Paul at Jerusalem, presenting the Gospel he preaches … to none other than the original Church “leaders!”

And on top of that, receiving their approval for his “mission” to the Gentiles!

A “whosoever will” Gospel, not a “law of Moses” Gospel! A Gospel emphasizing God’s Grace, not man’s works (even good works)!

And that leads me to today’s Lesson, our Text this morning: “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” Galatians 2:9

“James” here is none other than the half-brother of Jesus! As in Mark 6:3, where the Jews asked about our Lord: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?” By this posting, this listing, James may have been the oldest brother, except for Jesus, Who of necessity was Mary’s Firstborn! (James is virtually the same name as the Old Testament Jacob!)

“Cephas” is the Disciple named Peter, being an Aramaic word for “stone.” The equivalent of the Greek noun”petros,” still meaning a “stone, rock.”

And “John” is “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” the writer of the Gospel that bears his name, three short little New Testament Epistles, and the great Book of Revelation! His name means (its Hebrew base) “God is gracious!”

Three Jews … “pillars” Paul called them! “Stulos” means a column, likely of stone, that kind of “pillar.” Stabilizers in the Jerusalem Church! (At least Paul says they “seemed” to be! As if he doubts the need for any “human” pillars! Jesus Christ being the “Chief Cornerstone!”)

Anyway … these godly men “perceived” that Paul was right, had told the truth, was indeed called to preach the Grace of God to the heathen (Gentiles) of the earth! The verb is “ginosko,” meaning “to learn!” I think the Holy Spirit taught them that Paul was authentic!

The “three” consequently … “gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

Wow!

Though we use that phrase often, “the right hand of fellowship,” it is only found here in the whole Bible! It signifies “agreement, comradery, fellowship!” Sharing some things “in common,” spelled “koinonia” in Greek, “communion!”

And so now … “off go” Paul and Barnabas to preach to lost sinners the availability of Gods’ amazing Gift, soul Salvation through the shed Blood of Jesus!

Paul and his team to the lost Gentiles!

Peter and his team to the Jews!

John 3:16 is till true! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The world, Jews and Gentiles alike!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The “title” to today’s Lesson?

The Gospel originally was heavily (if not exclusively) preached to the Jews!

Nowadays (and for centuries past) the emphasis in evangelism has indeed “shifted!” To the Gentiles, a fact for which we may be glad.

But let us not forget about Israel, for some day (and it may be soon) the preponderance of Gospel preaching will again “shift” back to her!

Because, as Paul wrote (promised) in Romans 11:26-27, quoting Almighty God … “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.”

Wow!

 

 

I really feel that Paul’s letter (Epistle, in the truest sense of the word) to the Churches of Galatia may be the most personal thing, autobiographical thing, the Apostle ever wrote. Or that we still have available to us, anyway.

And today he continues with his life story, testifying: “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” Galatians 2:8

The “He” of our verse is God Himself!

If you remember, Paul has just told us that God called him (primarily) to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles! While Peter was (primarily) commissioned to preach the Gospel to the Jews! (Here it is: “The gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.” Galatians 2:7, Saturday’s Lesson.)

Now Paul is informing us that the God Who called him, also helped him to the job! Hence the wording: “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.”

One verb (appearing twice) plays a fundamental role in this sentence, used of both Peter and Paul!

God (the Holy Spirit) “wrought effectually” in Peter’s preaching.

And “was mighty” in the life of Paul as he proclaimed the glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus!

Peter’s verb: “energeo,” is literally our word (borrowed from the Greeks) “energized!” The word specifically means “doing a work within” a person! Peter was a preaching “dynamo,” being so endowed of God!

Then Paul’s verb: “energo!” Yes, the very same word, even down to the “tense” employed! (Except Peter’s verb is a participle, a verbal adjective. While Paul’s here is an indicative, an assertion of personal experience!)

God treated His two spokesman the same!

In saving both the Jews and the Greeks, the Gentiles!

Point today being:

It takes God’s HELP to do God’s WORK!

Man, within his own ability, is incapable of achieving true spiritual results!

Acts 1:8 works well here: “But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Amen!

So does Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts.” Wow!

Energized of God!

The only way to serve His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I once heard a Preacher who told us he prayed for God’s “power” hundreds of times a day! After our Lord’s (victorious) Temptation (40 days) in the wilderness, Luke tells us: “And Jesus returned in the POWER of the SPIRIT into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.” Luke 4:14

Paul said this is the Same Power that raised Jesus from the dead! Oh, what Might! “The exceeding greatness of his POWER to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his MIGHTY POWER, Which he wrought in Christ, when he RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” Amazing, Ephesians 3:19-20.

Lord willing, more tomorrow morning.

I nearly added a Lesson after the Lesson!

 

Jesus died for Jews!

Jesus died for Gentiles!

Jesus died for “all,” everyone, for “whosoever will!”

And that (seems to me) is the glorious conclusion reached by those who were “in conference” with Paul the Apostle in Galatians chapter 2.

“But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.” Galatians 2:7

A certain group of Church “leaders” … men who had been saved longer than Paul … chose NOT to change a thing about the Gospel he had been preaching! (Not that they ever could have, I suspect!)

