GALATIANS
CHAPTER 2
Paul goes to Jerusalem—He contends for the true gospel—Salvation comes through Christ.
1 THEN fourteen years
after I went up [ the third journey to Jerusalem
see Acts 15. this is taking place in about 49 AD. Pauls conversion was
in about 35 AD so adding 14 years we get 49 AD] again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
and took Titus with me also.
2 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. [He went privately to
the first presidency and quorm of the twelve - Why? make
sure that he was on the same page as they were on this matter before
the conference was held.]
3 But neither Titus, who was with
me, [he takes Titus with him as exhibit A because
he is uncircumcised] being a Greek, was compelled
to be circumcised: [as
he Paul understood it - Titus was not complelled to be circumcised or
subject to the law of moses and brough him along to make his point.]
4 And that
because of false brethren [the
men who came down from Judaea see Acts 15:1] 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:
[by requiring Paul, th egentiles and anyone else who
was converted to be subject to the 613 commandments in the Law of Moses
]
5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat,
[he is talking about the leading brethern of the church] (whatsoever
they were, it
maketh no matter to me: [in otherwords I am not
impressed with any title, rank or status that you may have] God accepteth
no man’s
person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing
to me:
7 But contrariwise, [Paul
wants it know that he is standing firm - because he knew he was right] when
they saw that the gospel of
the uncircumcision was committed unto me, [Paul
was preaching that they should walk uprightly before the Lord and were
not subject to the law fo moses or circumcision and he had received this
through revelation] as the
gospel of
the circumcision was unto Peter;
[Peter tempored the doctrine for fear of offending Jewish semi-convertswho
still kept the Law of Moses.]
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9 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;
[the knowledge that they were true saints and entitled
to all of the blessings of the gospel in this life and hope in the blessings
of eternal life] that we should
go unto
the heathen,
and they unto the circumcision.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
16 Knowing that a man is not justified [ That is, to justify means to ratify, approve, confirm, or give authorized sanction of an action. All actions relative to the gospel, such as repentance, baptism, temple marriage, etc., must be justified through the Holy Ghost or they are not enforce after this life is over. The Lord has stated: "All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power . . . are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead" (D & C 132:7). Therefore when an action is "sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise" it is approved or ratified by the Holy Ghost as being legitimate.
In General Conference, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, gave the following instruction regarding justification:
"Now, to justify is to seal, or to ratify, or to approve; and it is very evident from these revelations that every act that we do, if it is to have binding and sealing virtue in eternity, must be justified by the Spirit. In other words, it must be ratified by the Holy Ghost; or in other words, it must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.
"All of us know that we can deceive men. We can deceive our bishops or the other Church agents, unless at the moment their minds are lighted by the spirit of revelation; but we cannot deceive the Lord. We cannot get from him an unearned blessing. There will be an eventual day when all men will get exactly and precisely what they have merited and earned, neither adding to nor subtracting from. You cannot with success lie to the Holy Ghost.
"Now let us take a simple illustration. If an individual is to gain an inheritance in the celestial world, he has to enter in at the gate of baptism, that ordinance being performed under the hands of a legal administrator. If he comes forward prepared by worthiness, that is, if he is just and true, and gains baptism under the hands of a legal administrator, he is justified by the Spirit in the act which has been performed; that is, it is ratified by the Holy Ghost, or it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. As a result it is of full force and validity in this life and in the life to come.
"If an individual thereafter turns from righteousness and goes off and wallows in the mire of iniquity, then the seal is removed, and so we have this principle which keeps the unworthy from gaining unearned blessings. The Lord has placed a bar which stops the progress of the unrighteous; he has placed a requirement which we must meet. We must gain the approval and receive the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost if eventually and in eternity we are to reap the blessings that we hope to reap.
"The same thing that is true of baptism is true of marriage. If a couple comes forward worthily, a couple who is just and true, and they enter into that ordinance under the hands of a legal administrator, a seal of approval is recorded in heaven. Then assuming they do not thereafter break that seal, assuming they keep the covenant and press forward in steadfastness and in righteousness, they go on in the next world as husband and wife; and in and after the resurrection, that ordinance performed in such a binding manner here has full force, efficacy, and validity." (Conference Report, April 1956, p.65) ] by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.