Salvation Comes through Christ, Not Moses

Galatians 2:11-21; Peter and Paul—both of whom were apostles, both of whom received revelations, saw angels, and were approved of the Lord, and both of whom shall inherit the fulness of the Father's kingdom—these same righteous and mighty preachers disagreed on a basic matter of church policy. Peter was the President of the Church; Paul, an apostle and Peter's junior in the church hierarchy, was subject to the direction of the chief apostle. But Paul was right and Peter was wrong. Paul stood firm, determined that they should walk "uprightly according to the truth of the gospel"; Peter temporized for fear of offending Jewish semi-converts who still kept the law of Moses.

Galatians 2:11-21; The issue was not whether the Gentiles should receive the gospel. Peter himself had received the revelation that God was no respecter of persons, and that those of all lineages were now to be heirs of salvation along with the Jews. (Acts 10:21-35.) Further, the heads of the Church, in council assembled, with the Holy Ghost guiding their minds and directing their decisions, had determined that the Gentiles who received the gospel should not be subject to the law of Moses. (Acts 15:1-35.) The Jewish members of the Church, however, had not been able to accept this decision without reservation. They themselves continued to conform to Mosaic performances, and they expected Gentile converts to do likewise. Peter sided with them; Paul publicly withstood the chief apostle and won the debate, as could not otherwise have been the case. Without question, if we had the full account, we would find Peter reversing himself and doing all in his power to get the Jewish saints to believe that the law of Moses was fulfilled in Christ and no longer applied to anyone either Jew or Gentile.

Galatians 2:13; 13. Dissimulation] Concealing and disguising true doctrines with false ones; believing doctrines that simulate true ones, that have a semblance of truth but are in fact erroneous.

Galatians 2:16; 16. Justified] See Romans 2:17-29; Romans 3:1-20, 21-31; Romans 4:1-25; Romans 5:1-11.

Galatians 2:18; 18. 'If I should build again the law of Moses, which I have already helped destroy, I would be a transgressor.' Or: 'If I should attempt to strengthen and sustain sectarian doctrines, which I have already refuted, I would be a sinner.'

Galatians 2:20; 20. I am crucified in Christ] 'Because of Christ and his goodness, I have crucified the man of sin, the lusts of the flesh.' Christ liveth in me] 'Hence, being dead to sin, I possess the Spirit of Christ and am like him; my life is a manifestation of his.'

Galatians 2:21; 24. The grace of God] See Romans 4:1-25; Ephesians 2:1-10.

Galatians 2:21; If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain] 'If men are saved by the law of Moses, then Christ and his atonement are nothing.'

Galatians 2:21; Law of Moses] See Acts 15:1-35.