GALATIANS 2 — DEFEND THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR LIFE
OK, so today we continue our series on the book of
Galatians.
If you were with us last Sunday, Pastor Peter opened the
series beginning with Galatians Chapter 1. Today, we’re going to be talking
about Galatians Chapter 2.
As a recap, I want to show you again this chart. Galatians
has six chapters. We’re done with Chapter 1. Today we’re talking about the
Gospel must be defended.
But first, let’s have a recap because I know last Sunday was
a spectacular weekend for many of us. So if you haven’t seen that message, I
encourage you to go on YouTube and watch the message for Galatians Chapter 1.
Pastor Peter made it very clear to all of us what the gospel
truly is.
So the question is: What is the gospel?
We learned that it is the good news that Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and then rose again on the third
day. The resurrection of Jesus is very important. Pastor Peter made it clear
that our very faith is founded on the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection
proves that the gospel message is indeed true. Amen?
He also made sure that every one of us understood what it
means to be truly saved. And you will all remember this quiz.
So—we will have a quiz this morning. Did you know you would
have a quiz this morning when you came here?
We just want to make sure we understand what the gospel
truly is.
So again, raise your hand only once.
What is the gospel?
A) Faith in Jesus equals salvation
B) Faith in Jesus plus good works equals salvation
C) Faith in Jesus equals salvation, which leads to good works
Can I see your hands?
Who says it’s A?
Who says it’s B?
OK, now who says it’s C?
Praise God! Pastor Joe, it seems they have all gone through
GLC 1, is that right?
The answer, of course, is C.
And today, we are going to deep-dive more into what we mean
when we say faith in Jesus alone equals salvation, which in turn leads
to good works.
ILLUSTRATION: THE FLOODS
Before we go to the verses, I want to share some pictures
that are very familiar to us from these past few days.
We have been seeing more and more videos and pictures in our
social media feeds. We’ve seen them on television. We’ve heard stories. Many of
us have personally gone through it or know people who have.
Of course, I’m talking about the floods during Typhoon Tino.
Can we pause for a moment?
Look at the person to your right, then to your left, and tell them, “I
praise God you are here.”
Isn’t God good?
Sometimes we don’t give God enough credit for making sure
that most of us were able to come and worship together today. Amen?
Can we give God a praise offering by clapping our hands?
Of course, this doesn’t mean we won’t think about those who
suffered. I appreciate Pastor Nett’s prayer earlier. We are thinking of them,
praying for them, especially those who have lost loved ones.
One particular video circulated widely. Have you seen it? It
begins with a woman coming out of her house. Behind her is her door, and as she
steps out, the raging waters sweep in. The only thing she can do is climb and
sit on top of her gate’s concrete column.
We watched in horror as at any moment she could be swept
away.
Now, imagine yourself in that situation.
First—you know there is absolutely nothing you can do
to save yourself.
Second—you know you are in grave danger.
And at that point, can I say:
You do NOT need a lecture on environmental protection.
You do NOT need a rundown of failed flood-control projects.
You do NOT even need a swimming lesson.
What you need is a savior.
That’s why I showed this picture. If we strip everything
away, this is what we are talking about:
A human being who cannot save themselves.
And a Savior who must come and rescue.
Sometimes we overcomplicate things. But what we really
need—much like that woman—is not more theories, but a Person who will
rescue us.
And praise God, when Jesus knew our condition, He did not
send someone else. He did not give theories.
He came down to earth and rescued you and me.
What a marvelous Savior our God is. Amen?
TODAY’S MESSAGE
So today we enter Galatians Chapter 2, and we entitle this
message:
DEFEND THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR LIFE
Sometimes when we read a title like this, we imagine
something like this—have you seen this show? Physical 100 Asia on
Netflix? Team Japan versus Team Korea. The whole point of the game is defending
a circular mound so your team can win.
Sometimes we think, “Ah, that’s how we defend the
gospel—with force, with argument, with fighting.”
But that is not what Paul means.
Actually, defending the gospel with your life means this:
DEFEND THE GOSPEL THROUGH YOUR GOSPEL-LIVED LIFE
The best way to talk to someone about Jesus is to speak from
a life that has already been transformed by Him.
