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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday November 3, 2019
THE
APOSTLES ACCEPT PAUL
Galatians
2:1-10
The
Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians for the benefit of the churches
that he founded in the district of Galatia very early on in his ministry (circa
A.D. 49-50). He had established Christian churches at that time in Derbe,
Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch, all located in southern Galatia. It was
most likely written shortly after the famous (Acts 15) Jerusalem Council, which
released Gentile Christian converts from any responsibility to keep the laws
that GOD had given exclusively to Jews, such as, for example, circumcision.
This letter was written to rebuke the
“faith/works” doctrine that the followers of Judaism, who trailed Paul from
church to church, were trying to indoctrinate into the newly founded Christian
churches (Galatians 1:6-10). They were also teaching that one must become a Jew
first, by conforming to all Jewish laws, before one could be eligible to become
a Christian.
This seemed very logical to some new
Christians since JESUS HIMSELF was a Jew, which meant that the roots of
Christianity itself, was also Jewish. But Paul strongly objected to this kind
of teaching and, here in this letter, he clearly explains why mixing works with
faith actually robs the Gospel of CHRIST of its power to transform the lives of
the new believers.
In Galatians chapter 2, fourteen years
after Paul’s first visit with Peter in Jerusalem, he returned there, this time
with Barnabas and Titus, after being led to do so by the LORD. He met privately
with the leaders of the Church to tell them about what he had been preaching to
the Gentiles over the years. He wanted to make sure that they did not disagree
with his ministry, and of course, they did not. In fact, they didn’t even
request that Titus, who was a Gentile, be circumcised, as some of the so-called
Christians there were demanding (Vs. 1-4). Instead, they welcomed Paul and
Barnabas as co-workers, and had nothing further to add to what they had been
teaching.
As pillars of the Church, Peter, James
(JESUS’ brother), and John recognized GOD’s calling on Paul, and encouraged him
to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they themselves, would keep preaching
to the Jews. They only suggested to Paul, Barnabas, and young Titus, that they
always remember to help the poor, something they were already more than willing
to do (Vs. 6-10).
Christians always need to know when the
Gospel of JESUS CHRIST is being distorted, and the only way to know that is to
know what the real Gospel presents through a personal relationship with GOD.
One must get into the reading and studying of the Word of GOD for themselves
and let the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD guide them into all righteousness and knowledge.
We must become so familiar with the truth of the Gospel that when we hear
counterfeits teaching, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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