Galatians 2:6-10
TRANSCRIPT
I greet you in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our text for this morning’s message is taken from Galatians chapter 2 verse 6 to 10. For those of you who are joining us for the first time, we are preaching through the book of Galatians and we have come to chapter 2 verse 6 to 10. Allow me to read for you, Galatians chapter 2 verse 6, “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: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;” verse 8, “(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 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.” Verse 10, “Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” The Lord bless the reading of His holy and sacred Word. In our previous message, we had considered how when the Judaisers were attacking Paul, they were actually attacking the message that he preached. Therefore Paul had to defend himself, and in defending himself he was defending the integrity of the gospel. The Judaisers were also advocating a false teaching in the Antioch church; that the Gentiles, unless they were circumcised according to the customs of Moses, they could not be saved. That was why Paul, Barnabas and Titus had to go up to Jerusalem, known as the Jerusalem council, to deal with this matter. Must the Gentiles believe in the gospel plus circumcision for salvation? Or was it just the gospel alone? When they arrived at Jerusalem, Paul had a private discussion with the leaders of the Jerusalem church, namely the apostles Peter and John and James the elder. The reason why he had a private discussion with them first was to find out their stance what they believe in, their convictions because Paul said “if they were to be influenced by the Judaisers already then he would be running in vain.” All his efforts would be in vain, so he was very concerned. He called for a private meeting. After the private discussion, there was a public declaration whereby Peter, Paul and Barnabas all took turn to speak and explain to the people in the Jerusalem council. Finally, James the elder gave his final speech as the leader of the Jerusalem church, he said, “my judgement in this matter was that you should not force the Gentiles to be circumcised because it was totally unnecessary.” In other words, the gospel alone was sufficient. This is the same gospel today we are preaching. This is the same gospel that the Reformers stood and fought so valiantly. The gospel by faith alone, by grace alone, by Scriptures alone, by Christ alone and through the glory of God alone. So it is not the gospel plus something else, it is the gospel and the gospel alone. Because of that, Titus as a Gentile was not forced to be circumcised. That was where we ended the last message. Paul went on to focus on his gospel and ministry.
I. The Doctrinal Aspect - the Same Gospel
The title of our message today is “One Gospel, Different Ministries.” Our first point is: “The Doctrinal Aspect – The Same Gospel.” Let us begin with verse 6, “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:” The phrase “this who seemed to be somewhat” was a reference to those men of reputation, or the leaders of the Jerusalem church. In other words, Paul was saying, “the leaders, whoever they are, it makes no difference to me, because God shows no partiality.” That is the meaning of “God accepteth no man’s person”. And then he went on to say, “For they who were to be somewhat” – he was still talking about the leaders – “in conference added nothing to me”, means they contributed nothing to me. Some people who think that Paul was somewhat arrogant and proud or even rude but he was not. Allow me to explain briefly. Remember, the Judaisers had accused Paul that he was not a legitimate apostle, that he was a self appointed apostle. So, where did he have the authority to preach the gospel? Where did his gospel come from? Paul’s response was “I did not receive the gospel from the apostles or any other persons, I received it directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.” So here the focus was on the gospel. Obviously he had very high regards for the leaders of the Jerusalem church, otherwise why would he called for a private meeting with them? He respected them. But he was saying, if I may phrase it this way, “as far as the truthfulness and integrity of the gospel is concerned, it doesn’t matter who that person is. God is no respecter of persons. He chooses whom he wants to reveal the gospel to.” “When Jesus Christ revealed the gospel to me and called me to preach to the Gentiles, I went. I was not taught the gospel by the apostles nor did I consult them about the gospel. As far as the gospel is concerned, they contributed nothing to me.” That is what it means. You can imagine how the Judaisers were trying to put the apostle Paul down, that he was unlike the twelve disciples. But, he was truly called by God to be an apostle. Think about how difficult it would be when there are these false teachers going around and telling people that he is not legit, he is self appointed, he’s not a true apostle. Not like the twelve disciples - minus Judas Iscariot, plus Matthias. They were always with the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his entire earthly ministry. Indeed, the twelve disciples were unique and they were highly regarded as the spiritual leaders in the Jerusalem church. But Paul was