Bible Truth Daily Devotion

Galatians 2:11-21

The Christian church is very much removed from the Judaism today.  It was not that way in the beginning, when the church was considered a branch of Judaism.  This passage today highlights a major reason for the break.  Without this break, the gospel would not have been clear to us today.

Commentary:

Galatians 2:11-13. An important mark of being a Jewish male is circumcision.  Circumcision is the cutting of the foreskin of the male reproductive organ.  It is a part of the covenant established between God and Abraham; the keeping of the covenant would ensure the Jews to retain the land of Canaan. 

Although the Jews had lost their land because they were idolatrous, they had kept the custom of circumcision.  Circumcision, in fact, was required for any gentile male who would like to join Judaism.  When the council in Jerusalem decided to not require believing gentiles to receive circumcision, they essentially broke off the tie with Judaism and made clear that the Christians began a new covenant in Jesus Christ.

Judaism also forbids sharing meals with gentiles.  The reasoning is to avoid becoming unclean.  Gentiles are considered unclean.  Any food touched by gentiles is also unclean.  Jews under the Law cannot eat the unclean food or touch the unclean gentile; hence, orthodox Jews cannot eat with Gentiles.

Paul here recounted an incidence involving one of the church pillars, Peter, about circumcision and observing the Law.  Peter originally ate the believing gentiles.  But when those “orthodox Jewish Christian” showed up, he broke off the sharing of meal with the believing gentiles. His action affected the whole contingent of Jewish Christians; they all broke off the fellowship with the gentiles.

Galatians 2:14-15.  Paul confronted this break of fellowship.  He reminded them that Gentiles were not initially privileged to know the truth of the gospel and needed the guidance of the Jews.  If the Jews behaved like ignorant gentiles, Paul asked, how could they make the case of leading gentiles to true salvation?  All they would be able to do was to make the gentiles live like the Jews without genuine faith.

Galatians 2:16. Saving faith is through trusting in Jesus Christ alone.  No amount of work would get anybody to heaven.  It does not matter if the work guideline comes from the Law or a false religion, reflecting the conscience of the heart.

Galatians 2:17.  Justification by faith does not mean that believing Christian is free to sin.  Work is not required for salvation, but work is a reflection of salvation.  Jesus saves all believers from sins and the effect of sins.  Christians should leave the ways of sinning.  

Galatians 2:20. All followers of Jesus should model after Paul.  It is no longer us who live but Jesus Christ is living in us.  We are who we are because Jesus loves us and died for us.  We do what we do because we love our Lord and Savior and are indebted to Him eternally.

Meditation:

From this passage all Christians should recognize that we are free from the Law.  Salvation is not based on work.  It is entirely the work of Jesus Christ and is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. 

Nevertheless, Christians are not free from sinning.  Sin is what separates us from God.  To know God is to love God.  Loving the Lord means to abide in Him and to stay away from sin.  Inability to do that amounts to harlotry.  Therefore, we are under a law of love and restrain ourselves from sinning even though we no longer are subjected under its consequence.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you that you have set us free from the Law.  We thank you that you have sent your only begotten Son to die for us and to redeem us for eternal life. We love you and pray that we stay away from sin.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.