Conflict in the Church
Galatians 2:1-21
“To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned.”
- Miroslav Volf (Croatian Theologian)
I. Conflict with Fake Christians – Galatians 2:1-5
Key Verse (2:5) – “We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.”
Principle: Do not give one inch to those who would destroy the church. ... “We did not give in to them for a moment...”
Application: Attack the policy not the person. ... “so that the truth of the Gospel...”
II. Conflict with the Majority – Galatians 2:6-10
Principle: Every faithful believer is equally important in God’s plan.
v. 8 – “For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.”
Application: Find common ground.
v. 10 – “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”
III. Conflict with the Leader – Galatians 2:11-15
Principle: Leaders are accountable, too.
v. 11 – “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.”
Application: Treat everyone equally.
v. 16b – “So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
IV. Conflict with False Teachings – Galatians 2:17-21
Principle: Protect the integrity of the Gospel at all cost.
v. 18 – “If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker.”
Application: Maintain a no compromise approach.
v. 21 – “I do not set aside the grace of God...”
Conclusion: Finally...for whom do you live?
v. 20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The Difference? – the Love and Sacrifice of Christ overwhelm me.
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A Quick Word about “Justification”
** Justification, simply put, means that God declares a sinner right with himself.
It is an act of God whereby he declares a sinner right with him because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Justification does not excuse our sin, ignore our sin, or endorse our sin. Rather, our sin is fully punished, Christ having taken our penalty for us. He was our substitute (see: 1 Peter 3:18).
o Because the wrath of God is satisfied in Christ (see: Isaiah 53:4–6), we are free from condemnation (see: Romans 8:1), and God remains both “fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus” (see: Romans 3:26, NLT).
Justification is NOT a process...it gives an immediate change of status with God for the recipient
Justification changes the status of the sinner (i.e.: from condemned and cursed to beloved and
saved), not the content of the sinner’s heart.
Justification comes apart from the Law and is realized through faith in Jesus Christ, alone (see:
Romans 3:21-26)
In justification, God “imputes” the right standing of Jesus Christ onto the sinner (see: 2 Corinthians 5:21)
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