saying “well, God is no respecter of persons, the unique privileges of the twelve disciples did not make their apostleship more legitimate or more authoritative than mine. I am also an apostle.” Remember previously we have stressed that when people attack our personal interests, seriously, it does not matter because we are nobody. We are here today, tomorrow we may be gone. We cannot please everyone. But when they attack us, and in attacking us they are attacking the integrity of the gospel we preach then we must defend ourselves - at all cost. Not because our personal interest is at stake, but the gospel, the Word of God. That was what Paul was trying to do here. He was not rude, or arrogant. It was not about himself - it was about the gospel. Verse 7, “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;” Take note of the little word saw - “they saw”. On the contrary means opposite of the Judaisers, they saw - the leaders saw. They acknowledge that the gospel of the uncircumcision was entrusted to Paul, just as the gospel of the circumcision was entrusted to Peter. There was only one gospel, not two - the same gospel. Paul was entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles known as the uncircumcision. Peter was entrusted with the same gospel, but to the Jewish people known as the circumcision. It does not mean that Paul and Peter did not preach to both Jews and Gentiles - they did. In fact, Peter was the one who preached to the Roman centurion, Cornelius and his family. You can read about that in Acts 10. He was the one who preached to the Samaritans - Acts chapter 8. And during Paul’s missionary journeys, throughout the entire book of Acts, every city he stepped foot unto, the first thing he did was to look for a synagogue. Because that would be the place he could preach to the Jews. Here, what it means was that Paul’s primary ministry was to the Gentiles. Peter’s primary ministry was to the Jewish people. My friends, there are several lessons we can draw from here. Firstly, God has also called us into specific ministries. Some of us are called into the children ministry, others youth ministry, yet others, elderly ministries. In a sense, we are all involved in the gospel work. Whether you are a Sunday school teacher or a pianist playing the piano, or you are an usher welcoming the visitor into the church, or you are a believer contributing your tithes and offerings, which is subsequently being used to support missions. We are all directly or indirectly involved in the gospel work. Therefore we must always learn to see our work in connection with the gospel. We are all promoting the gospel. We hope that the gospel would be preached even unto the uttermost part of the world. Everything we do we want to see our work in connection with the proclamation of the gospel. Secondly, when God called us into specific ministries, there will be challenges. Just as Peter and Paul would face challenges or different sorts when they minister to the Jews or when they minister to the Gentiles. God may call some of you to serve among the homeless or the less privilege. God may even call some of you to be missionaries, to go into the foreign countries then you would need to learn a new language, live in a new environment, adapt to a new culture. Our ministries, struggles, challenges may be different, some may be more intense than others but we are all involved in the same gospel work. Thirdly, the way God calls us to serve in a specific ministry is so unique and special - it is personal. You know in your heart how God has called you, you know in your heart that “this is the place my God wants me to serve Him”. Just as Peter knew that he was called to serve amongst the Jewish people. Just as Paul knew in his heart he was called to serve amongst the Gentiles. It is a very special unique and personal call. Recently I met a Filipino couple working in Singapore, this couple was married for many years, and they had no children. They love children very much but they had no children of their own. They serve very actively in the children ministry. The husband shared with me that he had just enrolled into the bible college to study the Word of God. After that, he would go to the Philippines and minister to the orphans in the streets. And he said this, “God willing, I may start an orphanage”. Although God did not bless this couple with children of their own, but soon, they would have many, many children. Isn’t it amazing? How God would call a person to a specific ministry - so uniquely, special and personal. Fourthly, although we are serving in different ministries, but we must always bear in mind that the gospel is the same. You and I are preaching the same gospel. Whoever be the audience - it is the same gospel we preach. When I was in Singapore, I had this conversation with a brother in Christ who had been ministering to criminals in prison. He knew about my previous work with prisoners. so he shared with me about his problems working amongst the prisoners. The prisoners would always challenge him “you are not a drug addict. You are not a criminal. You have never committed any crimes or sentenced to any prison.” In a sense, they are saying to him “based on what experience you have, what understanding, what authority do you have to minister to us. You are not one of us. So where do you have the authority to preach to us.” My advice to him