Devotion

QT 11/08/2024 Sun. Galatians 2. Stand firm for the pure gospel. 坚守纯正的福音

QT 11/08/2024 Sun. Galatians 2. Stand firm for the pure gospel.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/gal2

Paul spent time preparing for his ministry in the new found faith. He was "advancing in Judaism" beyond his peers (Gal 2:14). Yet his life changed upon encountering Christ.

What he had learned required a re-look because of Jesus Christ. "Three years" (Gal 1:18) and "fourteen years" (Gal 2:1) suggest times of learning, unlearning, solitude and consultation with others.

REFLECTION: Are you refocusing your life's goals and way of life in view of your encounter with Christ? How did you change after meeting Jesus?

It was not easy to stand firm, even for Peter, on the issue of the requirement of circumcision for the Gentiles then. Freedom in Jesus Christ did not prevent him from "eating with the Gentiles" (Gal 2:12). However, pressures from "the circumcision party" put Peter in fear (Gal 2:12), such that he "and the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him" (Gal 2:13).

Hypocrisy, in this context, consisted of acting in a way you knew was not necessary, just to please others. Worse, it restricted your new found freedom in Christ for no valid reason and destroyed the essence of the gospel.

Paul's message to the Galatians was that faith in Jesus Christ was not founded on circumcision. It took much courage and determination for Paul to stand firm, even as he chided Peter and "opposed him to his face" (Gal 2:11).

APPLICATION: Other issues today require you to stand firm in the face of sneering, ridicule and provocation too. May your life be "in step with the truth of the gospel" in all circumstances. Avoid hypocrisy.

星期日 2024年8月11日今日读经：加拉太书2章. 坚守纯正的福音.
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Gal/2/

保罗为着新的信仰预备他的事工。他在“犹太教”的学习已超越了他的同伴(加2:14)。然而他的生命却在遇见基督后改变了。

因着耶稣基督，他所学习的需要再检讨。“三年”(加1:18)和“十四年”(加2:1)意味着这段时间的学习、重新学习、独处和与人咨询。

反思：你是否在遇见基督后重新定位你的人生目标和生活方式？你在遇见耶稣后如何改变？

要站立得稳是不容易的，即便是彼得也是一样，尤其在要求外族人受割礼这件事情上。在耶稣基督里的自由并不限制他“与外族人一同吃饭”(加2:12)。然而，来自“守割礼的这队人马”的压力让彼得感到害怕，以致“其余的犹太人也和他一同装假”(加2:13)。

在这里，虚伪指的是为了取悦他人而做出一些自己明明知道没有必要的事情。更糟的是，它无故地限制了你在基督里的自由还破坏了福音所要表达的意思。

保罗给加拉太人的信息是，信耶稣基督的根基不是建立在割礼上面的。保罗需要莫大的勇气和决心才能站立得稳，就算他必须责骂彼得并得“当面反对他”(加2:11)。

应用：今天有其他的问题需要你在人们的轻蔑、嘲笑和挑衅中站立得稳。愿你的生命无论在任何的处境中都是“与福音的真理同步的”。远离虚伪。