Set apart! - Galatians 2:1-10
Set apart! - Galatians 2:1-10
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 19, 2016
What do you do when folks spread awful rumors about you that are not true? What do you do as a believer when others spread unfounded rumors and lies about Jesus or your brothers and sisters in Christ? Recently the local media did a story about a "Christian" pastor who related that Christians are to be accepting of anyone and that this was what Jesus preached. Sounds good until you realize that the pastor was gay and was saying that the message of Jesus meant inclusion of ungodly lifestyles, which it does not ever. The good news is not about everybody getting along and accepting each other's perverted proclivities. We are set apart to preach the good news that God has sent Jesus to save those who are lost in sin and separated from God.
Paul fully understood that and knew that if people tried to add to the good news or to take away from the simple gospel message they were to be thoroughly condemned. Pau knew this to be true because he had once been part of those who tried to destroy the early church of Jesus. He was one of those in all out warfare against the gospel message, Jesus, and his body the church. Yet God had other plans for Paul and Jesus set him apart for a special purpose. Let's discover what that was…
READ: Galatians 2:1-10
We live in a culture where everyone thinks their little darling is "special" when in fact while for you that may true, it may not be correct in the real world. Not everyone is "special" nor is everyone cut out to excel in sports, education, science, or industry. Few of us will impact or be remembered by more than just few folks and even then after a few short years, our passing will have no consequence whatsoever. Yet, those who are called by Christ are set apart by God and we learn that…
I. Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles! (Vv. 1-5)
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
1. Last week I mentioned that it was Barnabas who finally took Paul to meet the other Apostles and here Paul writes that again "Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas." Paul defended his calling to the apostolic ministry and now he writes about how they were unified in the gospel. We are introduced to Titus who would later become one of the early church's first pastors. Paul writes, "I took Titus along also." But why would Paul go now? He continues, "I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles." There has been a lot of debate on the identification of this trip Paul took to Jerusalem with Barnabas, a Jewish believer, and Titus, a Gentile believer. The Book of Acts mentions five Jerusalem visits made by Paul after his conversion. I do not believe it truly matters however the reason was obvious for Paul, he was headed to convert Gentiles. Paul admits that he "did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain." Paul went because God directed him to, not because the Jerusalem leaders had summoned him. He went privately in order to discuss with them God's calling him to preach to Gentiles instead of just Jews. I believe he did not want to be hindered by any Jewish constraints that did away with faith alone. The Judaizers, those who would burden new converts with Jewish legalism were active. And now we understand why Paul also brought along Titus, "Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek", a gentile! He writes that "This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves." Acts 15:1 relates that these ungodly men had followed Paul before and were trying to teach new converts, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This was wrong! Paul stood firm and relates, "We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you." Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles!
EXAMPLE: Paul is remembered because Paul made an impact with his life. Paul had been very successful and we learned that he had been "advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of [his] own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of [his] fathers." (Galatians 1:14) Yet this was not how Paul would impact future generations. What he had done in the past was no longer of any importance. What he did from now on would influence people well into the future! This is true for anyone who is transformed by their faith in Jesus. I have known auto mechanics, businessmen, scientists, teachers, lawyers, doctors, builders, and very common folk who were changed by their faith and have tremendously influenced future generations. If you claim Christ, you are set apart to proclaim Christ. Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles!
Lest we forget the good news is not some means so you can have a happier life, it is the very words of God given to us through him in Jesus! Unlike and contrary to what liberal theologians and pastors would have you think the gospel message is a life-changing one. And it was specifically because of this that…
II. Paul was set apart by God! (Vv. 6-10)
As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
1. When Paul went to Jerusalem to speak with the other apostles and leaders it was simply to inform them of God calling him to preach the good news to the gentiles. And he wanted the Galatians to know that "As for those who seemed to be important" (the Apostles and leadership) "whatever they were makes no difference to me". Paul wanted his readers to fully understand that God came to save them not by their outward appearance nor by anything they could do, rather, he tells them that "God does not judge by external appearance [and] those men added nothing to my message." The early church realized Paul being set apart by God! Paul was not awed by the past or present stations of James, Peter, and John. We discover that they fully endorsed Paul’s message and received him as an equal in proclaiming the gospel and so Paul writes, "On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews." The leadership had no problem with Paul's ministry because they had seen for themselves the success Paul had in winning the Gentiles to Jesus! "For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles." Seeing believes and they were not so narrow-minded that they would have refused to see God working in Paul's life and also seeing Titus had shown them the truth of God's calling of Paul to preach the good news to anyone! In fact, Paul related that "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews." Therefore the disciples finally came to see something special in Paul's ministry and Paul relates that "All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Not only would these offerings ease suffering, but it would also demonstrate genuine concern on the part of Gentile Christians for Jewish Christians thus promoting unity and love among believers and help prevent the heresies which were undermining the Galatians. Paul was set apart by God!
EXAMPLE: The good news is the message given us from God! Why would anyone want to add to it or take away from it, yet there have always been those who are jealous, who are not transformed, who do not care about the cause of Christ and who do everything they can to water the message down or circumnavigate it. They try to turn people "to a different gospel -- which is really no gospel at all"! All they want to do is throw people into confusion and "pervert the gospel of Christ", like Paul related earlier. If God calls each of who have believed, which I believe he does, then why would we allow anyone to pervert the message of God? Paul was one not to set by and allow anyone to pervert such an important message! The reason was obvious to him: Paul was set apart by God!
Conclusion:
Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles! Paul was set apart by God!
