THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
FEBRUARY 13TH, 2005
THE RIGHT HAND OF
FELLOWSHIP
I. What happened when Paul met with the
other Apostles?
A.
Fourteen years after Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem (1:18), he returned
to Jerusalem with a Gentile convert named Titus (2:1).
1.
Paul wanted the Jews in Jerusalem to hear the Gospel that he preached
among the Gentiles (2:2).
2.
Titus was a Greek (2:3), and a convert of Paul (Titus 1:4).
3.
The Apostle Paul wanted the Jerusalem Jews to see a Gentile Christian in
person.
B.
Titus was saved, but had not been circumcised (3).
1.
“False brethren” were in the Jerusalem churches too (4).
2.
They were “unawares brought in,” meaning that they looked like real
believers.
3.
They came in “privily”, meaning that they were not supposed to be there.
4.
These false brethren had come to “spy out” this Gospel and find fault
(4).
5.
They came to oppose Paul’s Gospel, and add the Law to his message.
C.
What was Paul’s reaction to these false brethren who had come to
undermine him?
1.
Paul did not recognize their credentials (5) “...not for an hour.”
2.
Paul’s emphasis was “the truth of the Gospel”, and that it would
continue in the churches.
D.
Paul attempted to deal with this issue privately.
1.
He spoke to those who “were of reputation” privately (2).
2.
It was his desire to deal privately with the problem and proclaim
publicly the truth of the Gospel.
II. The Apostle Paul was not threatened by
the presence of other Apostles (6), or the men of reputation mentioned in verse
2.
A.
Peter, James and John were members of the original twelve.
1.
James was the half-brother of Jesus.
2.
All three had seen the resurrected Christ.
3.
All three were considered “pillars” of the church (2:9).
B.
There were saved priests and Pharisees present, but they were trying to
mingle the Law with the Gospel (Acts 6:7 and 15:5).
1.
Paul states that these leaders “added nothing to me.”
2.
We can see how Paul’s education and religious background aided him at
this time.
III. Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles,
while the other Apostles were sent to the Jews
(7-8).
A.
This does not mean that Paul ONLY preached to Gentiles and that Peter
ONLY preached to Jews (Acts 13-14).
B.
The Apostles were given unique burdens, and Paul’s focus was the
Gentiles (7).
C.
Even though Peter and Paul had separate callings, they were both
Apostles and had equal authority (8).
IV. Three of the original twelve Apostles
seem to have risen to influential positions in the church (9-10).
A.
Peter, James and John are mentioned as “pillars” in the church (9).
1.
James (the half-brother of Jesus) is mentioned first.
2.
Peter is mentioned throughout Acts, and preached at Pentecost.
3.
John was the closest to the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry.
B.
Peter, James, John, and Paul wrote 21 of the 27 books in the New
Testament.
C.
James, Peter, and John gave Paul the “right hands of fellowship,” and
agreed that Paul should go to the Gentiles (9).
- They add that the poor
should not be overlooked (10).
Conclusion: Next Sunday, we will learn about a dispute between Peter and Paul that came to a head in Antioch (located in Galatia).