Galatians 2:6-10

In Gospel truth (Paul’s expression found in Galatians chapter 1), the Holy Spirit is vital for all of us, to rely on and to listen to. Through Holy Spirit Jesus speaks into our hearts and minds. The Antioch Church (Paul’s home-base) finds that Holy Spirit speaks similarly to each who listen intently and obediently.

Paul’s point is that while we Worship together, whether online, on a beach-Church, online at AlphaChurch.org, in a chapel at the top of a ski-lift mountain, in a Church building, or where two or three family members are gathered then we are Holy Spirit alert to what Jesus Christ is blessing us with, doing within us, and our duty is to respond to do as we are prompted using Jesus’ Name in Holy Spirit power.

Together, Paul directs us to think about the Lord Jesus Christ: how He rescues and saves us, how He raises us from the depth of sin and evil to make us Holy in Him, and how His power transforms us through the Holy Spirit to be like our Savior Jesus. The Gospel of our Risen Jesus is spoken Word, leads us, refines us to be more like Jesus and is energizing our faith. Because of Jesus we are saved, raised, and Holy in Him.

Because of Jesus we know our faith in Him is witness, that with Jesus we can stand on God’s Word, and no matter what comes our way our lives are in Jesus’ Hands. The Holy Spirit is our vital connection with Jesus. And, though tempted as Jesus was, faith in Christ will not be shaken nor take us away from Christ as we stand firm in Him. We claim our security in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul is Holy Spirit secure. Paul’s energized to start-up faith communities and faithfully sustains new and recent believers in Jesus. Holy Spirit calls Paul, Barnabas, and Titus to go to Jerusalem Church and meet with the small group of leaders there, including John, Cephas (Peter), and James. He makes his presentation yet they have nothing to add to what he presents. Paul has fact-checked with them that his Gospel (given to him by Holy Spirit) is the same as theirs. The Jerusalem leaders affirm that Paul has been anointed by Christ to reach out to the Gentiles (uncircumcised) and Peter to the Jews (the circumcised), complimenting each other but not competing.

James (John’s brother), Peter, and John (the beloved apostle) give Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. Paul understands the handshake to mean confirmation of not only his grace calling but also his law-free preaching. Soon he will find out differently.

They ask Paul to remember the poor yet Holy Spirit has already put that on Paul’s heart and into the hearts of his start-up Church folk. There were already offerings collected from the Gentile Churches and sent to the Mother Church in Jerusalem and Paul will continue this. And lastly, we note the right hand of fellowship was not offered to uncircumcised Titus, but he may have missed the handshake event due to something else, we don’t know and Paul does not highlight the missing handshake for us.

6 And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those leaders contributed nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do. Galatians 2:6-10