We talk not only with words but with a gospel-shaped life
that proves the message is true because we ourselves have encountered Christ.
GALATIANS 2:1–10 — PAUL IN JERUSALEM
The beginning part of Galatians 2 tells of a story Paul
shared with the Galatians. Fourteen years later, he returned to Jerusalem with
Barnabas and Titus.
His purpose was to meet the leaders—Peter (Cephas),
James—and confirm whether the gospel he preached to the Gentiles was the same
gospel the Jewish believers preached to the Jews.
There were two audiences—Jews and Gentiles—but only one
gospel:
Salvation by faith in Christ alone.
But false brethren were pressuring Gentile believers to
follow Jewish law. So Paul wanted clarity.
That brings us to the three parts of this chapter:
- The
Compromise of Cephas (Peter)
- The
Clarity of the Gospel
- The
Conviction of the Believer
1. THE COMPROMISE OF CEPHAS (PETER)
Verse 11 says:
“When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,
because he stood condemned.”
That sounds harsh to our Filipino ears. We don’t like
confrontation. We’d rather keep quiet, talk behind someone’s back, or post
something vague on Facebook that everyone knows is about them.
We do everything to “keep the peace.”
But that peace is fake peace.
Paul shows us the correct, biblical way—he opposed Peter
to his face, because truth matters more than pretending everything is fine.
What happened?
Before certain men from James arrived, Peter used to eat
with the Gentiles. But when the Jewish Christians arrived, he withdrew and held
himself aloof.
Why?
Because he feared the circumcision party.
Fear is real. All of us fear something.
Peter compromised because he feared people.
ILLUSTRATION: GERMANY, 1936
Brother Euclid showed me a picture from 1936, Nazi Germany.
Everyone is saluting Hitler. If you ask people today, they would say, “If I
were alive during that time, I would never salute Hitler.”
But the truth?
If you were in Germany in 1936, you probably would have.
Why?
Because we naturally follow the herd.
We fear standing out.
We fear losing friends.
We fear people not liking us.
But in that picture there is one man, August
Landmesser, who refused to salute.
Why?
Because he was married to a Jewish woman. Raising his hand
would mean betraying someone he loved.
Now what about us?
We all say we love Jesus. But when the “crowd” comes—when
compromise comes—do we love Jesus enough not to follow the crowd?
And here’s something amazing:
Decades later, we still honor that one man who refused to compromise.
If we honor him, how much more will Jesus honor you when He
sees a life that never compromised?
Amen?
LOCAL APPLICATION: CORRUPTION
Let’s bring this closer to home.
These past months, we have all been angry about corruption.
Billions of pesos stolen—public funds meant for roads, bridges, and flood
control.
Every Christian I spoke to said the same thing: “They should
all go to jail!” And I agree.
But sometimes we can be self-righteous.
So in my D-group, I ask:
“What if I offer you ₱1,000 to compromise your honesty? Will you compromise?”
“No, no, no.”
“How about ₱10,000? Everyone else is doing it anyway.”
“No.”
“How about ₱100,000? ₱1,000,000? ₱10,000,000?”
The more zeros I add, the quieter they become.
One very honest brother said, “OK, I’ll accept it… but I’ll
tithe 10%.”
We laugh—because it’s true.
If you think you are immune to compromise, remember: Peter
himself was not.
And if you think you will never follow the crowd, be very
careful.
Unless you know Jesus deeply, personally, and intimately—you will follow the
herd.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Another encouragement—join a small group.
When you are alone, and everyone around you is doing the
same wrong thing, you will follow.
But if you keep a circle of men or women who love Jesus and
hold you accountable, you will have the strength to say No.
Margaret Mead, a non-Christian anthropologist, said:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
When everyone goes one direction, and your small group says:
“In this group, we will follow Jesus,”
—that is where transformation begins.
Amen?
Join a D-group today.
THE EFFECT OF COMPROMISE
Verse 13 says:
“The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the
result that even Barnabas was carried away.”
