Let's get into Galatians chapter 2.
We're going to read from verse 11
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy
so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
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?
We who are Jews by birth are not sinful Gentiles
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
not by the works of the law
because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
But even seeking to be justified in Christ
we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners
doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin?
Absolutely not.
If I rebuild what I destroyed
then I really would be a lawbreaker
for through the law I die to the law
so that I might live for God.
I've been crucified with Christ
I no longer live but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body
I live by faith in the Son of God
who loved me
and gave himself for me.
I do not set aside the grace of God
for if righteousness could be gained through the law
Christ died for nothing.
And so Father it's our prayer
as we come to your word this morning
your living and active words
we pray that you would pierce our hearts
and our souls
and our minds
and our intentions.
Lord may we leave here this morning
with a bigger view of who you are
and a bigger appreciation
and affection for your Son
in whose name we pray.
Amen.
Well there's a meme that so often
every so often
it surfaces on my social media feed.
I wonder if you've seen this.
It's the famous scene
painted by American Norman Rockwell
of a man standing up
and speaking
at a town meeting.
And it always makes me think of that saying
that we so often use in our culture.
See if you can complete it for me here.
We use this phrase
it goes like this
that's not a hill
that I'm prepared to
die on.
Which invites the question
like the man in the picture
doesn't it?
Which hills
are?
Here's what you need to know
about Galatians chapter 2 today
the second half.
This
is
Paul's
hill.
and it comes
it presents itself
at an absolutely
critical junction
in the life
of the
early church.
And by the end of this
friends
we're going to be
so glad
that he did.
And just in case you're here
and you're thinking
he's talking about what
this morning?
Hardly understood
understood about 60%
of the words
in that reading.
What on earth
is going on?
A church squabble?
Do me a favour.
Let me engage you
for a minute.
Here's why I love you
whoever you are here today
whatever you think
about the God
of the Bible
we love that you're here.
Here's what I'd love
to engage you with
this morning.
The cash out
of this
if you hang on
in there
is the very
thing that
this week in
particular
has made
us long
for.
The very
thing that
our multicultural
multi-ethnic
hostile
and fractured
world
strives
and longs
for
but for
all the money
and all
the talks
in the world
cannot seem
to achieve.
Do you know
what it is?
It is unity
in
diversity.
If you're just
joining us
in this series
this is a great
one for you
to tap into
maybe you think
I've missed
the first couple
of chapters
you can go
back and listen
to that on
the website
if you'd like
but let me
tell you why
we thought
this was a
great one
to do
this Sunday
to get us
back into
this letter
particularly
if this is
your first
one in
this series.
What we're
taking in
this morning
is the
theological
heart
centre
of this
letter.
If you like
verses 15
and 16
have a look
at it
there.
This is
the middle
of the
Galatians
mind map.
Mind
Now I ran
that past
Bogdan
during the
week
he says
people today
don't talk
about mind
maps
is it
more
vision
flowing
statements
I don't
know what
they call
them these
days
but you
can tell
I'm a
millennial
mind
maps
okay
I still
draw in
mind
maps
verses 15
and 16
this is
the middle
of the
Galatians
mind
map
and if
you're
like our
family
you love
to watch
that TV
game show
called
catchphrase
you'll know
that the
middle
solves the
riddle
the middle
solves the
riddle
okay
always a
great thing
to look
for if
you're
coming to
a book
of the
Bible
no matter
how long
or short
that will
help you
understand
what it's
all about
the middle
solves the
riddle
if you
can get
to the
why
the purpose
the big
idea
you get
to that
everything
else will
begin to
fall into
place
the middle
solves
the riddle
15 and
16
are the
middle
of the
riddle
because
here is
the debate
up for
grabs
in Galatia
there's the
region on
the map
that Paul's
writing to
here's the
question
how is
somebody
made right
with God
how is
somebody
made right
with God
and
these
Judaizers
Paul calls
them the
circumcision
group here
have
waltzed
into
these
churches
in