was this, “you do not have to be a drug addict or an adulterer or a criminal or an alcoholic to understand what sin is. Sin is a universal problem and whether you are a robber or a murderer. We are all sinners. The only solution to sin is the gospel.” Preach the gospel about Jesus Christ, the only one who can save us from our sins. Parents, maybe your children have come to you and challenge you, “Dad, mom, you do not know what I am going through. Times have changed. We are living in modern times, whatever you have gone through in the past is different from what I am going through today”. Maybe your children have said that to you. While it is true that we may not fully understand what our children are going through, but we understand what sin is. It is a universal problem, and we tell our children the only solution to our sins is the gospel. They need the gospel. They need to hear about Jesus Christ. They need to understand that the only forgiveness they can receive is from Him. Preach the gospel, preach about sin and the saviour. That is the only way. The gospel is the same. So we must learn to see our different ministries in connection with the gospel work. Another important lesson for us to learn is that we must see our work in connection with the Holy Spirit. Because the only way we can do the gospel work is through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, there is no other way. Look at verse 8, “For he” - a reference to the Holy Spirit, “that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” It was the Holy Spirit who wrought effectually - that is from where we get the English work for “energized”. In other words, the same Holy Spirit who had energized, empowered Peter in his apostleship to the Jewish people - it was the same Holy Spirit who was mightily empowering Paul to minister to the Gentiles. It was the work of the Holy Spirit. My friends, when we are serving the Lord in the different ministries of the church, we know that we are indirectly or directly involved in the gospel work. But are we serving in our strength? Or are we serving in the power of the Holy Spirit? Oftentimes, why do people give up? Why do people throw in the towel halfway and walk away from the ministry? Because they are serving in their own strength. We are weak. When we are weak, we give up. Only God alone is strong, and we have to serve in His power not in our own strength. Why do some people become so proud in the ministry? Whether it be singing in the choir, playing the piano, preaching on the pulpit - why do some people become proud? Because they are relying on their own abilities. When you rely on your own abilities, you become proud of your own capabilities. That must never be the way we serve the Lord, never in our own strength. The only way you and I can serve effectively, powerfully and not give up no matter what kind of trouble may come our ways and most importantly the only service that God would accept is the one energized by the Holy Spirit. We must always rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you notice that in every worship service the preacher would always pray with the worship leader, right? After that, the worship leader will walk to where the pianist and organist are, and pray together with them. Why do you think we do that? Firstly, we are asking the Lord for strength to do His work but secondly, most importantly, we are also reminding ourselves, we must never do the work based on our own strength. If it is based on our own strength, we will surely fall. It will not be accepted by God too. So my friends, all of us must learn to see our work in connection with the Holy Spirit. It must be the Holy Spirit enabling us, empowering us, energizing us to do the work.
II. The Practical Aspect - Helping the Poor
Our second point is: “The Practical Aspect – Helping The Poor.” Let us looks at verse 9, “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.” James the elder, Cephas or Peter and John were known as the pillars of the Jerusalem church, the foundation. The word “pillars” was actually a Jewish term used to refer to the teachers, especially great teachers. So these were the teachers, respected teachers, and foundation of the Jerusalem church. They recognized the grace that was given to the apostle Paul, he was truly called by God. They recognized and acknowledge that the gospel he was preaching - he had received from the Lord Jesus Christ. The same gospel they were also preaching, he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. That was why they were in unity and harmony with him. We all know that the New Testament has twenty-seven books. Do you realize that these three men - Paul, Peter and John wrote almost twenty-two books? Twenty-two out of twenty-seven books, the majority of the New Testament. Isn’t it amazing? Indeed, they were all not just Paul; they were all given grace by God. God gave them the grace to do His work, mightily used by God. James the elder, Peter and John the apostles, they extended their right hand of fellowship to both Paul and Barnabas. In those days, when you clasp the hand - the right hand of a person, it is not just a sign of friendship, but it is also a mark of partnership, a mark of fellowship. In other words, they recognized that they were all partners in the gospel work, they were all fellowshipping in the one gospel. Paul and Barnabas should go preach