Preserving the Gospel 保存福音

1/5/2025; Galatians 2:1-10; Brother Mike

Good morning. My message today is “Preserving the gospel保存福音”. In the last 2 messages, we looked at Galatians Chapter 1: “Faithful to the gospel對福音信實” and “The calling of the gospel福音的呼召”. We see how we need to be faithful to the gospel of Christ. And the calling of the gospel is to experience the miraculous transformation in Christ.

Today we will be looking at Galatians 2:1-10. I will speak about 3 points from these verses: 1) Confirming the gospel 確認福音 2) Entrusted with the gospel 托付福音 and 3) Fellowship in the gospel 相交福音.
Let’s pray before we start.
In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd named Muhammad 名叫穆罕默德的貝都因牧羊人was searching for his lost goat 山羊 and came upon a small opening of a cave. Thinking that his goat may have fallen into the cave, he threw rocks into the opening. Instead of hearing a startled goat, he heard the shattering of clay pottery. Lowering himself into the cave, he discovered several sealed jars. He opened them hoping to find treasure. To his disappointment, he found them to contain leather scrolls. He collected seven of the best scrolls and left the other fragments scattered on the ground. Archaeologists found out about this and searched other nearby caves between 1952 and 1956. They found ten other caves that contained thousands of ancient documents as well. This is what we called the Dead Sea Scrolls死海古卷. The scrolls date as early as the third century B.C. to the first century A.D. Eleven caves were discovered containing nearly 1,100 ancient documents which included several scrolls and more than 100,000 fragments. Fragments from every Old Testament book except for the book of Esther were discovered. After years of careful study, it has been concluded that the Dead Sea Scrolls give substantial confirmation that our Old Testament has been accurately preserved. The scrolls were found to be almost identical with the Masoretic text (which is the Old Testament text used today). A Hebrew Scholar writes, “It is a matter of wonder that through something like one thousand years the text underwent so little alteration.” Despite the thousand year gap, scholars found the Masoretic Text 馬所拉文本 and Dead Sea Scrolls to be nearly identical. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide valuable evidence that the Old Testament had been accurately and carefully preserved.
This slide shows the Great Isaiah Scroll which has the complete book of Isaiah housed in the Israel Museum. I went there, but they don’t allow photography inside, so I have to get this picture from internet. Next slide shows how the scroll looks like. The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible we have today show us that by the grace of God, the Bible have been preserved for over 3,600 years. Today we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and God has entrusted the gospel to us to preserve it. Today we will be looking at how we should preserve the gospel through Galatians 2:1-10.

I. Confirming the gospel 確認福音 (vs. 1-3)

Galatians 2:1-3 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. 2過了十四年，我同巴拿巴又上耶路撒冷去，並帶著提多同去。2我是奉啟示上去的，把我在外邦人中所傳的福音，對弟兄們陳說；卻是背地裡對那有名望之人說的，惟恐我現在，或是從前，徒然奔跑。3但與我同去的提多，雖是希利尼人，也沒有勉強他受割禮；
Paul went to Jerusalem again after 14 years. Was Paul really having doubts about the gospel he was preaching? Why did he say in vs.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. 2我是奉啟示上去的，把我在外邦人中所傳的福音，對弟兄們陳說；卻是背地裡對那有名望之人說的，惟恐我現在，或是從前，徒然奔跑。”? From this verse, we know Paul went in obedience to a revelation from God. Could God have told him to make this visit in order to make sure the other apostles are in agreement with the gospel he was preaching? The ESV study bible gives another explanation: “he would regard his work as in vain if it were to result in a divided church – a Gentile half and a Jewish half.” Paul wants to see both the Gentiles and Jews saved, so his work would be in vain if there is disagreement on the gospel. There can’t be 2 gospels – one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles. There is only 1 gospel that is true for all peoples. Today, are we preaching only 1 gospel? Or do we have different gospels for different people? Whether we are rich or poor, whatever language, whatever generation, whatever race, there’s only 1 gospel for all people. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins on the cross to save us from our sins and give us eternal life, which we receive by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Paul went to Jerusalem to confirm with James, Peter, and John the gospel he is preaching. How do we confirm the gospel we are preaching today is correct? Our gospel must be based on the word of God. We can be creative in the way we present the gospel, however, we can’t deviate from what the word of God says. To preserve the gospel, we need to confirm it with the word of God.