Galatia
and they
are saying
how is
someone
made right
with God
it is
Jesus
plus
what we
do
it is
Jesus
plus
obedience
to the
law
it's
Jesus
plus
circumcision
and Paul
responds
in true
parent
style
do you
see how
in these
verses
he doesn't
say his
answer
once
he doesn't
say his
answer
twice
he says
his answer
three times
do you see
it there
we are
justified
before God
and that
word if you're
new to it
this morning
it just
means to
be declared
right in
the sight
of
we are
declared
justified
in the
sight of
this God
not by
works of
the law
or our
efforts
we are
declared
justified
by
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
we are
saved
and this
is what
we've been
saying over
the last
number of
weeks
the
reformation
mantra
we are
saved by
grace
alone
grace
just that
word meaning
God's
undeserved
favour
right
grace
alone
through
faith
alone
we'll
come back
to that
word
in a
minute
grace
alone
faith
alone
in
Christ
alone
there's
one
way
to be
right
with
God
and what
this
does
when we
really
get it
it
both
humbles
the
proud
and it's
also great
news for
those who
are at
rock
bottom
and think
no way
could I
ever hope
to know
the God
of the
universe
the three
in one
God
that
Sam
was telling
us about
a minute
ago
do you
see what
it is
it humbles
the proud
it is
good news
for those
at rock
bottom
because it
raises
us up
the gospel
is not
that Jesus
has done
something
no through
his life
and his
death on
the cross
Jesus
has done
not
something
but
everything
and like
one of
those crazy
fall
backwards
trust
exercises
that you
used to
do in
team
building
days
when I
was
a young
person
trying to
get through
the workplace
the gospel
call
is to
trust
fully
in
and
collapse
totally
into
the arms
of an
all
sufficient
Jesus
and that's
the hill
that Paul's
willing to
die on
15 and
16 friends
are the
middle of
the riddle
now here's
two things
that we're
going to
take and
learn from
this passage
this morning
as we think
about how we
apply this
theological
centre to
our lives
here's
number one
here's the
big
two big
lessons
that we
learn here
number one
is this
Jesus died
so that
there would
be
one
church
he died
so that
there would
be one
church
come with
me to
verse 11
just in
case you're
confused with
the language
there
Cephas
is Peter
it's the
same guy
and Peter
is someone
who Paul
has just
esteemed
back at
verse 9
of chapter
2
as one
of the
pillars
of the
early
church
do you
see him
call him
that
a pillar
because
his
eyewitness
testimony
to Jesus
and his
teachings
who he
was up
and saw
everything
close and
personal
for three
years
this is
the bedrock
on which
the witness
of the
church
is built
Peter
Cephas
has made
his way
to where
do you
see the
place
the geography
he's made
his way
to
Antioch
now
Antioch
is important
in the
life of
the early
church
because it
is if
you like
the base
of the
international
spreading of
the gospel
to the
nations
it's also
the place
where people
are first
called
Christians
and I
love that
because
according to
the Bible
a Christian
is not a
box that
you tick
that is
not what
it means
to be a
Christian
a Christian
is a
nickname
that you
get
because of
the kind
of life
that people
see that
you live
to be a
Christian
if you want
to be
technical
it literally
means
little
Christ
and so
that's
what people
in this
city
this
multicultural
Gentile
city
of
Antioch
they
looked at
the early
Christians
and they
gave them
that name
you are
little
Christ
and it's
Peter's
behaviour
there
in that
city
that's
caused
the issue
come with
me to
verse 12
do you see
Peter was
eating
with the
Gentiles
now the
Greek
grammar
of that
word
suggests
that this
wasn't
just
a
one-off
thing
this was
something
that he
had done
on a
regular
basis
he was
eating
with them
now that
might not
appear a
big deal
to us
but can
I just
maybe
slam on
the brakes
for a
minute
and help
us see
that that
is
massive
it is
massive
to eat
with someone
in this
day
kind of
still is
today
but much
more
in that
day
is to
welcome
somebody
into your
life
and even
approve
of somebody
and that's
why you can
make a good
case in Luke's
gospel that is
exactly why
Jesus is
killed
because he's
eating
with the
wrong
kind of
people
eating
with somebody
in this
day is
a
massive
thing
and Jews
didn't
eat
with
Gentiles
but Peter
has this
vision in
Acts chapter
10
you can
maybe
scribble
it down
and look
at it
in your
own time
of a
sheep
coming down
from heaven
and this
sheep
is full
of all
sorts
of
different
animals
that a
Jew
in Peter's
day
would
never
eat
but the
voice comes
from heaven
saying
rise
Peter
take
and eat
and again
doesn't say
it once
says it
doesn't say
twice
