Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you (NKJV).
QUICK REVIEW:
In Chapter one, Paul identified his calling of God from the “womb.” He established his call as that of “GRACE.” His call was not under the Law as a member of the “religious system by “ASCENTION.” His calling was rooted in “grace,” the favor of God, or a gift given by God in Christ. This call of grace had a particular purpose, “16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.” He also established that he did not “immediately” confer with flesh and blood. In other words, he did not immediately go and get the approval of men. He did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before Himself.
Instead, Paul went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. It was three years later that Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him for fifteen days. He did not see any of the other apostles except for James, the Lord’s brother. Paul is assuring these Galatian Christians that he is not lying about his conversion and revelation from the Lord Himself and the time in which the Lord led him.
From Jerusalem, the Lord led Paul into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. He assures the Galatians that he was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ. All that those churches knew was that “He who formerly persecuted them now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” This brought glory to God.
In chapter 2 of Galatians, we continue to hear Paul’s story in his own words and experience. He fast-forwards us to fourteen years later. He made a second trip to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. He also took Titus with him. Titus was a Greek convert who had not been circumcised. Verse 2 is an interesting statement by Paul. Remember, Paul had not sat under any teaching about Christ. He met Jesus Christ while on the way to Damascus to persecute the church in Damascus. Paul received some instructions from Ananias as described in Acts 9. Instructions that the Lord Himself had given to Ananias to pass on to Paul concerning what Paul would need to suffer for Christ’s sake.
Here in verse 2, the “revelation” given to Paul was that it was time to go to Jerusalem and speak with the apostles living there. He went to report to them of his preaching among the Gentiles. He had not been sent out by the Apostles of the Lamb. He was sent out by Jesus Himself. Now it is time to be aligned with those apostle’s that were in Jerusalem.
He did not just show up and present himself to the whole church in Jerusalem. He went “privately” to those of “reputation.” It might have included the elders and the deacons as well as the apostles. It was those that the people trusted. Otherwise, he might have gone there in “vain.” Paul knew that those apostles were ordained by the Lord Himself. He was a man that understood “Divine Order.” He needed their recognition and acceptance for the next phase of his ministry.
God was marring the Jewish mission and the Gentile mission in the presence of His administration which began on earth there in Jerusalem on the “Day of Pentecost.” Part of the challenge was the issue of circumcision. The Jews were inclined to hold on to their “traditions” and make them a part of the New Covenant. Circumcision had been at the beginning with Abraham, whom they saw as their father. A new revelation was breaking into this new thing the Lord was doing, and it did not include “circumcision” of the flesh.
Let’s visit Romans 4 to understand Paul’s revelation of this topic. I want us to be clear about this subject because it is critical to understanding the book of Galatians. It is also necessary for interpreting God’s plan and purpose today in bringing “apostolic correction” to His church regarding “natural Israel” and His Redeemed Israel, God’s Holy Nation in Christ, the Messiah, David’s “Greater Son.” This understanding is central to a “unified church” in Christ and His purposes in the nations.
Romans 4:1-5:5
What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6). 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. (If you or I have any works involved with our salvation, we are still “debtors.” There is no grace involved with our doing works to “appease” God. Even King David understood this point.
David Celebrates the Same Truth.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Psalm 32:1-2). HERE IS PAUL’S POINT:
Abraham was Justified Before he was circumcised.
9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.
The Promise Granted Through Faith
13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed — God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification.
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now, hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. NKJV.
Back to Galatians 2 and verse 3, Yet not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. In other words, those apostles did not make a big deal out of the fact that Titus had not been circumcised. But others did make it a central issue!
Note verse 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (NKJV).