We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

Galatians 2:5 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter 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? Galatians 2:14 There are times in our lives when events serve to define the truth of the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul writes his Gospel letter to the Galatians he touches upon this reality as he describes the history of his dealings with other Christian leaders. I do not believe that Paul is writing these verses in order to defend himself and his position within the New Testament Church. Paul writes here as one who is displaying a single minded approach to establishing that one central truth which has the power to redeem us. It is much like the description which C. John Miller gives us when he writes in Outgrowing the Ingrown Church. In regard to justification by faith alone, Luther writes, Let us conclude that faith alone justifies, and that faith alone fulfilleth the law. For faith through the merit of Christ obtaineth the Holy Spirit, which Spirit doth make us new hearts, doth exhilarate us, doth excite and enflame our heart, that it may do those things willingly which the law of love commandeth; and so, at last, good works indeed do proceed freely from the faith which worketh so mightily, and which is so lively in our hearts. (Cited in A. Skevington Wood, The Inextinguishable Blaze: Spiritual Renewal and Advance in the Eighteenth Century (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1960), p. 111). When Wesley read this passage of Luthers a couple of centuries later, he said that he felt his heart strangely warmed. At one stroke he was converted to Christ by the Gospel message and made a great preacher. Through his preaching, the world was driven out of many Churches and many Church members were driven out into the world to witness. Wesley had found Gods method for outgrowing the ingrown Church. (C. John Miller, Outgrowing the Ingrown Church, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House, 1999, p. 133) It is the Gospel which is to be central to all that we are about as Christians. This is what the Apostle Paul is demonstrating as the second chapter of the book of Galatians unfolds before us. Paul goes to Jerusalem in order to have a Gospel conversation with the leaders of that Church. He goes to ensure that the unity which the gospel alone can create continues to exist within the Church of Christ. As Paul describes the various controversies and challenges which that Church faced over the next few years his emphasis continues to be upon the truth of the Gospel. Just what is that truth? It was the answer to this question which made all the difference in Luthers life, as well as John Wesleys. It is the truth that each and every one of us needs so desperately today. Paul defines it in this way as he continues to write in Galatians 2.

We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners know that a man is not justified by observing 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 and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I 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! (Galatians 2:15 -21) This is the truth of the Gospel. It is our only hope of redemption. The LORD Jesus Christ became human flesh while remaining the Son of the Living God in order that He might freely go to the cross of Calvary and die bearing your sin and mine. He did this as a demonstration of the love of God. Through believing in Christ we are justified, declared righteous because our sin has been atoned for in the cross. We cannot ever hope to redeem ourselves, although many of us try to do this. It is only through faith in Christ that we are redeemed and made righteous before God. Will you come to the LORD Jesus Christ in faith that you might be justified in Him?