II. Entrusted with the gospel 托付福音 (vs. 4-8)

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), 4因為有偷著引進來的假弟兄，私下窺探我們在基督耶穌裡的自由，要叫我們作奴僕。5我們就是一刻的工夫也沒有容讓順服他們，為要叫福音的真理仍存在你們中間。6至於那些有名望的，不論他是何等人，都與我無干。神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，並沒有加增我甚麼，7反倒看見了主託我傳福音給那未受割禮的人，正如託彼得傳福音給那受割禮的人。8（那感動彼得、叫他為受割禮之人作使徒的，也感動我，叫我為外邦人作使徒；）
Who are these false brothers who slipped in to spy out Paul and the Gentile believer’s freedom in Christ? Acts 15 may or may not be the 14 years later which Paul is talking about, but the issues described here is best seen in Acts 15. Acts 15 describes what lead to the Jerusalem Council, which will determine how the Gentile believers can continue in their faith in Christ. Let’s look at this story in Acts 15.
Acts 15:1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 15:1 有幾個人從猶太下來，教訓弟兄們說：你們若不按摩西的規條受割禮，不能得救。2保羅、巴拿巴與他們大大的分爭辯論；眾門徒就定規，叫保羅、巴拿巴和本會中幾個人，為所辯論的，上耶路撒冷去見使徒和長老。
This sounds like the same problem Paul is writing about in Galatians 2. Paul and Barnabas did not give in to what these men are saying – that Gentiles believers need to be circumcised according to the custom of Moses or they can’t be saved. They debated with them and had a big argument with them. Maybe even though Paul and Barnabas tried to stop these false brothers from spreading their views among the Gentile churches, they might have tried a different tactic, which is to influence the Jerusalem church. These false brothers might have continued to influence the Jewish believers in the Jerusalem church, persuading people to demand Gentile believers also observe the custom of Moses. This became a big problem that even Paul and Barnabas can’t address by themselves. They needed the whole church to address this issue in Acts 15. Brothers and sisters, no matter how much bible or theology you know, how much experience you have serving the Lord, you should always be humble enough to get help from the church when you need it, and not try to solve it on your own. We need the church. Amen?
Acts 15:4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” 4到了耶路撒冷，教會和使徒並長老都接待他們，他們就述說神同他們所行的一切事。5惟有幾個信徒、是法利賽教門的人，起來說：必須給外邦人行割禮，吩咐他們遵守摩西的律法。
The party of the Pharisees appears to be an influential group in the church of Jerusalem. Their position on Gentile believers being circumcised seems not to be the opinion of one or two, but some in their group. The fact that they can stand up and say their position publicly shows that this is held by not just a few believers from Pharisees background. It looks like by Acts 15, there has developed a group of people from Pharisees background in the Jerusalem church who have been influenced by the views of the false brothers in Galatians 2. We will see later some reasons why they may have pushed for this, since it might help the Christians become more acceptable to the Jewish community, who will see these Gentile believers as converts to Judaism. How did this view become so popular? We should ask ourselves these questions as well. 1) What popular theology have we bought into the church that is no longer popular today? Maybe the pandemic has destroyed some of the hopes of the prosperity gospel because people have realized how fragile and uncertain the future can be. 2) How have we compromised the gospel in order to fit into the current culture, so we can be accepted by others who don’t share our beliefs? May God help us to stand firm in the truth. 3) Are we influenced by worldly thinking today, like popularity, greed and vanity? Where are we placing our confidence? In the things of the world? Or only on the Lord, His goodness, and His promises?
Let’s keep reading the story in Acts 15.
Acts 15:6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 6使徒和長老聚會商議這事；7辯論已經多了，彼得就起來，說：諸位弟兄，你們知道神早已在你們中間揀選了我，叫外邦人從我口中得聽福音之道，而且相信。8知道人心的神也為他們作了見證，賜聖靈給他們，正如給我們一樣；9又藉著信潔淨了他們的心，並不分他們我們。10現在為甚麼試探神，要把我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛放在門徒的頸項上呢？11我們得救乃是因主耶穌的恩，和他們一樣，這是我們所信的。
Awesome job there Peter! Peter just articulated the gospel so well here. Saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus and not by observing the law of Moses! Peter wasn’t afraid of offending the party of the Pharisees among them. The fact there was much debate shows people were truly confused about this issue. James lends his support of Peter’s position on the gospel and this sealed the position of the Jerusalem church. However, James made some guidelines for the Gentile believers so there will be harmony in the church.
Acts 15:24 makes it clear that what the party of the Pharisees were saying is not the official position of the church. This is in the letter sent from the Jerusalem council: 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 24我們聽說，有幾個人從我們這裡出去，用言語攪擾你們，惑亂你們的心。（有古卷在此有：你們必須受割禮，守摩西的律法。）其實我們並沒有吩咐他們。
Why were there so many people who held this view which is contrary to the official teaching of the church? This shows us that the whole church needs to continue learning the word of God together and grow together in unity, in the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to continue to be discipled in God’s word through sound biblical teachings.
Just as Paul and Peter were entrusted with the gospel, we are entrusted with the gospel today to share it faithfully. The word entrust comes from the word for “faith” – which is to believe and trust. By entrusting us with the gospel, God gives us the trust to proclaim the gospel. How can you be faithful with the gospel God has entrusted you with? Just like Paul and Barnabas, we must not yield one inch to compromise the gospel in our life.
Let’s look at Galatians 2:6 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. 6至於那些有名望的，不論他是何等人，都與我無干。神不以外貌取人。那些有名望的，並沒有加增我甚麼，
God shows no partiality. 神不以外貌取人. 神不偏待人. What this means is that no matter who you are, it doesn’t matter to God. It doesn’t matter to God who you are, what position 職位zhíwèi you have, what you own. Your status 地位 doesn’t matter to God. Your ranking 排名páimíng doesn’t matter to God. Your title 頭銜 tóuxián doesn’t matter to God. Even your reputation 名聲 doesn’t matter to God. What matters to God is your relationship to Him. It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past, whether good or bad. How is your relationship to God right now? Are you doing what He wants you to do right now? Are you fulfilling your role in His kingdom right now? Just as Paul “had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised” and “Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised”, whom have you been entrusted with the gospel? Your family? Your friends? Your neighbors? Your coworkers? A people group? A generation? Being faithful to the gospel is not just to speak about it, but also living it out. Are you living out a life that reflects Jesus is the Lord and Savior and that you are saved? God has entrusted us to preserve the gospel, to proclaim it and live it out.

