“Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 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. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:” (Galatians 2:1–3, KJV)
The first job I had after leaving the military was as a project engineer in a printing and paper converting company. After a few months, my boss sent be to California to look at a printing press there that was running a lot of defective product. The problem was that the print positioning was shifting on the paper and the finished images were unacceptable.
I spent a week analyzing the problem. When I was assigned the job, those in our office worked to convince me that the problem may have been with variations in the rolls of paper that the plant was using. However, after investigating the issue for about a week, based upon my engineering training on system dynamics, I became convinced that the problem was not with the paper. I believed that the gain setting on the controls that were supposed to keep the print positioned properly were out of adjustment. The result was that rather than correcting the slight misalignment of the print, the controls were actually over correcting and making the misalignment worse.
I opened the electrical panels to see if there were any adjustments that I could make. I saw a number of places on the circuit boards where adjustments could be made, but none were marked. I was concerned making any adjustments hastily for fear of making things worse. So, I called the company that made the controls on the phone to confirm my diagnosis and to identify the proper circuit to adjust. After the call, I made the appropriate adjustments and the machine settled down, eliminating the waste being produced.
The point of this long story is this. Affirmation helps ensure good results.
Paul has spent a lengthy part of his letter to the Galatians to assure the readers that the content of it was true. In particular, he was combating the false teachers of his day, the legalists that prescribed good works for salvation. Paul, in his validation of the theology of salvation by grace through faith in Christ goes on to reference a meeting that he had with the leaders in Jerusalem that affirmed this doctrine.
It is interesting that he went there fourteen years after his first trip. Moreover, he went with Barnabas, a respected Jewish believer, and Titus a Gentile believer who was not compelled to be circumcised. Circumcision being a key act that the legalists touted as necessary for salvation.
Paul mentioned that he met with the Jerusalem leaders, the influential people, to ensure that he was not serving in vain. The affirmation was that not even Titus, a Gentile, was compelled to be circumcised. Paul used his meeting with Barnabas, Titus and those in Jerusalem as an additional affirmation to the Galatians the gospel he preached was from the Lord.
Today there are many people, even in churches who still have a works-based view of salvation. This takes two basic forms. One is that a person must do something to earn justification before God. The other is that one must believe in Christ but also do something on top of faith to be saved. Neither of these views will grant the hope of eternal life.
Let us praise the Lord for the salvation that He grants to us by grace alone. The only thing that is required for a person to be saved is saving faith in Jesus Christ alone for His finished work in dying for our sins.
Renewing the Heart 