says it
three times
because this
is so
radical
the old
distinctions
are now
gone
Jesus has
smashed
the dividing
barriers
down
and the
way of
salvation
they offer
a faith
is to be
offered to
the peoples
of the
world
and so
Peter's
in Antioch
back in
the
context
he's
eaten
with the
Gentiles
massive
deal
that is
until
certain men
come from
James
do you see
that
so
certain
men
James
it's hard
to know
whether
they're
legit
or not
but they
have
come
from
supposedly
from
James
who's
in
Jerusalem
Jewish
teachers
have come
up from
Jerusalem
and they
take one
look at
what Peter
is doing
eating with
the Gentiles
and they
disapprove
massively
and in
response
do you see
what Peter
does
he doesn't
just keep
on going
he stops
eating with
the Gentiles
and he
distances
himself
from them
now
if you're
feeling
in a good
mood
and you're
gracious
it's
possible
that it's
because he
didn't want
to cause
immediate
offense
to the
Jews
as they
react
to this
I think
if you're
you're on
good ground
however
if you think
much more
likely
is that
he's just
scared
that these
Jews
will look
on at
him
and somehow
think
less
of him
so
reputational
damage
I think
is the
thing
that's
causing
Peter to
act like
he does
and what
would suggest
that is
the word
at verse
12 that
Paul uses
and it's
the word
you see
it
afraid
so Peter
withdraws
and because
Peter withdraws
the esteemed
pillar
do you see
Barnabas too
watches this
verse 13
he does
the same
so Peter's
sin here
is not
heresy
he's
all on
board
with
faith
alone
he's
a
card
carrying
justification
by faith
guy
he's
all
in
with
Jesus
if ever
there was
a guy
who knows
what it
is to
have your
failures
covered
by Jesus
it's
Peter
Peter's
sin here
is not
hypocrisy
sorry
Peter's
sin here
is not
heresy
Peter's
sin here
is
hypocrisy
so it's
an inconsistency
between what
he believes
and how
he acts
if I was
to phrase
this another
way
do you
know what
this is
really
simply
fear
of
man
something
that Paul's
already
alluded to
at verse
10 of
chapter 1
fear of
man
when
we're
more
concerned
about what
people think
of us
than about
what God
thinks of
us
and that's
Peter in
this moment
he's more
concerned
about saving
face
and reputation
than he
is about
being true
to the
gospel
and so
Paul
sees this
happening
he sees
what the
stakes are
here if
this remains
unchallenged
now have a
think about it
if this remains
unchallenged
what is
likely to
happen
the very
real possibility
that there
may end up
being two
churches
not one
a Jewish
church
and a
Gentile
church
that the
barriers that
Christ has
shed his
blood on
the cross
to smash
down
that mankind
will raise
them back
up
and the
unity that
he shed
his blood
to achieve
in his
people
because we
all come to
faith by the
same way
that unity
will be
thwarted
and it
all hinges
on how
this moment
goes
and that's
the hill
that Paul
is willing
to die
on because
that's never
been God's
heart
to churches
God's
heart is
that there
would be
one
church
one
church
now just
notice in
passing
this is
secondary
but I
think it's
really
important
that we
see it
notice in
passing
what this
teaches
about how
Christians
do
conflict
maybe just
going for
this because
of particularly
what we've
seen this
week
see what
this teaches
us about
how Christians
do
conflict
what has
Paul just
called Peter
at verse
nine
come and
see this
he's called
him
an esteemed
pillar
do you see
how Paul
praises Peter
behind his
back
you see
it
and how
he challenges
him
to his
face
friends
what are
we so
tempted
to do
when it
comes to
conflict
and challenge
we are
tempted to
do it
the other
way around
what comes
naturally
to us
is to
praise
someone to
their face
and yet
challenge them
behind their
back
and see
that this
is not
how the
spirit of
God
would
have
us
do
it
you know
I had a
lecturer at
uni
he always
said this
and I've
never
forgotten
it
he always
said it
is possible
to do
Jesus
like
work
in
non
Jesus
like
ways
think
on
that
it
is
possible
to do
Jesus
like
work
in
non
Jesus
like
ways
so
true
so
true
I've
been
praying
this
week
in
my
own
heart
and
the
life
of
ours
is
one
body
that
God
would
convict
us
of
the
times
when
we
fall
foul
of
this
when
we
speak
well
of
people
to
their
face
and
we
speak
poorly
of
them
behind
their
back
we're
speaking
about
others
in
a
way
that
just
isn't
honouring
to
God
you know
Erin
about
a
new
generation
and
she
said
what
do
people
crave
these
days
more
than
anything
else
she
said
one
word
she
said
authenticity
and
even
this
week
with
Charlie
Kirk
has
reminded
us
of
our
culture's
inability
at
times
to
handle
conflict
and
Paul
models
for
us
here
how
to
be
someone
with
both
deep
conviction
!