III. Fellowship in the gospel 相交福音 (vs. 9-10)

Galatians 2:9 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. 9又知道所賜給我的恩典，那稱為教會柱石的雅各、磯法、約翰，就向我和巴拿巴用右手行相交之禮，叫我們往外邦人那裡去，他們往受割禮的人那裡去。
We see James, Cephas (Peter) and John, who are leaders of the church and apostles, giving the right hand of fellowship 右手行相交之禮 to Barnabas and Paul, agreeing that they are preaching the same gospel of Jesus Christ. They agree they have different missions in the kingdom of God, one’s mission is to the Gentiles and the other to the Jews. The right hand of fellowship is so important to preserving the gospel. To preserve the gospel, we need to fellowship in the gospel. What does the right hand of fellowship mean 右手行相交之禮?
Giving the right hand of fellowship was “a solemn act of partnership signifying acceptance, agreement and trust” This is to accept them into the ministry of propagating the gospel with the other apostles. In churches today, the Right Hand of Fellowship is a ritual intended to welcome a new member into the fellowship of a congregation or welcoming a new minister into the fellowship of ministers.
This is like when we go shake the hands of a brother or sister after they are baptized. We congratulate them and acknowledge that now they are a member of the church and we are partners with them in Christ. I remember when I was baptized how good it was and how important it was for brothers and sisters to come up to me and shake my hands to congratulate me. Now, I am truly a part of the church, a part of the fellowship of Christ, a part of the body of Christ, and a brother in Christ. I remember one brother even came up to me, shook my hand, and said, “now you are an enemy of Satan”. That is a welcome I won’t forget. This is important to acknowledge that now we are on the same team. We are all together now in the same boat. We need each other. We are all part of the mission God has given us.
Galatians 2:10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 10只是願意我們記念窮人；這也是我本來熱心去行的。
Fellowship in the gospel and partnership in the gospel is not just to spread the information about the good news of Jesus Christ, but it is to serve the poor and needy. There are people who are not financially poor, but they are truly needy of the grace of God. Will we help those who are struggling with depression, with loneliness, with addictions? The gospel of Jesus Christ is the restore the whole person. This is not the social gospel. We are going to preach the gospel that sinners need to repent and turn to Christ. But we will also going and showing what the love of Christ means by helping the poor and needy.
The word preserve means to “stay permanently, remain permanently, continue.” Today, we need to make every effort to preserve the gospel so that it will remain uncorrupted. We preserve the gospel by confirming the gospel with the word of God, being faithful to the gospel we have been entrusted with, and continue to fellowship in the gospel. May the Lord help us do these things. Amen? Let’s pray.