type:
  - "[[Sermon Notes|Sermon Notes]]"
speaker: "[[Archibald Allison]]"
date: 2025-11-30
location: "[[Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church]]"
passage: Galatians 2:6-10
sermon series: "[[Allison on Galatians]]"
sermon link:
subjects:
title: There Is Only One Gospel For Sinners
takeaways:

Speaker	Archibald Allison
Date	2025-11-30
Location	Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Passage	Galatians 2:6-10
Title	There Is Only One Gospel For Sinners
Takeaways	[object Object]
Subjects	[object Object]

💡Big Idea

Takeaways and Next Steps

📖Bible Passage

Galatians 2:6-10

But from those who were reputed to be important--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised-- for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles-- and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. They only asked us to remember the poor--which very thing I was also zealous to do.

Points

There is only one Gospel, not two.
- The word Gospel comes from Old English meaning good spell, or good tale.
  - It is the translation of evangelion from Greek, meaning good news.
- The Judaisers taught another gospel, that it is not enough that Christ has died for us. That in order to be saved we must also be circumcised and observing the Torah.
  - They taught that the Gospel is only for the Jews.
  - But Paul and Christ teach that the Gospel is for all people, Jew and non-Jew, circumcised and non-circumcised.

Why Did Paul Meet With The Other Apostles At Jerusalem

Paul went to Jerusalem to meet with the other apostles and elders because he could use their support against the Judaisers.
- Paul wanted to have unity in the church.
  - Paul did not want two churches, one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles.
  - Paul thought that it would be incredibly beneficial for the Church if they would attest that Paul's teaching on the Gospel were true.

Paul acknowledged their office of apostleship, but was not convinced that they were always right.

What does Paul mean when he says: (Galatians 2.6) But from those who were reputed to be important--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,
- Paul respected these apostles, but Paul did not think that they were infallible^[1].
- Paul knew that it does not make any difference what kind of work you do and what reputation you have. The Lord can take away all those things in your life. God does not accept any good works from us, for all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64.6
- We all have our weaknesses and need God's grace.

they added nothing to Paul

this means that the apostles did not correct Paul's teachings on the Gospel, for Paul's teachings were the same.
- Paul did not teach an abbreviated, truncated, incomplete Gospel. Paul taught the full Gospel and nothing but the Gospel, just as they did.

The Lord Appointed Paul to Minister to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews

the uncircumcised here is referring to the Jews. These are the people who were circumcised.
Paul and Peter taught the same Gospel. But God called Paul to mainly focus on ministering to the Gentiles and Peter to mainly focus on ministering to the Jews.
- It is God who works through His ministers. Galatians 2.8 for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles--
- the word translated as worked here is Greek energaia. It means to work with energy and power!
  - God works effectively and mightily through His ministers.

They Saw that the Holy Spirit worked effectively through both Paul and Peter

We can see this happening in Acts-15.

The Lord calls us to true spiritual unity in the church

Unity is great, but what kind of unity do we want?
- Do we want unity like the penguins? Absolute conformity. All talking, looking and thinking the same? No. God has made us diverse and that is good.
- No true unity in the church is not a lack of individuality. It is a closeness and kinship with your fellow believers.
- When James, Peter and John saw the grace that was given to Paul, they gave Paul the right hand of fellowship.
  - This is fellowship, koinonia.
  - This fellowship means, we are on the same team, we teach the same Gospel.
- it is wonderful to perceive that same grace in others. It is wonderful to meet another fellow believer, saved by the same Gospel. Here we find tender kinship and unity.
- The Lord calls all of us to unity.

We also need church authority

Reaching out is essential to the church

Even though Paul's minister was primarily to the Gentiles, whenever he entered a new city, he first went to the Jews.
- why did Paul go to the Jews first?
  - It was because the truth of the Gospel was first given to them.
  - It was also because there is only one Gospel. The same Gospel that is given to the Gentiles is also given to the Jews.
  - It is also because it is so important for the church to reach out to others outside.
Have you had that feeling, that you are compelled to share the Gospel with a sinner? You must have this feeling. If you never have this feeling then you are not a Christian. Christ has called us to love and share with sinners.

We should remember the poor

The church in Jerusalem asked Paul to remember the poor.
- Galatians 2.10 They only asked us to remember the poor--which was the very thing I was also zealous to do.
- the church in Jerusalem was poorer than the church outside. This was because they experienced greater persecution.
It is most important for us to remember and care for the poor.
- The congregation should be known for their care of the poor.
- Mark 12:43-44 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."
- Romans 15.26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
- Galatians 6.10 So then, as we have opportunity, let's do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
Give to the poor, not out of duty but out of joy.
- We do this out of gratitude to Christ who gave everything to us when we were so wretched and poor.

Application

Further Study

💬Discussion Questions

Footnotes

As the Roman Catholic Pope claims to be when he speaks ex cathedra↩︎

2025-11-30 Sermon Notes

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