Bulletins - Calvary Chapel Wenatchee

I Will Call
The Solid Rock
When We All Get To Heaven
Blessed Assurance (My King Is Coming)
How Sweet It Is
I Can Only Imagine
I Stand In Awe
God With Us
Last week:
Paul defended his position, that what he preaches is not from man, but from God
Today, Paul is going to continue to defend his position and the truth of the gospel, no matter who he has to defend it against
Illustration:
In Mississippi, I remember a guy I worked with, who was very much a catholic. As we were driving, I was explaining to him the gospel, that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of works lest any man shall boast. His words to me… “Naw, thats too easy.” That’s the point, it is easy.
His argument wasn’t much different than what we will see today, that the gospel of Jesus makes it too easy, and many people want to distract you from that truth.
Paul Before the Apostles (V.1-5)
V.1
O: Then after an interval of fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
I: Paul went back to Jerusalem after 14 years, the first time being the 15 days he spent there previously, but this time he had Barnabas and Titus with him.
V.2
O: It was because of a revelation that I went up;
I: Paul went to Jerusalem because God revealed something to him
A: Sticking with Paul’s defense, Paul didn’t go because he was summoned nor was he told by men, it was because the Lord Himself gave him reason to go.
O: and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
I: Paul took the leadership of the church to make sure what he was preaching was the right thing, that he wasn’t leading anyone astray from the truth
A: It is ok, and often necessary, to make sure you are teaching correct things and not leading people astray.
Every good teacher/pastor needs accountability from other men
Often, reputable commentaries can be useful in knowing if I am teaching heresy or not.
Another way is through fellowship with other pastors
Steve Whinery in Tri-Cities, other pastor friends
V.3
O: But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised
I: The response by the leaders in Jerusalem didn’t make Titus feel like he needed to follow the Law
A: What we preach should always point people to Jesus, not works, not a law
V.4
O: But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
I: People hate the freedom that is in Christ, and these wolves came in to bring bondage to the believers, make them abandon their freedom in Christ.
A: Not all among us are believers, but false brethren that despise what we have in Christ. People want to bring you into bondage again.
“You are saved by Jesus, but now you must live like Jesus, which means you have to live according to the Torah, because Jesus did.”
Don’t allow yourself to be brought into bondage.
Problem is, it can sound so convincing, so promising
V.5
O: But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
I: Paul’s purpose to not give into these demands is for the sake of the Galatians, that they would not be distracted from the truth.
A: What we subject ourselves to can and will affect those we minister to.
Paul knew that if he gave in, it would set a precedents that would severely affect the gospel in a negative way.
Be careful what you are subject to.
Encouragement From the Apostles (V.6-10)
V.6
O: But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)- well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.
I: The Apostles had nothing to change or add to what Paul was preaching
A: First, titles and positions are unimportant to Paul.
Even though he recognizes authority, men are just men
Contributed nothing to him
This is affirmation that Paul had been preaching truth.
This is affirmation that Paul is not teaching another gospel, but the gospel of Jesus Christ
V.7-8
O: But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (8) (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles.),
I: Everyone recognized the different callings that each was called to, and it was the Lord who works in all the different ministries.
A: Not everyone was called to the same thing, nor the same group of people. As I like to put it, not everyone was called to Africa.
This should give us freedom that we get to minister where we are at, whether that is in your neighborhood, to the people at work, to the people you come across everyday.
But should also give freedom to go to Africa or South America, or India or China… Wherever the Lord has called you to go.
He who effectually works in Peter is also effectually working in Paul
Just cause one group is called to do it one way, doesn’t mean another group is called to that same way.
I love going through the word, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. I think it is the best way to be effective.
But the same Lord, who is effectual in speaking through the style and way I minister, is the same Lord who is effectual in the person who decides to preach topically
Consider Ephesians 4:1-7
Ephesians 4:1–7 NASB95
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Think about the difference in ministry between Paul and Peter.
Peter had to be more diligent to follow the feasts and sabbath and the Jewish customs, because that is who he was ministering to . Paul didn’t have to concern himself with those things, because his ministry was to the Gentiles. But both Paul and Peter recognized the effectual working of the Lord in each, and realized the things they did to minister to the people they were called to were not a means to salvation, but a means to ministry.
I have to recognize too, some churches really love liturgical traditions, some people just need more structure than what we have at Calvary Chapel. As long as those things don’t become a source of salvation or some kind of righteousness, then those things are a means to minister to a certain group.
Once we say you must do it our way… you put yourself in a dangerous position to be in error.
V.9-10
O: and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (10) They only asked us to remember the poor- the very thing I also was eager to do.