hard
deal
it's
not
a
50
deal
we
need
to
be
people
of
both
conviction
and
character
they're
always
going
together
always
going
together
and
just
while
we're
there
on
this
whole
fear
of
man
thing
friends
I'm
so
conscious
that
for
many
of
us
this
is
a
time
of
new
starts
right
new
term
new
job
new
school
year
new
neighbors
new
friends
new
flatmates
in
terms
of
nailing
your
colors
to
the
mast
for
Jesus
do
you
know
what
life
has
taught
me
over
the
years
is
that
the
first
chance
you
get
is
the
best
chance
you'll
get
speaking
of
someone
who's
made
so
many
mistakes
over
years
the
years
the
first
chance
you
get
is
the
best
chance
you'll
get
so
be
brave
trust
the
spirit
and
take
the
opportunity
Jesus
died
friends
so
that
there
would
be
one
church
one
church
and
second
from
verse
17
Jesus
died
so
that
there
would
be
a
new
you
a
new
and
it's
almost
as if
Paul
having
laid
out
the
middle
the
middle
of
the
riddle
he
gets
out
ahead
of
an
objection
that
he
can
see
coming
because
he
knows
at
verse
17
and
that's
what
the
speech
marks
are
he's
quoting
what
someone
might
say
he
knows
that
people
might
say
Paul
your
gospel
man
is
way
too
easy
way
too
easy
if
it's
simply
a
case
of
putting
your
faith
in
Jesus
and
not
doing
anything
then
what
on
earth
is
the
motivation
for
obedience
legitimate
question
have
you
not
heard
of
Pavlov
and
his
dogs
probably
went off
because
it's
a bit
ahead
of
his
time
but
you
get
what
I'm
saying
have
you
not
heard
of
Pavlov
and
his
dogs
do
you
not
know
how
human
beings
work
Paul
your
gospel
is
all
carrot
and
no
stick
that's
the
accusation
to
which
Paul
says
come
with
me
to
verses
19
and
20
which
are
some
of
the
most
treasured
!
verses
in
all
of
the
Bible
Paul
says
that's
what
you
think
then
you
haven't
understood
just
how
deep
a
transformation
the
Holy
Spirit
brings
about
in
someone's
life
now
you
remember
this
guy
Paul
back
at
chapter
1
verses
13
to
17
he
gave
us
a
little
bit
we
thought
about
this
a few
weeks
ago
a
little
bit
of
his
story
and
we
thought
about
the
fact
that
there's
nothing
that
explains
a
U-turn
quite
like
that
other
than
this
gospel
being
true
friends
this
is
all
about
what
we
understand
a
Christian
to
be
these
verses
and
if
your
faith
is
in
Jesus
today
no
matter
what
you've
come
in
here
with
no
matter
how
you're
feeling
no
matter
what
life
is
throwing
!