When our lives contradict the message we preach, people
around us get confused.
Barnabas was a co-worker of Paul—yet he was carried away.
Leaders, whether you’re a D-group leader, a boss, a
parent—people watch you. They don’t follow rules, they follow people.
John Maxwell said it best:
“People do what people see.”
The Greek word for hypocrisy refers to actors wearing
different masks. Are we different people to different audiences?
Or do we consistently live the gospel?
C.S. Lewis said:
“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is
watching.”
2. THE CLARITY OF THE GOSPEL
Maybe Peter forgot the gospel?
But no—Acts 15 shows Peter knew it clearly:
“We believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord
Jesus, in the same way as they are.”
But Paul needed to repeat it—clearly and immaculately:
We are not justified by works.
We are justified by faith in Christ.
Romans 5:1:
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God…”
Romans 5:10:
“…we shall be saved by His life.”
Justification removes our guilt because Jesus took it.
Pastor Ricky once said:
“It is one thing for a judge to say ‘not guilty’ when you
have done nothing wrong.
It is another thing for a judge to say ‘not guilty’ when you know you ARE
guilty.
That is grace.”
STORY: THE MAN WITH HIV
My wife and I once met a man in church. He had practiced a
homosexual lifestyle and had just found out he was HIV-positive. He attended
church faithfully and served in many charity events—barangays, orphanages,
homes for the elderly.
We asked, “Why are you doing all this?”
He said, “Because at any moment I could die, and when I face
Jesus, He will tell me I am not good enough.”
He didn’t understand the gospel.
He would wake up from nightmares of hell. He believed he had
to cram as many good works as possible.
After a long conversation, my wife took his hands and said:
“Nothing you have done means anything.
Jesus has already done everything for you.”
And at that moment, it was like a lightbulb turned on.
He clapped his hands and said:
“Ah! Kay pala GOOD NEWS!”
Yes—it is good news.
Have you shared this good news recently?
3. THE CONVICTION OF THE BELIEVER
Paul continues:
“If while seeking to be justified, we are found sinners, is
Christ a minister of sin?
May it never be.”
Salvation is not based on our ability to stop sinning.
It is based on what Christ did.
Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ…
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”
Isn’t that beautiful?
Verse 21:
“If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died
needlessly.”
If we could earn salvation, the cross is pointless.
But the cross is NOT pointless.
ILLUSTRATION: STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
Old churches had stained glass windows to show Bible stories
because people couldn’t read. Today, people still don’t read the Bible—but they
watch your life.
Your life is the stained glass window they read.
If you look like the rest of the world, they will never ask,
“What is this gospel about?”
TESTIMONY: MATT ATENDIDO
(Matt’s full testimony is faithfully retained; see original
text.)
[Matt shares his powerful story of betrayal, forgiveness,
humility, and God’s restoring grace — unchanged from the original transcript.]
After the testimony and prayer over Matt and his family:
Matt said something so powerful:
“Success is when you lose everything but still have Jesus.”
This is a man whose life has lived out the gospel he
proclaims.
CLOSING: DEFEND THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR LIFE
People ask:
“Did Paul and Peter remain friends?”
Yes. Later in his letters, Peter calls Paul:
“Our beloved brother Paul…”
Truth spoken in love strengthens relationships.
Be strong and courageous.
FINAL ILLUSTRATION: THE 15-YEAR-OLD HERO
Out of last week’s floods came a story of a 15-year-old boy,
J-Boy Magdadaro of Liloan, who rescued more than 50 people using a small boat
and a salvavida.
Young people—if you are 15 and below—raise your hand.
You can do great and marvelous things.
If this boy knew he had the means to save people and went
out of his way to do it, then you—who have the gospel, the message that saves
not only the body but the soul—what are you doing about it?
If this boy can do it, so can you and I.
Amen?
INVITATION
You will never defend something you have not proven to be
true.
You will never die for something you have never lived for.
If you have never made the decision to receive Jesus, I want
to invite you now.
Let’s bow our heads.
(Sinner’s prayer — faithfully transcribed from the
original.)
Amen.
Thank you very much.
