Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
CHAPTER BY CHAPTER: GALATIANS 2
As Paul continued his letter to the Galatians, he left no doubt as to what he meant when he used the word "gospel." There is scarcely a better chapter of the Bible to look for a definition. Paul also included this thought in v. 16: knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Chapter two is also useful in that it shows us how Paul interacted with his fellow Christians and how the gospel influenced his work. He talks about how he was led to go on a mission trip with Barnabas. He also mentions that another one of his helpers, Titus, was not circumcised, specifically because the understanding of the gospel was at stake. Paul's desire to keep the gospel purely centered on Jesus Christ led him to encourage Titus in standing firm on his Christian liberty. Paul goes on to write about establishing fellowship with that most important inner circle of Christ's disciples: James, Peter, and John. But even at this, Paul continued to let the gospel be primary in importance. He even had to rebuke Peter for playing favorites with the Jews over the Gentiles.
What will the gospel lead you to do in your relationships? Like Paul, you will be faced with a variety of situations. You will have moments of joy over spreading the word of Christ and establishing fellowship with like-minded believers. But, there will be tougher times too; times when you may have to rebuke a friend, or take a stand against what others say and do. In all circumstances, remember that Christ lives in you and desires to direct you through His word. Using the gospel as a foundation for your decisions and actions glorifies the Lord who gave Himself for you.
