Galatians 2:1-5

 

Gal 2:1 (KJB)
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
 
The fourteen years here would refer to the time from the conversion of Paul in 33 A.D. Barnabas was born in Cyprus and Titus was a Greek. This is the first mention of Titus in the New Testament. Since Paul was traveling with these two, it seemed Paul was exercising his Christian liberty by keeping company with two Gentiles, something a Pharisee, under the law, of the first century would never have done.
 
Gal 2:2 (KJB)
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
 
Communicated - Set before, laid before, or set forth
Privately - Individually
Reputation - Seeming to be something
Vain - Worthless, ineffective or empty
 
Here Paul once reiterates the fact that he did not get the Gospel from men nor did he receive his destination from men. He states here that he received his instructions to go to Jerusalem by revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ. When he arrived in Jerusalem he had approached the leading men of the church and no doubt these would have been some of the Apostles. He then went on to lay before them the gospel and probably the doctrines which he was giving to the gentiles in the various areas. He did this so he could get confirmation on what he was teaching, he did this so he would not be teaching a worthless gospel, one which could not save nor edify. (Prov 11:14 KJV) Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. This is why it is very important that each Christian have some accountability so they will not be giving out any false doctrine but will preach only the truth. He also did this in a private manner which would make it easier to be corrected, if correction was needed. Another principle Paul used was that he didn’t just go to anybody but to those who had some type of reputation, not for the glory, but for the maturity in the faith they would have garnered over fourteen years. If a person is saved for fourteen years and there is no evidence of growth, then that person is stagnant and really is not in a position to offer any advice. (Heb 5:12 KJV) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. The writer to the Hebrews also expected his readers to show signs of maturity in the faith and the Lord expects us to show maturity in the faith also.
 
Gal 2:3 (KJB)
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
 
Compelled - Forced or constrained
 
Titus was a Greek and the idea of circumcision would have been reprehensible to him because the Greek worshipped the human body as is seen on much of their artwork. Even the smooth words of the false teachers were not powerful enough to convince Titus to become circumcised. Apparently Titus was strong in the faith at this time and knew that it was by grace alone without the works of the law. (Titus 3:5 KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Remember how we showed that the works of the law is man’s righteousness and not the imputed righteousness of God. (Phil 3:9 KJV) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: No Christian should ever compromise with false teachings even if it is an offence to the false teacher.
 
Gal 2:4 (KJB)
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
 
Privily - Secretly
To spy out - lie in wait or reconnoiter
Liberty - Freedom
Bondage - Slavery
 
This verse is a staunch warning for all the churches today. The term “false brethren” tells us that anyone can learn the Christian language and then infiltrate a church for the purpose of bringing in a false gospel. How many churches have been ruined by someone bringing in a tongues gospel and then it spreads throughout the church until it becomes divided and then splits or dissolves. The false teachers will never bring their teachings in the public arena simply because the collective spiritual knowledge of the attending Christians will know it is false and then they will be put out. Instead, they bring the false teachings in stealthily, which makes it easier if you approach one person at a time or get their phone numbers and have a private conversation with them.
 
In the case of the Galatian church, they were being spied out so the false teachers could supplant the liberty they had in Christ and bring them back under the law which would be akin to slavery. Christian liberty is being free from having to keep any aspects of the law for salvation. Christian liberty is not drinking and smoking. I have heard Pastors claim that Christian liberty means they could have a beer or a highball. They completely miss the reality of the liberty Christ gave us. Christ did not go to the cross so I can drink a six pack of beer with whiskey chasers. Christ went to the cross to free me from the bondage of the law and to grant me salvation by grace alone without any works. False teachers hate free grace because it keeps them on the outside, unable to control the people with their law additives known as traditions. If one is compelled to keep the law under the authority of false teachers, it is nothing more than being a slave to a false religion and its leaders with all their created rules and regulations.
 
Gal 2:5 (KJB)
To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
 
Subjection - Obedience, submission, or subordination
Continue - Remain or be constant
 
Here Paul states that not even for one hour did they give any place to the false teachers and their teachings. One of the problems with false teachings is that they contain enough truth for the false teachings to ride in on them. Those who have computers know that viruses infect a computer by riding in on a host file. Well the host file for the false teachers is the true gospel. They will agree with enough of it but then they will begin to add to it and this is done very subtly so the recipient thinks they are receiving another tenet of the Gospel when, in essence, they are being given a “gospel virus.” That virus will ride the gospel until it finally displaces the truth and then the false teachers will have the entrance they need. Paul would not give them any time because he wanted the true gospel to have continuity in the church, which means, there would be nothing to disturb it nor infect it. This why those churches today who feel they should give other teachings a chance are nothing but viper’s dens because they choose to amalgamate the true gospel with false teachings. This is reprehensible with God and will not be tolerated plus it is a shame the average Christian tolerates it.

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