I. THE CONTEXT OF PAUL S ANS TITUS TRIP TO JERUSALEM Acts 15

Transcription

1 Iglesia Cristiana Josué Central, A.D. Family Devotional How to run the last 100 meters THEME: BEWARE OF RUNNING IN VAIN. Text: Galatians 2:1-10 Introduction: Trenchard comments: The course of the so-called Council of Jerusalem, as Luke recounts it in Acts, chapter 15, evidences that (Paul) had won the battle in private before the Gentile question was debated in public. Titus remained as the symbol of the freedom of the converted from among the Gentiles, who entered the church on the sole basis of the perfect Work of Christ that they had received with submission and faith. (Comentario Bíblico Matthew Henry ) Now read with me Galatians 2:1-10 (NKJV). PREVENTIVE WAYS TO AVOID RUNNING IN VAIN I. THE CONTEXT OF PAUL S ANS TITUS TRIP TO JERUSALEM Acts 15 A. THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM Acts 15:1-2 and Gal. 2:1-2 ( Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up [a]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. -Gal. 2:1-2 (NKJV) ) 1. Paul goes up to Jerusalem a) The apostles and elders in Jerusalem summoned him Acts. 15:2 b) Pablo dice que sube según una revelación Paul says that he goes up by a revelation (1) revelation in the original greek > ἀποκάλυψις > what is manifested, unveiled (2) Application -> Paul goes up-called by the apostles and elders of Jerusalem-according to the direction of God when supernaturally manifesting his indication to him to go to Jerusalem because of the problems that existed regarding circumcision as a "supposed requirement" for Salvation. c) Paul and Barnabas argued fervently against this false teaching.

2 2. Paul takes Titus, a Born Again Greek, with him. Gal. 2:1 a) As an example that circumcision or works are not needed to be saved b) As an example that God does not make any distinctions among people Gal. 2:6 c) As an example of his victory against the falso brethren Gal. 2:4-5 (1) Infiltrated in the Body of Christ (2) Who wanted to spy on the Freedom Bought at the Price of the Blood of Jesus the Christ with the purpose of enslaving the believers to ancient rudiments by syncretizing the Holy and Pure Gospel B. PARTICIPATION TIME 1. Discuss: What do you think about the situation that was happening in The Early Church that Paul and Barnabas had to face? Why? 2. Discuss: What would you have done in the place of Paul and Barnabas? And in Tito's place? Why? PREVENTIVE WAYS TO AVOID RUNNING IN VAIN II. THE PURPOSE OF PAULS TRIP Gal. 2:2 ( 2 And I went up [a]by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. -Gal. 2:2 (NKJV)) A. THAT THE CHURCH WOULD GUARD THE PURITY OF THE GOSPEL 1. That is why he ran or put effort (In the original greek run τρέχω > try to do, fight for, strive ) a) Because he loved Jesus Christ his Savior and Lord b) He valued the Gospel of Jesus Christ c) He understood the Gospel and defended it with zeal and truth d) He understood the danger of false teaching or religious syncretism 2. That is why he fought so that his effort had not been in vain. a) If he would have kept silent before the false teachings of the infiltrated false brethren: (1) The purity of the Gospel would have been harmed (2) There would have been confusion among the brethren

3 (3) The Gospel of Jesus would have not been preached (4) All the effort to have spread The Gospel of Jesus Christ to the known world would have been "in vain", because of syncretism. (In the original greek vain κενός > "Without result, vain, without effect") 3. That is the purpose of presenting Defense of our Faith and the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. B. REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS 1. Are you struggling not to run in vain? Why or why not? 2. Are you presenting Defense of the Faith in Jesus and His Holy Gospel? If you are not doing it: do you want to commit to the Lord right now and start doing it from today? CONCLUSION Church of Christ, the call for your life this day is: Present Defense of the Faith in Jesus; Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for It is Worth The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.Today is the time to preach to everyone. Christ is at the gates. Whoever is ashamed of the Lord before men, He will be ashamed of them before the Father.But whoever honors Him in front of men, He will honor Him from what group of people will you be? Will you honor him and defend the Truth of Jesus? Don't run in vain.the question is: Will you? Likewise, the decision is yours. -Conclude by praying together.

4 Iglesia Cristiana Josué Central, A.D. Family Devotional How to run the last 100 meters THEME: LIVE ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL. Text: Galatians 2:11-18 Introducción: I loved and still love mathematics for its own sake because there is no hypocrisy or vagueness. - Stendhall Now read with me Galatians 2:11-18 (NKJV). LIVE ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL I. THE CONTEXT OF PAUL'S REBUKE TO PETER Gal. 2:11-13 A. PETER SHARING WITH THE GREEK BELIEVERS IN ANTIOCH 1. He ate with Gentiles who were not circumcised or people who did not seek God for his works 2. They understood the central Truth of the Gospel that we are accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross to have fellowship with God. B. THE DUALITY OF PEDRO Gal. 2: When the brothers in the Faith-Jews-came from James: a) Peter s attitude changed due to fear of the opinion and discrimination of the religious. (The Jewish people culturally discriminated against the Gentiles to consider them inferior to them and Peter is sharing with them and had fear of being judged by the religious) b) He withdrew and took distance from the Gentile brethren 2. His - hypocritical - indifference to Gentile believers was out of fear a) Fear of believing Jews b) He cared more about their opinion than acting righteously confirms The Truth of the Gospel c) Peter was setting a bad example for other Jews (who were imitating him; Barnabas included.)

