November 15, 2000, WE: Defining the Doctrine of Justification of Faith V

>> WEEK 5 OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION <<

November 15th, 2000, Wednesday Evening

"Defining the Doctrine of Justification of the Faith"
Paul's Defense of the Ministry - part 5

OPENING: Galatians 2:1-10, KJV

Studying this epistle (the entire book--all 6 chapters) will
- arm you for attacks from false doctrine
Here, Paul is continuing the theme of being attacked by the false teachers who charge Paul is a self-proclaimed minister with a false gospel.
- Galatians 1:12: The truth of the matter is that Paul received the gospel not from any man but from a revelation from GOD.
The beginnings of the books Acts and Galatians, together, are important in that they can be cross-referenced to piece together chronological bits of Paul's post-saved journeys.
- Acts 9:17-25: In the beginning, Paul was saved.
- Galatians 1:17-18 matching Acts 9:23: After being saved, he took three years to receive a revelation of the gospel from GOD in Arabia. THUS: "many days" = 3 years.
- Galatians 1:18 matching Acts 9:26: The above claim is true because in both passage of scripture here, Paul is returned to Jerusalem (after his three year study).
- Galatians 1:22 matching Acts 11:27-30: The connection is, at the time, the brethren were in "Judaea". But why are the activities of Paul not expounded upon here in the churches of Judaea? Because he's too busy, here in the letter to the churches of Galatia (which is the reason the book of Galatians was written), defending himself against the false teachers.
Now with Paul saved, he preached with fervor and fire. Yet, while the listeners were amazed (Acts 9:21) this was the same Paul who severely persecuted the church (Galatians 1:13-14), Paul's brethren--the other disciples--were afraid of him (Acts 9:26). However, Barnabas vouched for him (Acts 9:27) because he had seen Paul preach. Thus, the brethren feared Paul no longer as an adversary
Acts 9:31 then Acts 15:1: Then for a period of time, the church had rest (Our church's first four years were of much needed rest). And of course, after a period of time, trouble had to again stir in Acts 15:1.
- Acts 15:1: The problem here is that many in the world today cannot get over the fact that good works do not qualify for eternal salvation. Some people are still hooked on Moses' Laws just because they'd been followed so many years and thus had become tradition and a part of everyday life. Some people cannot change. Even if GOD has dismissed the rules of old (Moses' Laws), people still believe in following those old rules (also called a dispensation). The issue here in that in Moses' Laws, one had to be circumcised to be acceptable to GOD. People still believe that today. However, because of the "Dispensation of Grace" we're living in, all that's required to be saved today is to have faith in Jesus Christ.
  - Today, some churches hold if you're not baptized their way or hold their beliefs, you cannot be a member of that church. This is called "legalism" because that church means to justify you by "the law" (i.e., Moses' Law). Legalism is wrong and not supported by GOD. If anyone asks you to perform these rites of passage, ask where in the bible it says to do that.
  - Acts 15:5: You have to understand these people, the Jews, have 2,000+ years of history, testimony, and law. The lesson here is that no matter how difficult it is to change, with Jesus Christ in your life, all things are changed--old things pass away, all things become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17).
  - The requirement for burnt offerings is no more; And just as its difficult to give that up back then, today we can compare burnt offerings to the love and need for music, money, and television ... people don't want to give it up!
  - Cults are characterized by adding work to reach Jesus Christ when this work is not required
Galatians 2:2: Getting back on track ... "were of reputation" in this passage means the Jewish people. Thus Paul preached the one, true gospel to both Jews and Gentiles!
Galatians 2:3: Even though circumcision was a traditionally Jewish law under Moses' Law, we see that Titus (who's with Paul) is not compelled to follow this age-old tradition.
- Why do some people today say you have to be baptized to be saved? Because back in the days of Moses' Law, baptism was required to be saved. Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, baptism is only a public sign of identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While this is NOT REQUIRED to be saved, it is highly encouraged by GOD's Word.
CLOSER
Acts 15:11,24: This is a confirmation that Peter and Paul preached the same gospel and a summation of this lesson: you are saved by faith alone and not by good works. If anyone adds to this, they are promoting "legalism" and their claim is only a (unnecessary) requirement of man ... not GOD.