about
you
right
now
then
this
tells
you
the
purpose
that
God
has
for
your
life
a
Christian
and
maybe
I'll
put it
like
this
maybe
just
a
little
bit
different
to
help
us
think
about
just
what
he's
saying
here
come
with
me
okay
a
Christian
according
to
these
verses
is
someone
who
in
the
course
of
their
life
will
have
two
funerals
and
just
in
case
you're
thinking
that
sounds
really
expensive
let
me
explain
unless
Jesus
returns
before
we
die
if
our
faith
is
in
him
there's
the
funeral
friends
that
you
and
I
will
have
at
the
end
of
our
lives
when
we
die
we
will
go
to
be
with
Jesus
spiritually
whilst
our
physical
bodies
will
be
in
the
ground
waiting
for
Jesus
to
return
and
to
usher
in
the
new
heavens
and
the
new
earth
when
he
will
raise
our
physical
bodies
from
the
dead
we
will
be
united
to
our
souls
we
will
live
for
him
forever
that's
funeral
two
but
funeral
one
is
the
funeral
of
the
pre
Jesus
old
you
so
when
someone
says
have you
ever met
Graham
Shanks
the
response
is
well
which
Graham
Shanks
are you
talking
about
are you
talking
about
the
1985
to
the
circa
2002
Graham
Shanks
because
that
Graham
Shanks
is
dead
I
don't
know
him
anymore
or
are you
talking
about
the
circa
2002
Graham
Shanks
to
the
dot
Graham
Shanks
because
him
I've
met
do you
see
what he's
saying
here
how
radical
a
thing
it
is
and
how
Paul
understands
himself
as a
believer
you know
there's a
convenience
store
that's
right opposite
our house
I remember
walking in a few
months back
and thinking
to myself
wow
this place
looks
different
amazing
what a
lick of
paint
can do
losing
a few
middle
aisles
so the
place
feels a
bit more
spacious
new
price
labels
new
brands
on offer
and I
said to
the guy
behind
the
tail
I
said
mate
loving
this
what's
going
on
here
and he
simply
said
three
words
back
to
me
under
new
ownership
under
new
ownership
and that's
exactly
what Paul
was saying
here
when Paul
writes
and this
is how
he considers
himself
remember
now
as a
Christian
united
to
Jesus
see
that
language
coming
across
here
he
says
I
have
been
what
do
you
see
crucified
with
Christ
wow
of course
this is
what
baptism
is
isn't
it
I've
been
crucified
with
Christ
and I
no longer
live
but the
son of
God
now lives
in me
have you
ever thought
about the
fact that
a
baptism
is a
funeral
service
of the
old
you
chuck it
out
there
it
is
true
for
him
it's
true
for
every
believer
Jesus
the
son
of
God
see
what
he
calls
Jesus
there
it's
almost
as if
Paul
needs
to
remind
himself
and
us
of
exactly
who
it
was
who
died
for
us
who
came
for
us
the
son
of
God
no
less
God
gave
his
son
God
gave
his
son
who
loved
us
before
we
loved
him
who
had
us
in
our
eye
before
we
had
him
in
ours
who
gave
himself
for
us
the
powerless
us
the
lost
in
darkness
us
the
unable
to
save
ourselves
us
and
what
this
means
now
is
that
our
lives
are
brimming
with
God
glorifying
purpose
what is
that
purpose
look at
verse
19
the
purpose
is
that
you
and
I
if
our
faith
is
in
Jesus
the
old
is
gone
the
new
has
come
the
spirit
lives
in
us
that
you
and
I
would
what
might
live
for
God
wherever
he's
put
us
whoever's
around
us
whatever's
in
front
of
us
that
we
might
live
for
God
and
so
we
see
come
back
to
what
Paul
says
if you
think
that
there's
no
carrot
and
no
stick
with
this
gospel
you
haven't
grasped
just
how
deep
a
transformation
Jesus
brings
in
someone's
life
I
don't
obey
because
I
have
to
I
obey
because
it's
who
I
am
that
wonderful
hymn
by
William
Cowper
some
of
you
might
remember
singing
it
when
you
were
little
about
how
Christ
changes
duty
into
choice
and
so
here
is
the
question
then
that
we're
battling
with
and
thinking
about
and
journeying
with
each
other
through
the
rest
of
the
Christian
life
what
does
it
mean
wherever
God
has
put
us
right
now
and
with
whatever
God
has
given
us
right
now
to
live
out
that
new
identity
in
our
spheres
right
think
about
it
think
about
it
whatever
you
are
what
does
it
mean
for
you
to
live
for
the
glory
of
God
wherever
he
has
put
you
there's
no
person
that's
coming
into
your
life
that
is
a
coincidence
there's
no
opportunity
that's
coming
your
way
that's
a
coincidence
there's
no
trial
that's
coming
your
way
