Galatians 2

In Galatians chapter 2, we encounter a powerful defense of the gospel's central truth: we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by our works or adherence to religious law. Paul recounts his journey to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus, where even the most respected pillars of the early church affirmed his message of grace. What's striking is that Titus, a Greek, wasn't compelled to be circumcised despite pressure from false brethren who wanted to bring believers back into bondage. This passage challenges us to examine what we've allowed to creep into our faith—those subtle 'must do's' that promise to make us more righteous but actually nullify God's grace. Paul's confrontation with Peter reveals that even our most trusted leaders can fall into hypocrisy when fear of judgment outweighs commitment to truth. The revolutionary message here is that our failures don't define Jesus and His work; rather, His work defines us and our salvation. We've been crucified with Christ, and it's no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. This isn't a license to sin—it's freedom to live authentically in God's love without the crushing weight of trying to earn what has already been freely given. When we rebuild the law or try to add works to grace, we're essentially saying Christ died needlessly. This week, we're invited to rest in the scandalous simplicity of the gospel: salvation is a gift received through faith, not a prize earned through performance.