Galatians 2:11-16 - Justification By Faith Alone

Remember that the book of Galatians is a polemic. It is an argument. Paul is contending with a group of false teachers and making his case for the true gospel against their false gospel. The stakes are high and Paul is very passionate. These false teachers have leveled the charge that Paul is not a genuine apostle and that his message is not sanctioned by the genuine apostles who are in Jerusalem. Paul is refuting that charge in these first two chapters. Here is his argument so far.

1. Paul's conversion and commission were not brought about through the Jerusalem apostles, but came directly from Christ. (1:11-24)

2. When he did discuss his gospel with the Jerusalem 'pillars' they agreed with his gospel, acknowledging that Paul's gospel was exactly like theirs, that it had obviously come from Christ, and they added nothing to it. (2:1-10)

3. Now he is going to point out that far from the Jerusalem pillars correcting Paul, when Peter came to Antioch, Paul corrected Peter. (2:11-21)

The story that Paul tells in this section of his epistle to the Galatians is one of the most amazing passages of Scripture in all the New Testament. Here Paul relates how he publicly called out another apostle for wrong-doing. Yes, you read that right. Here we have the only recorded account of a confrontation between apostles. The stakes are high. The future of Christianity is at stake. The gospel is at stake. This is high drama. And what comes out of it is one of the clearest statements on justification by faith alone in all of Scripture.

In this lesson we talk about this passage--we exegete it. But we also take the time to look at its significance for the doctrine of sola fide and discuss what it is the Bible teaches about our justification. I hope you will take the time to listen. Just click the link below. God bless you.



Click here: Galatians 2:11-16 - Justification By Faith Alone



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