Galatians 2

SPEAKER 01 : 0:08

Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Allen J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:23

Today we are in Galatians chapter 2, and I’m going to read the 21 verses of Galatians chapter 2 because it contains one of my favorite verses. Galatians chapter 2. Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them, though privately before those who seemed influential, the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery, to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. And from those who seemed to be influential, what they were makes no difference to me. God shows no partiality. Those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised, For he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles. And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners. Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. So we also have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not. For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ.” It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. That is a powerful chapter of scripture. So let’s dissect it by looking at these journal entries from 1999, 2008, and 2012. In 1999, I wrote, Paul visits Jerusalem and compares his gospel with the pillars, Peter, James, and John, quote, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. And then referring to verse 20, I wrote for myself, crucified with Christ, parentheses, at age 15, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and I live by faith. Yes, that’s that favorite verse of mine, Galatians 2.20. Going back to that little personal antidote I referred to yesterday about the baseball draft, My entry today says, I am the proud father of a professional baseball player. Jason A. Huth drafted yesterday by the Cincinnati Reds in the 26th round. 26, the number he wore on his uniform. He gets a chance to play. That’s what he wanted. We’re all so excited and happy for Jason. It was his highest draft of his three. He got drafted by San Francisco out of high school in the 42nd round. After junior college by Montreal, I think it was in the 40s. He’s headed for Florida Instructional League, then rookie ball in Billings, Montana. Yeah, that was a pretty exciting day in the Huth family. And you may wonder if you ever saw Jason’s whose name in a major league box score. Well, no, he did play two years of minor league ball before giving up his baseball career, getting married and starting a family. Back to the more spiritual aspects of today’s recording. In 2008, I wrote, Paul got the gospel from Jesus, not from men, but he submitted his message to the apostles for confirmation that he was on the right course. We need to be careful our message, our gospel, is in line with true Christianity too. That’s why I am under the authority of my pastor in the Ezra Project. Submit? Yes. But back down on what Jesus has entrusted to us? No. Paul confronted Peter publicly for the sake of the gospel. That took assurance that he had the gospel right. The question of the day was whether Christians had to become Jews first. Paul said no. Peter wasn’t sure that salvation was only in Christ or also in keeping the law. We have such issues today, and they need to be addressed and solved. For example, is Jesus the only way, or do many paths lead to salvation? Quote, nevertheless, knowing that a man’s not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus. That’s verse 16. And the verse that I try to live by, Galatians 2.20. That was my entry in 2008. So the message in chapter 2 is, what is the true gospel? I wish preachers today were so concerned about the gospel they preach. Oh, how we need a true, consistent gospel message from our churches today. What is the true gospel? According to Paul in Galatians chapter 2, it’s pretty clear. I close with two verses. Verse 16, Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. And once again, that great verse, verse 20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Father, thank you for the one true gospel. We are not justified by the works we do in this life. We are justified through faith in Jesus Christ and Christ alone. Thank you that as we read your word, the gospel becomes very clear. Father, we thank you for Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. In whose name we pray, amen. According to a recent Barna research study entitled Bible Reading, A New Year’s Resolution, most Americans are not satisfied with their current level of Scripture reading. A majority express a desire to read the Bible more than they currently do. Born-again and practicing Christians are the most likely to desire more Bible reading in their day-to-day lives. It should not come as a surprise that the majority of Americans wish they read Scripture more than they do, says Roxanne Stone, editor-in-chief of Barna Group. After all, two-thirds of Americans agree that the Bible contains everything you need to know to live a meaningful life. Why wouldn’t you want to read such a book more often? The study continues. However, like other New Year’s resolutions, such as exercising more and eating healthier, Scripture reading is often an aspirational goal. It’s the goal that for most people probably doesn’t feel necessary to survive and so can easily get swamped by the day-to-day demands of a busy life. Scripture reading takes time and focus, two things that feel like scarcities in today’s fast-paced and on-demand culture. Like exercise, like dieting, regular Bible reading does not offer instant payoff. It’s a discipline whose rewards are reaped over the long haul. And the study continues, when people go from feeling they should read the Bible more to needing to read the Bible more, they find the time. Access to the Bible is not the issue in the USA, is it? We all have Bibles. According to another study done a few years ago, 88% of Americans own a Bible. We have 3.5 Bibles in our homes. And this is amazing. 59% of people who have no faith or are atheists even own a Bible, probably just in case. So if you have a smartphone, you have access to the Word of God. My Gideon Bible app has over 2,100 languages. Access to the Bible is not the issue. The issue is changing our beliefs about the Bible to behavior with the Bible. So where are Christians with the Bible today? Christians are well-intentioned when it comes to the Bible. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. We believe, we just don’t behave. Our belief in the Bible and our behavior with the Bible are inconsistent. The middle ground related to the Bible seems to be disappearing. The decrease of Bible-neutral and Bible-friendly people and the increase of Bible antagonists suggests that more people are picking a side. Which side are you on? Are you a Bible antagonist questioning the Bible? Are you Bible-neutral? I just don’t know. Or are you Bible-friendly? I love the Bible. Wherever you are, pick a side. Because of our neglect of God’s Word, we are becoming biblically illiterate. For example, in a private religious elementary school, kids were asked about the Old and New Testaments. Here are some funny things that they had to say. The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat that apple. Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day, but a ball of fire by night. What kind of man was Boaz before he married? Ruthless. The epistles were the wives of the apostles. Christians have only one spouse. That’s called monotony. So, if we think about Bible literacy or illiteracy, we think about it this way. If God decided to come down from his throne in heaven, become an author here on earth, you’d think his book would be on the bestseller list. And the fact is, the Bible is the number one bestselling book of all time. 2.5 to 5 billion, according to research. It’s also the most read book of all time. Praise the Lord, that alone might be evidence that the Bible, not any other so-called writing, is God’s Word. According to a weekly World News report, here are a few other Bible facts. About 50 Bibles are sold every minute. The Bible is the world’s best-selling book. It’s also the world’s most shoplifted book. That’s interesting. And that doesn’t even count all the Gideon Bibles stolen out of those hotels. So I encourage you to enjoy a portion of God’s Word every day. Make it a daily spiritual habit. And so until next time, I’m Alan J. Huth, and this program is sponsored by The Ezra Project, with support from listeners like you. Visit EzraProject.net to keep AdBible, connecting God’s people to God’s Word, on the air. I know you’re going to like it and want to share it with others.