They “contrariwise” … here simply meaning “instead” … agreed that the Law of Moses was NOT essential to genuine soul salvation. That a Gentile convert to Christ did NOT have to be circumcised, not for religious, spiritual purposes. Or he or she did NOT have to worship on Saturday! Or did NOT have to follow the earlier dietary Laws, except they strongly urged not eating blood! (Salvation truly being “by Grace through faith!”)

So Paul was, as they say, “good to go!”

To go preach (to continue preaching really) the Gospel of the Grace of God to the Gentiles … many of whom well may have never heard about Jesus Christ, God’s Son!

Again, today’s Text Verse: “When they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.”

We now see the two “groups” to whom Peter and Paul respectively had been called to preach that glorious Gospel. God “called” Paul to preach primarily to the Gentiles! (“Was committed” translates “pisteuo,” meaning “was entrusted” to Paul!)

And Peter? Inversely … he was called to preach the (same) Gospel to the Jews!

Wow!

Yes, it seems God often (if not always) calls some of his children (missionaries, for example) to preach in certain areas, to certain people groups! Even Pastors feed “led” to certain congregations! And occasionally they resign to go to another area, another Church … because the Lord “led” them there as well!

Paul to the “uncircumcision,” his was of saying “non-Jews!”

And Peter to the children of Abraham, the “circumcision.”

As an evangelist, I feel God has called me to the “Churches of America,” largely so. To people who speak English and need to know more about our Saviour, our Bible, the things of God!

Amen!

But now I need to say this. Everything above being true … each of us still has a mandate, a command, to … “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15, see it? “Every creature,” back to my “whosoever will may come” thought mentioned earlier!

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Whom have YOU told about Jesus recently?

 

To me that is a “catchy” clause, “added nothing,” today’s Lesson Title.

Paul has been to Jerusalem.

“In conference” with some of the Church “leaders” there.

Sharing with them the “Gospel” he had been preaching!

“Comparing notes,” so to speak!

And Paul deduces: “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.” Galatians 2:6

“These who seemed to be somewhat,” is a clause that basically means the “more popular and influential leaders” of the Jesus Movement. Men who have been saved, but still “cling” heavily to their Jewish heritage, particularly the some aspects of the Law of Moses!

And here in today’s Verse we see a little bit of what I would called “Paul’s sanctified sarcasm!” Our little hero, the Apostle Paul, did not feel he had to take a “backseat” to anyone, even those who “first” knew Jesus! Knew Him while He trod the pathways of earth.

He is comparing “notes” with them … not because he is unsure of the Gospel he preaches … but to further the Gospel he preaches!  Frankly, to get them to stop fighting the Gospel he preaches! To get them to accept the fact that God saves men and women totally by His Grace! Meaning … without their being held to the standard of the Law,  of the 613 commandments embedded in Moses’ Writings! (Or even the well-known Ten Commandments either, as a means of salvation!)

Watch Paul’s attitude … “of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person.”

Paul does not really “care” who they are! They carry no “weight” with him! They just “seem” to be somebodies! (No peer pressure here, not now anyway!) God does not have “favorites!”

Paul will not belittle his Call to the Ministry!

He will not demean his Standing in Christ!

He will not bow before some spiritual “boss!”

JESUS, Paul’s Best Friend, outshines them all!

All those who are “somewhat,” almost Church “bosses,” looks like!

Then Paul “drops the bomb!”

Hits the “knock-out punch!”

As Paul met “in conference” with these Church “heavy hitters” (these with “reputation”) … he adds: “for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.”

Paul knew the Gospel … because he had experienced salvation personally (dramatically even) on the Damascus Road … that earth-shaking day a few years earlier. He knew the Gospel because it was given to him “by revelation,” during those 3 years in Arabia!

And none of the original Twelve (the remaining Disciples) … plus Jesus’ Brother James (half-brother, really) … could refute Paul’s Gospel either!

Nor add to it!

“Add to” is the Greek verb “pros+anti+tithemi!” Could not place one more thing on the list! Could not pile one more log to the fire! (Literally “to place up against.” Or “to place in front of!”)

Salvation is “by Grace through faith!”

With … nothing added!

Paul simply wants their agreement, maybe even the approval of these “key” Jerusalem men … if he can get it. Otherwise (which in reality might have been the better outcome) Paul would have walked away from Jerusalem permanently! TOTALLY giving his Ministry to reaching the lost Gentile multitudes in the whole wide world!

Paul is a little “feisty” here today!

And I love that!

The Lord willing, another lesson in the morning.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Hint: don’t let anyone “put you down,” or “make you feel inferior” either, my dear brother or sister in Christ! God has no “bosses, dictators” in His family! Just Jesus our Head! Yes … you (because of Jesus in you) are somebody!

 

Posted Thursday Evening … 10:15 PM … by a tired Preacher!

Our “motel” for two nights, pretty location!

Debbie and I awoke this morning in Marion, North Carolina. We drove home, to Tunnel Hill, Georgia. Repacked the car, and I headed out to the northeast Georgia mountains, to preach some more!

That’s why no Galatians Lesson has appeared today!

Though I intended to write one!

Friendly Mission Baptist Church, Cornelia, Georgia

By the way, a sweet Revival Service tonight as well!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell