Gary Gleans

                                                                             Galatians 2:11-14 But   when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him   to his face, because he stood condemned.    For before certain men came from James,   he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing   the circumcision party.  And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.    But when I saw that their   conduct was not in step with   the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas   before them all, “If you, though a Jew,   live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”   The fear of man is a dangerous thing.  When we care too much about what others think of us, it can lead to disastrous consequences.  The opinions of others can never be more important than the truth of the Gospel.  This passage illustrates how the fear of man works, some of the danger

                                                                                       Galatians 2:1-10 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.  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.    But even Titus, who was with me,   was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.    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— to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that   the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.    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.    On

                                                                                            Galatians 1:11-24 For   I would have you know, brothers, that   the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.  For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it   through a revelation of Jesus Christ.  For you have heard of   my former life in Judaism, how   I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.    And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely   zealous was I for   the traditions of my fathers.    But when he   who had set me apart   before I was born, and who   called me by his grace,   was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order   that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.    Then   after three years I went up to

                                                                                       Galatians 1:6-10 I  am astonished that you are   so quickly deserting   him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to   a different gospel—not that there is another one, but   there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.    But even if we or   an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you,   let him be accursed.    As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received,   let him be accursed.    For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying   to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a   servant of Christ. There are many dangers believers face while living in this fallen world.  Some of those dangers are external in the form of persecution and suffering because the Gospel is exclusive and therefore offensive

                                                                                            Galatians 1:1-5 Paul, an   apostle—not from men nor through man, but   through Jesus Christ and God the Father,   who raised him from the dead—and all   the brothers who are with me,  To   the churches of Galatia:   Grace to you and peace   from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present   evil age, according to the will of   our God and Father,   to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatia is one of the first areas where Paul planted churches.  These churches were under heavy influence from the Jewish community and were facing challenges to the doctrine of justification by faith.  The Jews were attempting to make obedience to the Law a prerequisite to salvation.  Paul writes to clarify theses all important questions.  In this introduction Paul wants to be sure to establish his apostolic authority and to remind his readers of t

                                                                             2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Finally, brothers, rejoice.   Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another,   live in peace; and the God of love and   peace will be with you.    Greet one another with a holy kiss.   All the saints greet you.    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and   the love of God and   the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. There is a principle throughout the Scriptures that tell us that our actions and attitudes towards one another, are actually the same as those we have towards God.  We cannot treat one another poorly while at the same time claim to be right in our relationship with God.  The conflicts we have with one another are not only horizontal in nature.  In reality, they are vertical conflicts between us and God long before our interpersonal problems begin.  However, if we love and serve one another, Paul describes two benefits we can experience. THE LOVE A

                                                                             2 Corinthians 13:5-10 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.   Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that   Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!    I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.  But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.    For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.    For we are glad when   we are weak and you are strong. Your   restoration is what we pray for.    For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come   I may not have to be   severe in my use of   the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.   Sin is capable of subtly entering into our lives and taking hold to the point that we become blind t

                                                                   2 Corinthians 13:1-4 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established   by the evidence of two or three witnesses.    I warned   those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that   if I come again I will not spare them—since you seek proof that Christ   is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but   is powerful among you.   For   he was crucified in weakness, but   lives by the power of God. For   we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you   we will live with him by the power of God.   Disciplining the sins of others is not an easy or an enjoyable thing.  This is especially true when the sin issues are repetitive and there is a refusal to repent.  Satan is very persistent in his schemes to undermine the work of God in the church.  Just when we are able to deal with one issue, it seems that another sp

                                                                             2 Corinthians 12:11-21 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was   not at all inferior to these super-apostles,   even though I am nothing.    The signs of a true apostle were performed among you   with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.    For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that   I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!    Here   for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for   I seek not what is yours but you. For   children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but   parents for their children.    I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If   I love you more, am I to be loved less?    But granting that   I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit.    Did I take advantage of you   through

                                                                                  2 Corinthians 12:1-10 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and   revelations of the Lord.    I know a man   in Christ who fourteen years ago was   caught up to   the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,   God knows.    And I know that this man was caught up into   paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know,   God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.    On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast,   except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast,   I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.    So   to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh

                                                                             2 Corinthians 11:7-15 Or   did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because   I preached God's gospel to you free of charge?    I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.    And when I was with you and was   in need,   I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia   supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain   from burdening you in any way.    As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine   will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.    And why?   Because I do not love you?   God knows I do!    And what I am doing I will continue to do,   in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.    For such men are   false apostles,   deceitful workmen,   disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.    And no wonder, for even Satan d