5 C. PARTICIPATION TIME 1. Discuss: Have you ever seen believers feel ashamed of The Truth of the Gospel in front of others out of fear? Why do you think they have been scared? 2. Discuss: Have you ever acted like Peter? What led you to that moment? Why? LIVE ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL II. PAUL S REBUKE TO PETER S DUALITY Gal. 2:11-18 A. AN EXAMPLE OF FIRMNESS IN THE TRUTH 1. What is meant by 'I resisted him face to face' in the original Greek? a) Kata prosöpon autöi antestën > "I stood against him face to face." (Archibald Thomas Robertson. Verbal Images of the N.T. Volume 4) b) Note: In Jerusalem Paul stood before Peter as his equal in rank and sphere of work. At Antioch he met him as his superior in character and courage. " (Archibald Thomas Robertson. Verbal Images of the N.T. Volume 4) 2. Paul confronts Peter not out of arrogance, but: a) Because Peter s attitude was "to resist" to correct b) Because it was an erroneous attitude. (1) In the original greek: condemn καταγινώσκω > to err (2) Therefore, he needed rebuke and correction. 3. Paul confronts Peter in regards to: a) His knowledge of Justification by Faith in Jesus. Vrs. 16 b) Works are useless to justify or achieve salvation Vrs.16 c) One cannot re-build old rudiments from which Christ has already set us freevrs. 18 B. REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS 1. Are you living according to the Truth of the Gospel or have you been intimidated by looking good to others? Why do you think this was? 2. Are you ready to stand firm in the Truth of Jesus to the end, no matter the cost? 3. Do you want to ask the Lord to help you be faithful to him to the end?

6 CONCLUSION Church of Christ, the call for your life this day is: Do not compromise The Truth of the Gospel; leave the duality of life. It is time to live totally for Christ and His Holy Gospel. It is the time of the Gladiators of the 4th and last of the battles. Will you heed the call of your Lord?The question is: Will you? Likewise, the decision is yours. -Conclude by praying together.

7 Iglesia Cristiana Josué Central, A.D. Family Devotional How to run the last 100 meters THEME : BEWARE OF NOT DISCARDING OF GOD'S GRACE. Text: Galatians 2:19-21 Introduction: The fear of death follows the fear of life. A man who lives fully is willing to die at any moment. - Mark Twain What is the purpose of our lives and how are we living them? Are we taking care of God's Grace in our lives or are we in danger of discarding it? Now read with me Galatians 2:19-21 (NKJV). HOW TO BE CAREFUL OF NOT DISCARDING THE GRACE OF GOD. I. LIVING WITH THE DETERMINATION OF A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST Gal. 2:19-20 A. THE PARADOX OF THE LAW AND ITS PURPOSE 1. The believer has died to the law and for the law' a) As a widow, she is not tied to who her husband was in life to remarry if she wishes. b) The believer is not bound by his sinful nature that died when Jesus died for us (Rom. 7: 4-6) c) Who is tempted to sin or transgress God's law to make us believe that he still has the authority to obey him. d) 2. The purpose of his/her new nature is to live for Christ. a) Governed by the Holy Spirit b) Bearing fruit c) Not being governed by our flesh (our old nature) 3. For this reason, Pablo was in a state of continuous death to his I Gal. 2:20 a) Hence, he lived his earthly life by Faith in Jesus Christ b) Driven by the Eternal Love of Jesus and His Work on the Cross for Paul (and by all)

8 B. PARTICIPATION TIME 1. Comment: What do you think about how Paul lived his new life in Christ? Why? 2. Discuss: How do you think most believers live their life in Christ? Why HOW TO BE CAREFUL OF NOT DISCARDING THE GRACE OF GOD. II. DO NOT DISCARD THE GRACE OF GOD. Gal. 2:21 A. FIRST: WHAT IS IT TO DISCARD GOD'S GRACE? 1. Definition of discard ἀθετέω in the original Greek in this context > "to regard as invalid, to refuse to recognize the validity of something" 2. Application -> The believer who rejects Grace does so by not recognizing the Validity of Justification by Faith in Jesus and His Unique and Perfect Work on the Cross of Calvary; replacing it with the works of the law, taking away the merits of Christ and His Justifying Work on the Cross. Hence, making it invalid. A very serious sin! B. SECOND: HOW TO AVOID COMMITTING THE SIN OF DISMISSING THE GRACE OF GOD? 1. Never sell The Truth of Jesus and His Holy Gospel 2. Not substituting the forgiveness of sins through faith in the death of the Lord Jesus for other supposed means to obtain the forgiveness of sins, that leads him to fall from Grace 3. Present Defense of the Faith no matter the cost and be faithful to Christ until death. C. REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS 1. Do you want to make a commitment to the Lord that you will be faithful to him until your last breath? 2. Will you defend the Truth of the Gospel by avoiding discarding Grace? CONCLUSION Church of Christ, the call for your life this day is: Stand firm in the Truth of The Word and be careful not to reject Grace. The question is: Will you? Likewise, the decision is yours. -Conclude by praying together.