I: The big guys gave Paul their full support in his ministry and what he was teaching.
A: It certainly gives confidence when others confirm what we have been doing
I enjoy knowing that what I have been teaching and doing isn’t make people stray from the truth. Usually when I hear another person go through a passage I have already taught, and they same almost exactly the same thing I have, it gives me a little boost.
Remember the poor
Don’t seek fame or fortune for yourself.
Remember this, the Gentiles were the overlords of the Jews.
They may be saying… don’t forget us, who are poor.
In fact, Paul’s first missionary journey was to make a collection for the church in Judea (Acts 11:27-30)
Paul’s Correction of Peter (V.11-21)
V.11-13
O: But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. (12) For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gntiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. (13) The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
I: After Peter and the crew affirmed Paul and what he was preaching, Paul had to correct Peter and what he was doing. He had caused a riff in the body by allowing himself to fear what the Jews thought, and separate from the Gentiles. Even Barnabas was carried away by this.
A: We can see how quickly and easily this influence can spread within the church… and nobody, not even Peter or Barnabas, are beyond this. That is why Paul had to call Peter out.
This is a good reminder that even our leaders and pastors are prone to error and need correction as well.
This is why Paul says what they were made no difference to him… we are all human.
But notice this… Paul called him out
One, to his face, not behind his back.
Secondly, we see in the next verse he calls him out in front of everyone else.
V.14
O: 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 love like the Jews?
I: In front of everyone, Paul questions Peter and his actions, and why is he expecting the Gentiles to live up to something Peter never did.
A: Don’t be a hypocrite… don’t be a legalist.
You cannot put an expectation on someone that you yourself are unable or unwilling to follow.
Not only is this hypocrisy, it is a complete lack of grace.
V.15
O: “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; (16) 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 the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
I: Paul reminds Peter where they came from, and where their own justification came from. Not by the works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ
A: We cannot be justified by our works, even the works of the Law
You are justified by faith.
The word in Greek for “Justified” means “to be declared righteous”
Brothers and sisters, you are justified, declared righteous, because you have faith in Christ, you have believed in Him.
Your righteousness is not because your ability to live by the Law, nor even your own moral law, but because of faith in Jesus.
You may be in the middle of feeling like a complete failure right now. Maybe you realize you have made some bad choices or things are catching up with you. You look at yourself and say, “This isn’t how a christian should be.”
You are righteous, not because you didn’t fail, but because you believe in Jesus, you have faith in Him.
This is what Paul is reminding Peter about… even Jews are justified, declared righteous, by faith in Christ Jesus, not by works of the Law
V.17
O: “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!!
I: Just because people sin, having been justified by Christ, does not mean Jesus is a promoter of our sinful life.
A: Here is what we need to know…
Our failures do not identify Jesus and His work. His work identifies us and our salvation
This would have been an objection that these men from James would have brought up, and even many today who want us to live by traditions and laws. “Doesn’t our continued sin make Jesus a servant to sin?”
This misses the whole point of grace period, and is a carnal and fleshly way to look at what the gospel truly
V.18
O: “For if I rebuild what I once destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. (19) For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live God.
I: The real sin is rebuilding what once was, and since Christ died through the Law, so too can we, so our life is now live for God, not my sin, not for the Law.
A: Rebuilding the works of the Law is the real sin, because in that, we move our faith from Jesus to our own works, bringing us right back to self righteousness
V.20
O: “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.
I: Paul says “I have died with Jesus, the old self is put to death. And since I died, Jesus now brings life, not my works or ability. And because of that, I now live the rest of my days in faith in Jesus, not because I follow a Law… All because Jesus loved me and died for me.”
A: We cannot do the work ourselves, it is Christ living in us that we are justified, not because of the works you do
V.21
O: “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
I: Paul is not the reason God’s grace is invalid, and he won’t even give that a thought. He brings up the point that Christ died for no reason if we could actually become righteous through the Law.
A: The absurdity of trying to earn your righteousness or salvation is what slaps the sacrifice Christ made across the face.
It isn’t your failures and your sin, it is you trying and thinking you can earn your justification before the Lord
Conclusion:
Paul here gave us two instances in which he reaffirms the grace and the freedom we have in Christ. This is of most importance to remember, because this sets everything up for the following chapters, that the Galatians are getting knocked around and ripped off by people who want to come and disrupt their freedom in Christ. But as Paul defends the truth of the gospel, its a reminder for us that we need to defend the truth of the gospel in our lives as well.
- - Ephesians 4:1–7NASB95

Ephesians 4:1–7NASB95