived in the Old Testament times, but not me! Trust me folks; Grace is better!

2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Crucified with Christ

Paul was not literally crucified with Christ, for only the two thieves were crucified with him, but he is speaking metaphorically. The old man was crucified with Christ. Paul would no longer be ruled by the flesh. He could now overcome the world and live righteously. Old things had past; all things had become new. When Christ was crucified, He was separated from human life. When we crucify our flesh, we are separated from worldly life. We are now directed to live after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

Christ liveth in me

When Christ died for us, He obligated us to live for Him. He gave His life for us; we should reciprocate by giving our lives to Him. The good thing is when we give Him our life; He gives it back to us so much better than what we give it to Him. We give him failure and misery; He gives us joy unspeakable and full of glory. We give him condemnation and fear; He gives us justification and hope. Consider giving your life to Him now if you haven’t already. If you are saved, take a moment and thank Him for his blessings on your life.

2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The only way

I touched on this under the explanation for verse 16 so I won’t belabor this point. Just take note that God would not have demanded the life of His only Son unless that had been the only way. He is not a sadist. He did not get pleasure from the torture of His son. Isaiah says “it pleased God to bruise Him,” but this verse means the death of Christ was the propitiation for our sins. The sin debt was satisfied. Don’t think for a moment that God doesn’t love His Son. He is spoken of as His darling. Our sins required the brutal death of Jesus Christ. If you haven’t watched the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” you should. I was overwhelmed by the thought of what my sin cost Jesus Christ. His stripes were for my healing. His blood saved me!

New Living Translation (recommended as a commentary only)

15 You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ—and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law.”*

17 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! 18 Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

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See you soon!!!!

Pastor Rick Barcus

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May God Bless, Pastor Rick Barcus