I. Ordering Paul's Epistles 1 - Hope of the Glory

c) What is unique here is that the twelve are abandoning their Great Commission to
the Gentiles – Matt 28:16-20; Acts 1:6-8; Mk 16:15
2. Further thoughts on Gal 2:9 and Acts 15:7, 14 56
a) In Acts 15, Peter points out that God had sent him to preach to Gentiles (Acts 10)
b) In Gal 2:9, Peter agreed to limit his ministry to Jews
c) Clearly, what happened in Acts 15 has nothing to do with our ministries today
(1) Paul makes it clear in his Prison epistles that there is neither Jew nor
Gentile in the Body of Christ
(2) All are one in Christ
d) Another note: Clearly Peter is not the first POPE when he surrenders the
GENTILE wing to PAUL
e) Remember, the Jews had their ceremonies at this time and the Gentiles did not
f) BUT, none were ever saved apart from the shed blood of Christ
(1) No works will help save or free from purgatory
L. The need to help the poor Jerusalem CHURCH 57 – Gal 2:10
1. Not the same as simply poor Jews which some might believe is meant in Acts 24:17
2. Paul is intending to help the believing ‘kingdom’ Jews who were poor – Rom 15:23-33
3. How did they become so poor that they couldn’t take care of themselves
a) Barring serious and unforeseen problems, what is OUR responsibility financially –
1 Tim 5:8
b) In the Old Testament--The lazy person can learn from the ants (possibly other
animals as well) – Prov 6:4-11; 30:25
(Pro 6:4) Do not give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eyelids.
(Pro 6:5) Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a hand of a hunter, and as a bird from the
fowler's hand.
(Pro 6:6) Go to the ant, lazy man; consider her ways and be wise;
(Pro 6:7) who, having no guide, overseer or ruler,
(Pro 6:8) provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
(Pro 6:9) How long will you lie down, O lazy man? When will you arise out of your sleep?
(Pro 6:10) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down;
(Pro 6:11) so shall your poverty come as one walking, and your need like an armed man.
c) Barnes’ note on this passage
The warning against the wastefulness of the prodigal is followed by a warning as emphatic
against the wastefulness of sloth. The point of comparison with the ant is not so much the
foresight of the insect as its unwearied activity during the appointed season, rebuking
man’s inaction at a special crisis Pro_6:4. In Pro_30:25, the storing, provident habit of the
ant is noticed.
d) What did Christ teach in the gospels about financial responsibility
(1) Look what we read about Ravens – Lk 12:24
(2) As he sent the twelve out (to Jews only, by the way), he gave them this rule
– Mt 10:9-10
(3) He instructed people to give all that they had to the poor for God would
provide – Mk 10:21; Lk 12:32-33
(4) DO NOT FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS TODAY – remember 1Tim 5:8
(5) Even the model prayer for the 12, give us our daily bread – Mt 6:10-11
e) The Pentecostal model for finances
(1) A Christian Commune (finances only) – Economic Socialism – Acts 2:44-45;
4:32-35
(2) Don’t try it – it is NOT FOR TODAY
(3) It is for the earthly kingdom
(4) Barnabas – Acts 4:36
56 J. C. O’Hair, Bible Study for Bereans, July, 1937 (The Epistle to the Galatians)
57 See C.R.Stam, The Ant and the Raven
Galatians Page 48 November 22, 2008 10:05