GRACE + SOMETHING I CAN DO = SLAVERY

April 16, 2014

GRACE + SOMETHING I CAN DO = SLAVERY

Galatians 2:1–10

Laura Catherine Trent

Central Truth

Paul talks about his trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus in order to share the truth of the gospel to both false teachers and also to fellow believers such as Peter, James, and John. The idea of circumcision after conversion is renounced, and unity is found in the true gospel.

But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of 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. (Galatians 2:3-4)

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 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. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of 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— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 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. 7 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 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 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. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

A childhood story that my family still shares happened when I was six. I was home from school playing when I suddenly got up, hung my head, and marched to my room, shutting the door. My confused father followed me to find out what had caused the sudden change. I told him that he needed to leave me alone because "I was sending myself to time out." After he laughed, the story unfolded.

I had been mean to another girl, and the teacher had me apologize but had chosen not to punish me. In my heart I just couldn't believe that saying sorry and asking for forgiveness was enough. Surely I needed to "serve time" or suffer in some way, and if the teacher wasn't going to enforce it, I would.

While my parents might have thought it was cute then, it isn't a reflection of God's truth and reminds me of what Paul was calling "false brothers with false pretenses" in verse 4 (NET Bible). When Paul was writing this, people were saying that in order to receive salvation and to live with the knowledge that God views you as justified (declared righteous on the basis of Christ's sacrifice on the cross), you not only had to believe in God the Father and His Son (John 5:24), but you also had to be circumcised (Acts 15:1). It's the same thought that I had, "Forgiveness cannot be enough."

But let me ask you, when is forgiveness -- especially that which comes from the Creator of the Universe -- not enough? It always is. It doesn't matter if it's a time out or a mark on your body, atonement for sin comes only through Jesus. Living with the mindset of "Grace + Something I Can Do = Freedom" leads to the opposite -- slavery. Romans 8:15 (NIV) helped teach my stubborn heart this truth. It simply says, "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'" Titus, you, and I can live as adopted sons -- not because we served time, but because someone else did (Romans 3:22-24).

1. In what ways does the church today add "Something I Can Do" to the gospel?

2. When have you personally tried to add "Something I Can Do" to the gospel?

3. How do you fight this idea? (Scripture, community, etc.)