Morning Moments

IV. THE ADDRESS OF APPREHENSION 2:3-21
To expose the hypocrisy of the Judaizers who were troubling them Paul shares about his experience regarding the acceptance of the Jerusalem leaders of Titus who was uncircumcised

A. His Partner 2:3
Titus is mention twelve times in Paul's writings and in the NSAB is referred to as "my true child in a common faith" which would indicates that Paul led him to Christ and took him as a companion in labor. He was a Gentile and was not required to be circumcised as a believer in Christ.

B. His Problem 2:4-14
There is much we might say and/or speculate about the apostle that might have led to some of the problems he faced, but we won't deal with those at this point except to say that his brilliance certainly made him a target for all the "wanna bes" to challenge. Paul was a man of great humility but also of great confidence. Character traits not mutually exclusive.

1. Paul's resistance to the Fakes 2:5
The problem with phonies is that they always wish to promise one thing and offer another. These promised liberty but offered only bondage to the law from which Paul and all other true believers are freed. The rule for us who are free from the legalism not law. It is not some mere ritual or ceremony or human standard we are measured by and must live up to. It is the measure of our love for God and for one another. We are to love Him with ALL the heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love each other as our own self, which assures that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. That is the measure by which we are measured.

2. Paul's response to the Faithful 2:6
Paul is not expressing disrespect here but is affirming his own confidence in his personal revelation and commission from Jesus. That is so important for us. "I do not care who can out argue whom about what; the fact is that I know that I have God's call and commission on my life and that is what matters, and I am no more or less in God's eyes as they." That was the confidence Paul had.

a. The Results 2:7-9a
There is room for mavericks and Paul would be one to them, but His point was well made and the tree was thus known but its fruit. Peter, James, and John, who were pillars of the Jerusalem Church could clearly see that God had called "sent" (apostled) Paul for this ministry to the Gentiles so they extended the hands of acceptance, approval, and fellowship.

b. The Request 2:9b-10
Their request of Paul was something that God already prompted his heart to do anyway and that was to give consideration to the poor. That is always God's desire for us. The Church is to take care of its own. We must be careful not to give the world's charities everything first and to give the poor of our own churches what is left over. In that respect, charity should start at home. Maybe there are some "poor" or "needy" in your own fellowship you should be helping.

c, The Rebuke 2:11-13
Later, Peter had gone to Antioch, perhaps to inspect Paul's work. He was no doubt thrilled at what he saw. He ate with the Gentiles and fellowshipped with them; no doubt eating what they ate. But when a group from the Jerusalem Church had been sent by James (the Lord's brother, who was Pastor), to visit the Antioch Church, Peter withdrew from the uncircumcised Gentile brothers, which created problems even for Barnabas. Paul rebuked Peter before them all for that hypocrisy.