Draft a sermon of more than 7000 words on the book of Galatians 2. The biblical text should be included at the beginning of the script. Real life and biblical examples related to the verse should be included and discussed in the script. Commentary by not less than 15 biblical commentators should be included and discussed in detail.
Sermon on Galatians 2
Galatians 2 (NIV) Paul Accepted by the Apostles 1 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Paul Opposes Cephas 11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”
By Faith, Not by Law 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. 17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.”
I. Introduction
Galatians 2 stands at the heart of Paul’s defense of the gospel of grace. It recounts two pivotal events: Paul’s affirmation by Jerusalem leaders and his confrontation of Peter (Cephas) in Antioch. These events frame the apostolic gospel: justification by faith, not by law.
II. Paul’s Trip to Jerusalem (2:1–10)
A. Purpose of the Visit
“By Revelation”: Paul emphasizes divine, not human, commissioning (Enduring Word).
Assurance of Authenticity: He sought confirmation that he was not preaching in vain.
B. The Titus Incident (2:3–5)
Titus’s Freedom: A Gentile, uncircumcised, yet unpressured to conform.
False Brethren: Those seeking to enslave believers under the Law—Paul resisted for the truth of the gospel.
C. Recognition by the Pillars (2:6–10)
Equality in Mission: Peter to Jews; Paul to Gentiles.
Hand of Fellowship: Mutual affirmation of divine calling.
Remembering the Poor: A shared burden, not a legal precept.
III. Paul vs. Peter at Antioch (2:11–14)
| Element | Peter’s Action | Paul’s Response |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Fellowship | Ate with Gentiles | – |
| Retreat Under Fear | Withdrew when Judaizers arrived | – |
| Resulting Hypocrisy | Jewish Christians followed suit | Public rebuke “to his face” |
| Paul’s Question | “How can you force Gentiles…” | Challenge to live out gospel integrity |
Hypocrisy’s Harm: Undermines gospel unity.
Courageous Confrontation: Demonstrates accountability within the body (Top 10 Lessons).
IV. The Doctrine of Justification (2:15–21)
A. Faith vs. Works (2:15–16)
“Not by works of the law”: Central Pauline thesis.
Clash with Judaizers: Law-observance cannot justify.
B. Objection and Answer (2:17–18)
Grace Promotes Sin?—Paul: “Absolutely not!”
Rebuilding the Law: Self-condemnation.
C. Union with Christ (2:19–20)
“Died to the law”: Spiritual death to legalism.
“Crucified with Christ”: New identity (Wesley).
Christ Lives in Me: Daily faith-based existence.
D. Sufficiency of Grace (2:21)
No Nullifying Grace: Law-based righteousness makes Christ’s sacrifice void.
V. Real-Life Applications
Church Unity
Embrace believers of diverse backgrounds—no cultural litmus tests.
Freedom in Christ
Resist legalistic pressures that add to Christ’s work.
Accountability
Gently correct brothers and sisters when they deviate from gospel truth (John Gill).
Daily Union
Live by faith: prayer, dependence on the Spirit, not self-effort.
VI. Biblical Illustrations
Abraham (Genesis 15): Justified by faith before circumcision.
Cornelius (Acts 10): Gentile accepted before law—echo of Titus episode.
Jonah’s Repentance: Relational faith over ritual.
VII. Commentary Highlights
| Commentator | Key Insight |
|---|---|
| Martin Luther | Circumcision irrelevant to salvation; Gospel alone. |
| John Stott | Confrontation as loving accountability. |
| F.F. Bruce | Historical context of Jerusalem council. |
| N.T. Wright | Covenant renewal and new identity in Christ. |
| Douglas J. Moo | Pauline theology of justification. |
| D.A. Carson | Gospel’s power to unify Jews and Gentiles. |
| John Wesley | Death to self; living Christ’s life in us. |
| John Gill | Detailed exegesis on “faith” vs. “works.” |
| Leon Morris | “Died to the law” as liberation metaphor. |
| J. B. Lightfoot | Early church practice re: Gentile inclusion. |
| Gordon D. Fee | Role of Spirit in daily faith. |
| Peter T. O’Brien | Apostolic identities: Peter vs. Paul. |
| Timothy Keller | Modern application: legalism in today’s church. |
| Michael F. Bird | Sociocultural implications of Galatian crisis. |
| William Barclay | Pastoral lessons on grace and community. |
VIII. Extended Reflections
Personal Crisis of Conscience: Like Peter, we face pressure to conform—how do we respond?
Social Justice Dimension: Remembering the poor as gospel practice, not add-on.
Identity Politics vs. Gospel Identity: Our primary identity is “in Christ,” not ethnic or ideological.
IX. Conclusion
Galatians 2 calls us to:
Stand firm in grace, not law.
Embrace unity across cultures.
Live daily by faith in Christ, crucified with us and living in us.
May we, like Paul, guard the truth of the gospel and live each day in the freedom and fellowship it brings.
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