Defense

When reading Acts 15 and Galatians 2:1-10, we should read these passages with great fear and gratitude. First, Paul puts forth his defense of the Gospel. Then, the text takes us to a meeting in Jerusalem which may seem distant from our concerns for us today. But the stakes could not have been higher—it was a meeting that had enormous consequences for us all, even today. And, as we’ll see, God protected all of us—you and me—on that day.

As Paul begins this defense of the Gospel, he introduces us to a cast of friends (characters) as we start reading in Galatians 2:1

Barnabas, the name Barnabas means “son of encouragement,” and you will always find Barnabas encouraging somebody. When the Gospel came to the Gentiles in Antioch, Barnabas was sent to encourage them in their faith (Acts 11:19–24). Thus, Barnabas was associated with the Gentile believers from the earliest days. Barnabas enlisted Paul to help minister at the church in Antioch (Acts 11:25–26), and the two of them worked together, teaching and helping the poor (Acts 11:27–30). Barnabas was one of Paul’s closest friends. In fact, when Paul tried to get into the fellowship of the Jerusalem church, it was Barnabas who opened the way for him (Acts 9:26–28).

Titus was a Gentile believer who worked with Paul and was won to Christ through the apostle’s ministry (Titus 1:4). He was a “product” of the apostle’s ministry among the Gentiles and was taken to the Jerusalem conference as “exhibit A” from the Gentile churches. In later years, Titus assisted Paul by going to some of the most challenging churches to help them solve their problems (2 Cor. 7; Titus 1:5).

Next, we read about the “3 Pillars” of the Church; Peter, John, and James. Peter, we know from his prominent part in the accounts in the Gospels as well as in the first half of the Book of Acts. It was to Peter that Jesus gave “the keys,” so that it was he who was involved in opening the door of faith to the Jews (Acts 2), the Samaritans (Acts 8), and the Gentiles (Acts 10). We also know from the Gospel records that John is one of Christ’s “inner three” apostles, associated with Peter in the ministry of the Word (Acts 3:1ff). James was among the other children born from the marriage of Mary and Joseph. In Mark 13:55, we see James mentioned as we would identify as the 1/2 brother of Christ. Paul informs us that the risen Christ appeared to James, which was the turning point in his life (1 Cor. 15:5–7). James was the leader of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 15; see also 21:18). He was also the writer of the Epistle of James, and that letter, plus Acts 21:18, would suggest that he was very Jewish in his thinking.

Lastly, in this group of characters were the “false brethren” who infiltrated the meetings and tried to rob the believers of their liberty in Christ (Gal. 2:4). Undoubtedly, some of the Judaizers followed Paul in church after church and tried to capture his converts. The fact that Paul calls them “false brethren” indicates that they were not true Christians but were only masquerading as such so they could capture the conference for themselves.

Friends, this text is essential for the church today - Centuries later, today’s Christians need to appreciate afresh the courageous stand Paul and his associates took for the liberty of the Gospel. Paul’s concern was “the truth of the Gospel” (Gal. 2:5, 14), not the “peace of the church.” God sends wisdom from above is “first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17). “Peace at any price” was not Paul’s philosophy of ministry, nor should it be ours.

Previously, Paul explained his independence from the Apostles (Gal. 1); now, in Galatians 2, he points out his interdependence with the Apostles. He was free, yet he was willingly in fellowship with them in the ministry of the Gospel. Paul stood to defend the Gospel that he once chose to combat. He defended because He believed in what Christ did for you and me. He believed in what the church taught and what the church observed. One of those observances is that of “the Lord’s Supper.”

It was a meal gathering that Paul himself defended when he wrote to the church at Corinth.

Since the beginning of the church, it was customary for the believers to eat together (Acts 2:42, 46). It was an opportunity for fellowship and sharing with less privileged people. No doubt, they climaxed this meal by observing the Lord’s Supper. They called this meal “the love feast” since its primary emphasis was showing love for the saints by sharing with one another.

On Sunday, we will further study Paul’s defense of the Gospel while also observing the Lord’s meal together. Let us all examine ourselves as we gather among brothers and sisters to honor and worship The Lord.