To Become One

Summary: Paul explains that the men regarded as influential in Jerusalem did not add anything to his message - whatever reputation they had made no difference to him, because God shows no partiality. Instead, they recognized that Paul had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised in the same way Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised, since the same God was powerfully at work in both of them for their respective missions. Seeing the grace given to Paul, James, Cephas, and John - acknowledged as pillars - extended to Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that Paul and Barnabas should go to the Gentiles while they would go to the circumcised. The one request they emphasized was that Paul remember the poor - something Paul says he was eager to do.   Teaching: This does not mean that Paul did not preach the gospel to Jews, nor does it mean that Peter, James, and John preached the gospel only to Jews. Rather, the point is that Paul was the one who decisively advanced and established the Gentile mission and the formation of Gentile churches, while Peter and the other apostles were primarily oriented toward a Jewish-centered ministry. Verses 1 through 10 describe Paul reporting at the Jerusalem council concerning the mission to the Gentiles, confirm‎ing the unity of the gospel preached by the apostles and by Paul, and drawing clear boundaries for the church regarding matters of food and circumcision. By doing so, Paul demonstrated his oneness with the leading apostles in Jerusalem. The church must show this kind of unity, and pastors bear responsibility for it. Individual local churches may look different. However, no church on this earth is yet complete; each one must continue to grow. Therefore, all of us must be united as one in the process of growing into a whole and complete church. Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Feb 19, 2026 Galatians 2:6-10