(manuscript, but no recording)
In Galatians 2:6-10 Paul describes the Partnership in the Gospel that was confirmed between himself and the Leaders of the Church in Jerusalem. Chapter 2 began with Paul presenting his Gospel (1-2), then we saw him protect this Gospel (3-5), and now we see his partnership in the Gospel (6-10).
This section is important because in this letter Paul is telling his Galatian readers that what he preached to them is what they need to hold on to. He is showing them that he has the recognition from the original 12 Apostles that he is an apostle and that his Gospel is their Gospel too. That’s a lot of Authoritative agreement that would have helped anchor the Galatians and keep them from drifting with those false teachers.
Lets study under 3 headings today: 1) Gospel Unity, 2) Apostolic Unity, 3) Compassionate Unity
GOSPEL UNITY (6)
The first way their partnership was seen is their Gospel Unity. Look at verse 6, “…..” Note the last few words, “they added nothing to my message.” What Paul is saying is very simple: they didn’t add anything to my message because they agreed with the message. But it is stronger than that: they preach the same message. They sat down and were getting confirmation that Paul’s message was not just acceptable to preach – it was identical to the message they preached. The only difference was that Paul was preaching that message to the Gentiles while they were in Jerusalem preaching it to the Jews (7-9). The point is that they had unity over WHAT the Gospel was that they were preaching.
You see the acknowledgement of Paul’s preaching content by the Apostles. As a matter of fact, Peter would later talk about “the wisdom that God gave [Paul]” seen in all Paul’s writings (2 Pet 3:15-16). In other words, while Paul informs the Galatians that the Apostles acknowledged that the gospel he preached was from God, Peter would write the same thing in his own words in his second letter.
This agreement and even cooperation in spreading the Gospel is what Paul called “partnership in the gospel,” mentioned in Philippians 1:5. They were on the same team, championing the same Gospel to the world.
APPLICATION: Unity in the Christian faith starts with the Gospel. There must be agreement on the Gospel. There cannot be a substitute that replaces the Gospel to have Christian unity. It can’t be church membership, baptism, denomination, social causes, political affiliation, or even other doctrines. The beginning and the ongoing basis for Christian unity is the Gospel. Make much of the Gospel!
APPLICATION: Don’t change the Gospel. Paul faithfully preserved the Gospel not only for the Galatians (2:5), but also for everyone he ever told it to. “What I received from the Lord I also passed on to you as of first importance….” (1 Cor 15:3). The very last time Paul proclaimed the Gospel before dying it was the very same Gospel that he preached when he first preached it when beginning his ministry. He never changed it – never adding to it or taking away from it. Doing so would result in judgment (1:7-8; Deut 4:2; Rev 22:18-19). He never preached a “different gospel, which is no gospel at all” (1:6). It was the same from the very first time he preached it to the very last time. Let us also faithfully preserve the Gospel at EFC.
APOSTOLIC UNITY (7-9)
So they not only had unity over the Gospel message they preached, they also had Apostolic Unity. Look at verses 7-9 with me….READ
Paul is recognized by the leaders as another man sent by Jesus, just as they had been sent by Jesus. The same “grace” they received from Jesus was the same grace Paul received. This grace is not referring to salvation, but God’s grace in giving them the great privilege to serve Him as Apostles.
Recognizing this grace given to Paul, they gave him the “right hand of fellowship” as a sign of that recognition that he was on the same team. So we can see the equality between Paul and Peter and James and John – they were equal as Apostles. Ephesians 4:11 says, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.” Peter, James, John and Paul were what they were because Jesus made them.
Paul we know, but who were the other men? They are “pillars” verse 9 says. Pillars of the Church. The New Testament often uses construction language to describe the Church. It is a building that is being built – specifically a temple. We are called living stones. The Apostles were the foundation of this building (Eph 2:20). Here they are described as “pillars,” showing how their lives gave strength, support and stability to the Church.
James was one of the pillars of the early Church. He is the physical brother of Jesus Christ. Paul already mentions him in 1:19….. James did not come to faith and follow his brother Jesus during his lifetime, but it was after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He became a powerful righteous leader in the church. If you’re reading Acts, he begins getting mentioned in Acts 12 after the other James is martyred (Acts 12:2). James was possibly the decisive voice for the Acts 15 Council with all the leaders and it was his directions that everyone agreed to enact.
Peter was Peter! He is the loyal and impulsive leader of the 12 disciples in the Gospels. He is the only man besides Jesus to walk on water! He was one of, if not the, most influential leaders in the Early Church. Peter is a powerful study for all Christians as a man of great strength and weakness, and a shining example of the redemptive and restorative power of Jesus. He wrote 1 and 2 Peter, and he is the most prominent character in the first half of the book of Acts.