—
This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 19, 2016
What do you do when folks spread awful rumors about you that are not true? What do you do as a believer when others spread unfounded rumors and lies about Jesus or your brothers and sisters in Christ? Recently the local media did a story about a "Christian" pastor who related that Christians are to be accepting of anyone and that this was what Jesus preached. Sounds good until you realize that the pastor was gay and was saying that the message of Jesus meant inclusion of ungodly lifestyles, which it does not ever. The good news is not about everybody getting along and accepting each other's perverted proclivities. We are set apart to preach the good news that God has sent Jesus to save those who are lost in sin and separated from God.
Paul fully understood that and knew that if people tried to add to the good news or to take away from the simple gospel message they were to be thoroughly condemned. Pau knew this to be true because he had once been part of those who tried to destroy the early church of Jesus. He was one of those in all out warfare against the gospel message, Jesus, and his body the church. Yet God had other plans for Paul and Jesus set him apart for a special purpose. Let's discover what that was…
READ: Galatians 2:1-10
We live in a culture where everyone thinks their little darling is "special" when in fact while for you that may true, it may not be correct in the real world. Not everyone is "special" nor is everyone cut out to excel in sports, education, science, or industry. Few of us will impact or be remembered by more than just few folks and even then after a few short years, our passing will have no consequence whatsoever. Yet, those who are called by Christ are set apart by God and we learn that…
I. Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles! (Vv. 1-5)
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
1. Last week I mentioned that it was Barnabas who finally took Paul to meet the other Apostles and here Paul writes that again "Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas." Paul defended his calling to the apostolic ministry and now he writes about how they were unified in the gospel. We are introduced to Titus who would later become one of the early church's first pastors. Paul writes, "I took Titus along also." But why would Paul go now? He continues, "I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles." There has been a lot of debate on the identification of this trip Paul took to Jerusalem with Barnabas, a Jewish believer, and Titus, a Gentile believer. The Book of Acts mentions five Jerusalem visits made by Paul after his conversion. I do not believe it truly matters however the reason was obvious for Paul, he was headed to convert Gentiles. Paul admits that he "did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain." Paul went because God directed him to, not because the Jerusalem leaders had summoned him. He went privately in order to discuss with them God's calling him to preach to Gentiles instead of just Jews. I believe he did not want to be hindered by any Jewish constraints that did away with faith alone. The Judaizers, those who would burden new converts with Jewish legalism were active. And now we understand why Paul also brought along Titus, "Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek", a gentile! He writes that "This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves." Acts 15:1 relates that these ungodly men had followed Paul before and were trying to teach new converts, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This was wrong! Paul stood firm and relates, "We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you." Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles!
EXAMPLE: Paul is remembered because Paul made an impact with his life. Paul had been very successful and we learned that he had been "advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of [his] own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of [his] fathers." (Galatians 1:14) Yet this was not how Paul would impact future generations. What he had done in the past was no longer of any importance. What he did from now on would influence people well into the future! This is true for anyone who is transformed by their faith in Jesus. I have known auto mechanics, businessmen, scientists, teachers, lawyers, doctors, builders, and very common folk who were changed by their faith and have tremendously influenced future generations. If you claim Christ, you are set apart to proclaim Christ. Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles!
Lest we forget the good news is not some means so you can have a happier life, it is the very words of God given to us through him in Jesus! Unlike and contrary to what liberal theologians and pastors would have you think the gospel message is a life-changing one. And it was specifically because of this that…
II. Paul was set apart by God! (Vv. 6-10)
As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
1. When Paul went to Jerusalem to speak with the other apostles and leaders it was simply to inform them of God calling him to preach the good news to the gentiles. And he wanted the Galatians to know that "As for those who seemed to be important" (the Apostles and leadership) "whatever they were makes no difference to me". Paul wanted his readers to fully understand that God came to save them not by their outward appearance nor by anything they could do, rather, he tells them that "God does not judge by external appearance [and] those men added nothing to my message." The early church realized Paul being set apart by God! Paul was not awed by the past or present stations of James, Peter, and John. We discover that they fully endorsed Paul’s message and received him as an equal in proclaiming the gospel and so Paul writes, "On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews." The leadership had no problem with Paul's ministry because they had seen for themselves the success Paul had in winning the Gentiles to Jesus! "For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles." Seeing believes and they were not so narrow-minded that they would have refused to see God working in Paul's life and also seeing Titus had shown them the truth of God's calling of Paul to preach the good news to anyone! In fact, Paul related that "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews." Therefore the disciples finally came to see something special in Paul's ministry and Paul relates that "All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Not only would these offerings ease suffering, but it would also demonstrate genuine concern on the part of Gentile Christians for Jewish Christians thus promoting unity and love among believers and help prevent the heresies which were undermining the Galatians. Paul was set apart by God!
EXAMPLE: The good news is the message given us from God! Why would anyone want to add to it or take away from it, yet there have always been those who are jealous, who are not transformed, who do not care about the cause of Christ and who do everything they can to water the message down or circumnavigate it. They try to turn people "to a different gospel -- which is really no gospel at all"! All they want to do is throw people into confusion and "pervert the gospel of Christ", like Paul related earlier. If God calls each of who have believed, which I believe he does, then why would we allow anyone to pervert the message of God? Paul was one not to set by and allow anyone to pervert such an important message! The reason was obvious to him: Paul was set apart by God!
Conclusion:
Paul was set apart to preach the good news to the gentiles! Paul was set apart by God!
—
This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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