Lesson 8
June 23, 2002
4. We are not condemned to a life of servitude
but to freedom in Christ. Rom 8:2
- "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
(Rabbit
trail)
Ø Rom 8:2
Expands on our new freedom
God has provided a means of deliverance.
The means for that deliverance, he calls here, the law of the Spirit of
life.
- He has
also done something else for us when we believed, and that is what Paul is
emphasizing here, "has set us free
from the law of sin and of death."
- Several
significant things should be noted concerning Paul's statement in Romans 8:2.
1st Paul refers to two distinct laws:
The law of the
Spirit of life and the law of sin and death.
The reason that
the believer is not condemned to a life of servitude to the sin nature is that
the enabling power of the Holy Spirit has set him free from the ruling power of
the sin nature.
Back to Gal 2:4
What was their goal?
that they might bring us into bondage
Summary vs:4
1. Circumcision was not the
initial issue or focal point of the meeting between Paul and the leadership of the Jerusalem church.
2. Some legalistic Jews
infiltrated the meeting attempting to change the agenda.
3. If Paul and Barnabas, and
the leadership of the Church acceded to the demands of these legalists and
imposed circumcision on Titus what would be
the result?
It would deny the fact
that salvation was by faith alone in Christ alone and it would affirm that in
addition to faith there must be
obedience to the law for acceptance before God.
4. See here some of the
characteristics of legalism:
5. Legalism directed towards
believers always seeks to limit the freedom they had in Christ.
6. The legalists then, as
now, are determined to reduce
Christianity to a system of do's and don'ts.
The ministry of the Spirit in their life is foreign to them.
- Rem: Christianity is a relationship, empowered by the H/S as
He illuminates the Word in us,
which Word then motivates us to
loving obedience to the will of God.
2:5
Paul's response to the False Brethren
But we did not yield in
subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would
remain with you.
Purpose for standing firm
so that the truth of the gospel
would remain with you.
2:6-10 Paul's independence at Jerusalem
After completing
the confrontation with the false brethren, the legalists, Paul resumes his
narrative, relating some more details of the meeting with the apostles and
leadership of the Church.
The Other Apostles did not Contribute Anything to
Paul 2:6
But from those who were of high reputation i.e. Peter, John, (apostles) and James
(what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--
Then he states clearly: well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.
What's
the point here?
The gospel was given to me fully
and accurately, and the apostles had nothing whatsoever to add to it.
Recognition
and Confirmation of the Ministry of Paul 2:7-10
But on the contrary, seeing that
I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had
been to the circumcised
seeing that I had been entrusted
with the gospel
What is being
stated here is the conclusion that the leadership made. That to Paul was
committed the responsibility of taking the Gospel of grace to the Gentiles while Peter to the Jews.
2:8 Parenthesis confirmation of their conclusion
in vs:7
This is a real blow to the legalists
(for He who effectually worked for Peter
in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the
Gentiles),
Who
is the one being referred to here?
2:9
Another motive for approval Read!
They also recognized God's seal of approval on both men in their respective ministries.
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.
2:10 Request made of Paul
They only
asked us to remember the poor-- the very thing I also was eager to do.
- these gifts would have a great impact in promoting
unity between Gentile and Jewish believers,
that there is concern for one another in Christ.
Summary 2:7-10
1. The real praise for their
function in their roles as apostles, or pastors (leadership) goes to the Holy
Spirit, who not only indwells but gives
the spiritual gifts to each one and is the operational power through the
Word.
2. Its possible that the
legalists, the Judaizers now plaguing the Galatian believers, had previously
claimed Apostolic approval for their position.
[obvious they didn't since there was a major difference.]
3. Paul in this paragraph is
challenging the Galatians to check the facts, check out the truth.
4. The
leadership in Jerusalem by extending the right hand of fellowship to Paul,
Barnabas and Titus have recognized the divine source of their gospel message
and Paul's apostolic office.