Some Things Never Change…And Some That Should | Walking Free, Part 4

Walking Free, pt 4 – “Some things never change…and some that should”

Galatians 2:1-10
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.

You didn’t need to become Jewish to come to Jesus.
Jesus + Judaism = Christianity
Jesus + Judaism = Christianity
Jesus plus nothing is the Gospel

Acts 15:20
abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been
strangled, and from blood.
Acts 16:19
we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

The Gospel includes all cultures and transcends all cultures.
Galatians 2:4-5
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.
We don’t need to earn or achieve what God has already given freely.

Old Covenant vs. New Covenant

What do we do with the Old Testament/Old Covenant? 
1. Read it in light of what Jesus has done for us
2. Obey the parts that still need to be applied today

The three types of OT Laws:
1. Civil laws
2. Ceremonial laws
3. Moral laws

The moral laws no longer define the terms in which we enter into a relationship with God.

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a
festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the
substance belongs to Christ.
Hebrews 4:9-11
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered
God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to
enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

Don’t elevate secondary matters, especially ceremonial practices, into categories that should
be reserved for the Gospel.

You are free. Don’t add a burden.

Peter is sent to the Jews to preach the Gospel.
Paul is sent to the Gentiles to preach the Gospel.
Both are to remember the poor wherever they go.

You see the same message, the same Jesus, and the same Gospel being preached but
different methods.

Two errors to avoid: 
1. Hold fast to the message and the methods
2. Be open-handed to the message and the methods