that's
a
coincidence
when
you
believe
in
a
God
as
good
and
as
sovereign
as
this
and
when
you
understand
that
the
spirit
lives
in
us
for
this
purpose
friends
what
part
of
the
old
us
is
still
lingering
in
our
lives
like
a
bad
smell
in
the
toilet
and
needs
to
die
and
what
is
true
of
the
new
us
the
one
that
Jesus
died
to
enliven
that
we
need
to
believe
and
live
out
in
our
bodies
and
that's
a
great
question
to
take
to
your
growth
group
this
week
oh
friends
do
you
see
just
moving
in
to
wrap
this
up
God's
heart
is
that
there
would
be
one
church
and
Jesus
died
so
that
there
would
be
a
new
you
and
can
I
just
bring
those
things
together
just
as
we
close
one
church
transformation
new
us
do
you
know
a
question
that
people
always
ask
me
at
school
here's
the
question
are you
blue
or are
you
green
and I
always
enjoyed
telling
people
with pride
that I
was very
much
white strip
red diamond
you can
figure that
out in your
own time
with pride
I told
people that
given how this season's
going it's more loyalty
than pride
but we'll run with it
but that whole blue green
question see if you know the history of that
growing up in Glasgow
if you know the history of that
great divide
you will know that it really is nothing compared to the heights of the troubles that happened in Northern Ireland back in the 70s onwards
!
Epitomized at the time by the emergence of these two enemy groups fighting on either side
the Irish Republican Army on the one side
and the Ulster Volunteer Force fighting on the other side
and this is where you get I remember one of the first albums I owned I think it was war albums that I owned
was war by U2
U2 had that song called Sunday Bloody Sunday
and it kind of captured the spirit
the feeling of the
the nation
that line if you remember it from that song
Sunday Bloody Sunday
the trenches dug within our hearts
and mothers, children, brothers, sisters
torn apart
but let me take you from
Northern Ireland in the 70s onwards
to a church planting weekend run by our friends at 20 Schemes in Nidre a few years back
and two guys are sitting down having dinner
and at some point
they both take their jumpers off
and they both notice that they have tattoos up their forearms
and here's the picture
one guy, do you see it, has an IRA tattoo
and the other guy has a UVF tattoo
and they take a picture of it and they put it on Twitter
I guess it's now X
along with the following words
the picture right here is the power of the gospel
once both enemies
now joined together in fellowship
in Jesus Christ
and here's a hashtag for the ages
the gospel
has
no borders
friends, do you see how no law
as good as it is
could ever knock down barriers
as strong as that
and do you see how no peace talks
as welcome as they are
could ever overcome
hatred
as deep as that
but Paul's gospel
the message of Jesus
his message of justification
by faith in Jesus
and that subsequent
subsequent transformation
by the work of the spirit
internally
it
can
I'm so glad that Paul was prepared
to die on this hill
because believe me
the church today
will look very
very different
if he hadn't
because God's heart
Jesus died
so that there would be
one church
and Jesus died
so that there would be
a new
you
I have been crucified
with Christ
and I no longer live
but Christ
lives
in me
the life I now live
in the body
I live by faith
in the son of God
who loved me
and gave himself
for me
and so Father
I pray that the gospel
today
the news of who
Jesus is
and what he's done
for us
and what's ahead of us
Lord I pray that
that would come
as a balm
to our souls
today
would your Holy Spirit
take
that message
and apply it
in the exact way
that you know
we need to hear it today
would for some of us
be the
be it be the thing
that lifts us up
it lifts us up
Lord
for some of us
it may well be the thing
that causes us
to think about
how we're living
but Father
I pray that whatever
is going on
in our lives today
we would take
with both of our eyes
a fresh look
at Jesus today
so Father
we thank you
for your
love for us
expressed
in the giving
of your son
and it's in his
precious name
that we pray
Amen