to the heathens, the Gentiles. James, Peter and John should preach to the Jewish people. It is not a competition - it is a partnership. My friends, when we serve the Lord in the church, sometimes you have people who like to compete with others - “I can do better than you. I can play better you. You can sing better than me.” We must all bear in mind that it is not a competition - it is a partnership. We are all partners, endeavouring to glorify God together. We preach the same gospel, we are directly or indirectly involved in the same gospel, to the glory of God. It is not a competition - it is a partnership. I pray that all of us will always remember that, as we serve together, some may do well, we are happy, we will support the person to do even better. There must never be any jealousy in our heart. Why should we? Because we are partners. Partners work together for the good of a common goal. Our goal is to glorify God. Verse 10, “Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” The only thing the leaders of the Jerusalem church requested of Paul and Barnabas was that as they preach the gospel to the Gentiles, they should remember the poor. Why did he bring this up at this point in time? You see, the church at Jerusalem was extremely poor. If you can turn with me to Acts 2, 41 to 45, the church at Jerusalem was the first church to be established in the New Testament. When our Lord Jesus was resurrected, the apostles were all gathering together and then they went out to preach faithfully - the gospel. Many believed the gospel, and so verse 41 tells us this, Acts 2 verse 41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Can you imagine three thousand souls added unto the church in just one day? Three thousand souls - and they were all faithful. Verse 42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.” Verse 44, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Some people had this misconception that the early church practice communism. It’s a belief that everything should be common, the common property of everything. So some people would even use this passage that today. In our modern churches we should practice communism have everything in common, share everything you have. Sell your houses and then share your money with the rest in the church - it is not true. We need to understand the context. In those days, the Christians were being persecuted by the Romans. They were also being persecuted by their own people - the Jews. When they were converted to Christianity from Judaism, they were ostracised by their own people - the Jews, by the society, even by their own families. They lost their jobs, they lost their homes, they had nowhere and no one to turn to except one group of people – the church. The only people they could turn to was the church. In such a time like this, all the believers came together and shared everything they had. Those who had houses sold their house, those who had goods sold their goods, shared with those who are in need. That was the context. In fact, to take care of the poor believers is a spiritual responsibility, and to neglect this responsibility to take care of our own poor fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is to disobey God’s Word. 1 John chapter 3 verse 7 says this, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” In other words, as a believer, when you have the means, you have been blessed with so much material things and money, this world goods. You see a poor brother in Christ who needs help and then you shut your heart, you have no compassion for him. You turn away from him. How can a believer who says he has the love of God in his heart do that? John says, “it is impossible.” It is impossible for a believer who has the love of God in his heart to shut this heart and have no compassion for fellow poor believers. My friends, we may not be in such a situation like the church at Jerusalem by Gods’ grace and mercy. All of us somehow are gainfully employed but we do have brothers and sisters in great need. If you remember when the Covid-19 pandemic started, we asked our church members if any one of them had any needs - everyone was well blessed by God, no need. But our brethren at Myanmar were struggling - no jobs. They could not do farming, the political unrest was so bad, fighting in the streets, no food. Our brethren gave – cheerfully, sacrificially. Those money sent, we bought groceries, daily necessities. Our brethren in Myanmar was fed, by the grace of God. Do you think God does not know who has given? God knows who are the cheerful and sacrificial givers. He knows. Yesterday I was sharing with the young people, “you all have school. Praise the Lord. You know our Myanmar children and youth, they have not attended school for almost three years. And for many years to come. Most likely, there will be no more school.” How can we not feel for them? If you have love of God in your heart, definitely you will feel for them. Whether believers here or believers in the Philippines or in Myanmar, we are all engaged in the same gospel. We are all partners, we feel for one another. Sometimes we emphasize very strongly about the right doctrines, and then we spend all our time fighting about doctrinal issues and forget our Christian responsibility. You know it is important to have the right doctrines, but the right doctrines must lead us to the right behaviour. How