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Standing Against the Accuser
Galatians Chapter Two

Chapter 1 review:
1. Paul writes to Galatians who are being deceived by Judaizers
2. They are preaching a different gospel that includes keeping the Law of Moses and being circumcised.
3. Today we also have false Gospels being preached:

-  Gospel of God loves you
-  Gospel of God wants you rich
-  Gospel of we're all going to heaven
-  Gospel of unity at all cost

Only one true Gospel:

1. Man separated by sin.
2. Jesus in His great loved became man and paid for our sin on the cross.
3. Only those who repent and place faith in Christ will be saved.

The good news is that even though we deserve nothing but judgment God has made a way to be forgiven and restored to right relationship with our creator.

Chapter 2 Galatians -Standing against the Accuser

I. In Chapter 2:1-5 Paul tells us that this is not the first time he had encountered these false teachers.

Ga 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.  2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run 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 brothers 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 remain with you.

A. Here we have the problem restated by Paul.
B.  Some Jews who have believed on Jesus were teaching that you must also be
       - Circumcised
       -  Live by the ceremonial law of Moses
C.   Paul preached - Believe in Jesus only
D.   Paul states in Gal 5:1-2

Ga 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

II. In Gal 2:11-19 Paul address his 2nd major point of the letter

First point: False teaching of Judaizer  (works salvation)

Second point: Defense against accusations that he was an inferior Apostle

Ga 2:6 As for those who seemed to be important-- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-- those men added nothing to my message.  7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.  8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.  9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be 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 Jews.

- Paul is saying, Look the rest of the Apostle recognized God's hand on me to go preach to the Gentiles

-  And I am not below them either

- We are equal - Peter to Jews, I to Gentiles

- Working together , all with authority

- We are preaching the same gospel

IT MIGHT SEEM STRANGE THAT PAUL TOOK THE TIME TO DEFEND HIMSELF

III. Galatians 2:11-19 Illustrates how Powerful the lie and intimidation of theJudaizers was.

Ga 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 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.

A. Judaizers had some good points

#1. The Law is from God - who are you

Ex 31:18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (NIV)
 
#2. Circumcision is a sign of covenant…..

Ge 17:9 Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come.  10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.  11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

#3. They said, It Doesn't make sense that God would just abandon these things that have been so important for thousands of years.

Good argument - until you understand the truth

1. The law was a tutor to bring us to Christ

Ga 3:22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.  23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.  24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

2.  Circumcision was an outward mark or ownership that reminded them to keep the law.

BUT THEY COULDN"T
IT WAS ALL DESIGNED TO BRING THEM TO THEIR KNEES IN SURENDUR

God always meant for circumcision to be more than physical:

De 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem,

Paul writes:

Col 2:11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,

Ro 2:28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
(NIV)

- Circumcision is of the heart
- Holy Spirit is your source of power to live out what God is telling you

1. Old Testament was all external
2. New testament is all internal

     1.Old testament was all command
     2 New testament is help from the inside out

IV. MY QUESTION: HOW DID THE JUDAIZERS SO EASILY TURN THE GALATIANS AGAINST PAUL?

A. Paul was there first
B.  Paul had a great relationship with them

Ga 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.  14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.  15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

- Many believe he had an ugly eye infection - or something that would have been repulsive
- Or maybe just caring for him while sick was trial.

Pluck eye out might be like - shirt off you back

- But they loved him/ treated him with tender affection

SO WHY DID THEY TURN?

V. THEY TURNED BECAUSE THE JUDAIZERS HAD BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THEIR SLANDERING OF PAUL

A. Principle is simple:
Discredit the messenger and you discredit the message

B. Satan knows this very well
C. It worked well in the first century
D. It works well in politics
E. And it works in the church today

But it is all of the devil -
Accuser of the brethren Rev 12:10

VI.  USES THREE PRIMARY METHODS OF ACCUSATION.

#1. Personal Accusation directed towards our conscience.

- Meant to create self doubt

"Why try to achieve anything, God is not going to bless me."    "Why pray for healing I'm not worthy"

JOSHUA THE HIGH PREIST

Zec 3:1 ¶ Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.  2 And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"  3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.  4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

GOD TOLD SATAN: SHUT UP
- Worthiness is in Christ - not our own righteousness

- Law could not address the conscience - but Jesus blood does  Heb 9:14 .

#2. Satan uses infiltration of the church to bring accusations.

-  The Judaizers infiltrated the Galatian church
-  Brought accusations against Paul
    - Paul is confused
    - Paul doesn't understand
    - Paul has no authority to preach to you.
    - Paul is a heretic
    - Not one of the original Apostles
    - He means well, but we're not really sure if
       he is all there, you know what I mean?

Paul's refers to these false teachers as Wolves in sheep's clothing.

Satan uses this strategy often today:

-  My Story

#3. Satan Accuses through well meaning
      Christian brothers and sisters.

- Some of these good Galatians bought the lie
  and began to spread it themselves.

- Churches can be wounded and divided when good Christians allow themselves to take up the devils rumors.

Satan discredited Paul by using good Christians talking.

He tries to do the same today.

Reason:

1. Those new in the lord can be hurt.
   

2.  If your kids hear you talk about the leaders, the pastor, the people.

There is no surer way to make sure they go to hell.

- One day the kids love me and talk to me.
- All of a sudden - they avoid me
- A different look in their eye.

What happened? They heard mom and dad

They get older and don't want to go to church.

Mom and Dad can't figure out why

We didn't raise him like that!

Yes you did.

He just believed everything he ever heard you say about they church.

Why would he want to come to a place that he has been trained to think poorly of?

Conclusion:

How could the Galatians have avoided being deceived by the Judaizers?

1. Sought God about the question of which
    gospel was right.

2. Refused to entertain the accusations

3.  Sent to Paul to come and talk to them

4. Could have been so in love with the truth
    that this lie would have been obvious.

Hold onto to Jesus - In Him you can defeat every lie from the enemy