GALATIANS 2
Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. – Galatians 2:1-10
GALATIANS 2 THE GOSPEL OF GRACE IS FOR ALL
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
God loved the world so much that he gave us his Son
He showed us his love, mercy and grace through the gospel
The gospel of grace is for all humanity to receive
God is impartial, he has no biases, he gave it to all humankind.
In this letter, Paul shares with the Galatians his fourteen-year journey to minister the gospel to the surrounding area of Jerusalem. He was given a revelation by God that the gospel is not only for the circumcised Jews, but also for the uncircumcised Gentiles. This just goes to show that we have a very impartial God who gave grace to humanity. The question is if we are going to receive his gospel and experience the fruit of his Spirit who transforms our lives and makes us serve God instead of living for ourselves.
REFLECTION
- How did Paul respond to God’s challenging task to preach to the Gentiles?