we ought to put into practice whatever we have learned. That is why James say this “faith without works is dead.” Faith must work. Faith must lead us to do good works too. Good works cannot save us, it is the faith that we believe in God, which is genuine that leads us to good works. The apostle Paul understood that. Therefore he said this, look at the last part of verse 10, “the same which I also was forward to do.” Which means when he heard that, immediately he was eager to do that. That was a sign of a genuine believer. When they heard that helping the poor, well he was very eager to do that. In fact, throughout his missionary journeys you can read in the book of Acts and in his other epistles. Whenever Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles and established churches in those Gentiles lands, whether it be Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica, Galatia, he would always preach about helping the poor. So much so that the Gentiles who truly believed in God had this love of God in their hearts. They rose up and they did a collection, send the money to help the poor brethren in the Jerusalem church. You can read in the book of Acts. My friends, we may be serving in different ministries, we must learn to see our ministries in connection with the gospel. We are all directly or indirectly involved in the gospel work. We must also learn to see our work in connection with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must be the one who empowers us to do the work, not by our own strength, not according to our own abilities or wisdom, but according the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the only way you and I can serve God effectively, powerfully and not give up, no matter what trouble comes. That is the only service God would accept. We do it in our own strength according to our own abilities, God will never accept. And it is important to stress the right doctrines, but right doctrines must lead us to right behaviours. How we ought to apply what our Lord Jesus had taught us by His sinless life. Our Lord Jesus, he taught us by His perfect example. So that you and I may rise up, help the poor in our midst, even in the Philippines in Myanmar. Wherever the Lord would shed abroad this love we have in our hearts, and we do all this not for ourselves but to the glory of God. So I pray that all of us will learn from this and apply this message into our lives. Let us pray. Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for this opportunity for us to learn from this passage in the book of Galatians chapter 2 verse 6 to 10. Oh Lord, there are so many spiritual lessons we can draw from Thy infallible and inerrant Word. Help us to be faithful, help us to always be diligent, not just in the study of Thy Word but in the application as well. For as James says, faith without works is dead. Oh lord, we want to apply and we want to apply not according to our own strength but in the power of the Holy Spirit. So help us, we cannot do this on our own - we need Thee. We give Thee thanks and we pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE BOOK OF GALATIANSA Letter To The GalatiansA Letter To The GalatiansGalatians 1:1-5
The Danger of Preaching Another GospelThe Danger of Preaching Another GospelGalatians 1:6-9
Be a God-Pleaser, not a Men-PleaserBe a God-Pleaser, not a Men-PleaserGalatians 1:10-12
But When It Pleased GodBut When It Pleased GodGalatians 1:13-24
Standing for the Truth of the GospelStanding for the Truth of the GospelGalatians 2:1-5
One Gospel, Different MinistriesOne Gospel, Different MinistriesGalatians 2:6-10
The Need to Confront Sin (Part 2)The Need to Confront Sin (Part 2)Galatians 2:14-16
The Need to Confront Sin (Part 3)The Need to Confront Sin (Part 3)Galatians 2:17-19
Dead, Yet Alive!Dead, Yet Alive!Galatians 2:20-21
Remember How You Were Saved!Remember How You Were Saved!Galatians 3:1-5
Saved by FaithSaved by FaithGalatians 3:6-9
The Age Old Promise of the GospelThe Age Old Promise of the GospelGalatians 3:6-18
Christ Bore Our CurseChrist Bore Our CurseGalatians 3:10-14
Will God Keep His Promise?Will God Keep His Promise?Galatians 3:15-18
Why Then Have the Law?Why Then Have the Law?Galatians 3:19-22
What the Law Meant to Us?What the Law Meant to Us?Galatians 3:23-29
The Son of God Became the Son of ManThe Son of God Became the Son of ManGalatians 4:1-7
No More a Servant and Child, But a SonNo More a Servant and Child, But a SonGalatians 4:1-7
Until Christ Be Formed In YouUntil Christ Be Formed In YouGalatians 4:8-20
Freedom in Christ or Bondage to WorksFreedom in Christ or Bondage to WorksGalatians 4:21-5:1
By Faith Or By Works!By Faith Or By Works!Galatians 5:2-6
The Dangers of False TeachersThe Dangers of False TeachersGalatians 5:7-12
The Christian FreedomThe Christian FreedomGalatians 5:13-15
The Works of the FleshThe Works of the FleshGalatians 5:19-21
The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2)The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2)Galatians 5:22-25
Restoring the Sinning BrotherRestoring the Sinning BrotherGalatians 5:26-6:5
Restoring the Sinning BrethrenRestoring the Sinning BrethrenGalatians 5:26-6:6
You Shall Reap What You SowYou Shall Reap What You SowGalatians 6:7-10
Living for the Praise of MenLiving for the Praise of MenGalatians 6:11-13
Living for the Glory of GodLiving for the Glory of GodGalatians 6:14-18