John was one of the 12 we see throughout the Gospels, one of the inner circle of Jesus, even called the “beloved” disciple. He wrote the Gospel of John, Revelation, and the little letters 1, 2, and 3 John. He and Peter are paired together often – they both ran to the tomb of Jesus on the morning of the resurrection; they both are often paired together in the early chapters of Acts.
Now while they were united as Apostles, we notice that the Lord assigned different mission fields to each. There was division of labor – not division of mission. What do we mean? See how Paul was sent by the Lord to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, and the others in Jerusalem were sent by Jesus to preach the same Gospel to the Jews. Notice this distinction in verses 7-9….READ
Now there are a number of different things we could pull out here but I’ll say this: here we have a reminder that the Church is a Body with many parts and each part has its assigned function. First Corinthians 12:12-13 tells us “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body…”
Paul was one part, Peter was another. Each were part of the same body. Each were given the same Holy Spirit. Each part had its own role to play. And when all the parts fulfill their roles all together the Body functions in unity to accomplish the purpose of advancing the Name of Christ – who is the Head of the Body.
APPLICATION: We are also part of the Body, each one of us. We each also must be dedicated to the role
COMPASSIONATE UNITY (10)
Finally, we see their compassionate unity. In other words we see their unity in being compassionate. Look at verse 10, “….” READ.
As Paul was leaving, the last thing they urged on him was to make certain that he did not forget the poor – but that he remembered them. Meaning they pressed him to make great efforts to help them. They wanted Paul to be just as unified with them in this as he was in preaching the Gospel.
This compassion is the mark of a true shepherd. We see all throughout the NT those highest up in the Church were deeply concerned for those “lowest” in the church. Poverty in the early church was very common, and part of that came by persecution. Hebrews 10 says, “Remember those early days when you received the light….you joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property….” Here’s the thing: not only had Jesus commissioned Paul the same
- Acts 2:45 says “they sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” This burden for fellow Christians who had need was they shared everything in common as they had need
- Acts 4:34-35 says, “And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold the, brought the money from teh sales and put it at the apostles feet , and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”
- Acts 6 shows that there was a massive food distribution program in the early church for Christian widows. That program was funded by the giving of fellow Christians.
- Acts 11 says an offering was taken up by the Gentile churches and given to the poor believers in Jerusalem.
APPLICATION: One of the ways we help each other here is the Deacon Fund. It is a special, confidential ministry that helps those in our church with urgent or practical needs that are too burdensome to meet alone. I cannot express to you how much this special fund has blessed so many in this church family.
CONCLUSION: The Gospel of Nanotechnology
How can you have eternal life? If you listen to Ray Kurzweil you only have to wait 4 more years and in 2030 you will be able to do away with death and aging. An article last year in the Times Of India explained Kurzweil’s prophecy that living forever biologically will finally become a reality. The key is nanotechnology, as the article explains, “The future of medicine will be characterized by the emergence of microscopic machines called nanobots. These kind of small robots will help travel in the human circulatory system, continuously checking the body’s status, healing the cells that are broken, [healing diseases before they appear, restoring the human body on a cellular level] and reversing the signs of aging.”
Don’t scoff too quickly at this. Kurzweil, is a has made 147 predictions years before they came true – and the article claims 86% of his predictions have come true – everything from the emergence of the internet, AI and the merging of biology and computing.
However successful Kurzweil’s predictions have been, he will be wrong about mankind gaining immortality through technology. Do not fall for this false gospel. There is only one way to eternal life and that is through the one and only Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mankind is always going to be looking for a way to defeat death apart from Jesus Christ. And man will go to his death while doing so. The only way to attain eternal life is not through technology, but through the cross of Jesus. One single death a long time ago has made it possible for you to have eternal life today.
- If you have eternal life it isn’t because of nanobots inside of you, its because the Spirit of God is inside you.
- It isn’t your blood pumped with nanobots that saves you – its Jesus blood shed for you.
- It isn’t because you turned to technology, it is because you have turned to Jesus Christ on the cross – who died on the cross for all your sins and then came back from the dead.
The Scriptures have told us that our sin is the cause of our death. Death cannot be dealt with apart from dealing with our sin. The false gospel of Nanobots misses the mark on this point. But Jesus Christ nails it – actually He was nailed – nailed to a cross. You can hope you live another 4 years until nanobots are able to save you. But they won’t. Or you can wait no longer and come to Jesus Christ. Right now you can receive Him as your Savior and He will forgive all your sins and give you eternal life. And when the resurrection comes, you will have a glorious body to live forever in.