Galatians 2:1

Galatians 2:1 says, Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.  Paul said that after he had been preaching for fourteen years that he went to Jerusalem once more.  He took Barnabas and Titus with him.  Verse two adds, And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.  Paul said that he went to Jerusalem by revelation, or by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  He shared with them the gospel that he had preached to the Gentiles.  This was not a separate gospel than the gospel presented to the Jews.  The Gentiles were just as saved as the Jews were.  Paul said that he went privately to those who were of reputation, because he didn't want to distract from the gospel.  If we disagree with what someone is preaching, if we go to them to correct them, we need to do so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and do so in such a way that the gospel is not made to suffer.  Paul said he didn't want to do anything that would mean that he had run in vain.  His ministry was to the Gentiles, and he did not change it when preaching to the Jews.  It is the same gospel, no matter who it is being presented to.  Verse three continues, But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: Paul recognized Titus as being just as saved as anyone though he had not followed the Jewish sign of circumcision.  There is no earthly sign that makes one any more saved than another, and there is no way to be saved except through faith in Christ as Savior and Lord.  This had become a point of contention between Jewish believers and Gentile believers, but Paul said it shouldn't be.  Verse four states, And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  Paul said that false brethren, those that would add to the requirements of salvation had come secretly to spy on him.  The purpose of their spying was to take away the liberty that Paul and the Gentile believers had in Christ.  There are many today who would add requirements to the freedom of salvation.  Some feel that a person has to be a member of a particular denomination to be saved.  Others feel that the church controls repentance and forgiveness of sin.  Verse five adds, To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.  Paul said he did not subject himself to their beliefs about the necessity of following Jewish law to be saved, even though he had been a devout Jew.  This was a part of the old covenant with God, which had been fulfilled by Christ on the cross.  Verse six continues, But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:  Paul said there were some people who thought they were something, the source of authority or power or whatever.  He also said it didn't matter to him what they thought they were, because God did not favor one person over another.  Any saved person had and still has the same access to God as any other saved person.  There are religious leaders today who feel that they have a greater access to God than the average Christian, but that is not true.  Verse seven says, But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;  Paul said that these religious leaders, when they were in conference, agreed that Paul was sent to the Gentiles just as Peter was sent to the Jews.  Still, Paul had said this did not matter to him, because he was going where God had sent him.  It is nice if we have the support of fellow Christians, and maybe especially religious leaders today, but we cannot base our following God's direction for our lives on the opinion of others.  Verse eight adds, (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)  Paul said the proof of Peter's calling and his was the result of their ministry.  Both were successful where they preached.  Verse nine Paul continues, And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.  Paul said that James, Cephas (Peter) and John gave to Barnabas and himself the right hand of fellowship and said that they should go to the Gentiles.  Paul was saying that if the leaders of Christianity accepted his ministry with no stipulations about following Jewish law, then why were other Christians questioning him.  Verse ten concludes, Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.  Paul said that these Christian leaders asked only one thing of him, and that was that he remember the poor, which Paul said he was already doing.  As we witness in the world today, we must always remember to reach out to the poor with the gospel.  Paul, who had been in a position of power in the Jewish world gave it all up to follow Christ, but he still did not forget those who were less fortunate than he was.  We today need to follow God with that same dedication.