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If you read the book of Galatians, about the time you get to the middle of it, you may think, considering what Paul has just said, that it is a very logical question.

Paul begins to talk about the law, but he does so in a way that almost puts it down. And after you hear that, you can't help but wonder, well, then why did God give the law?

He continues his seeming tirade against the law. It cannot justify. You cannot receive the Holy Spirit by it, nor can you be matured in your faith by it. But it gets worse, remember yesterday in Chapter 3, verse 10.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse of the law. For it is written, cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them”.

Not only can the law not perform, if you're under the law system, but you are actually under a curse. And he goes on to say, in verse 13, that only Christ can redeem you from this curse of the law.

Now, you can't read this without asking, well, then why did God give the law? That is a very logical and natural question. proceeding out of all that he has had to say up until this point.

Let's see what he has to say…..

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There’s an old saying: “He who has an argument is always at the mercy of the one who has had an experience.” And that’s true. When Christ has changed your life, someone else’s argument doesn’t carry much weight. It’s perfectly valid to appeal to your experience—up to a point. But there’s also a weakness in relying on experience alone.

Experience can be misunderstood. It can be misinterpreted. And it can even be counterfeited. So, if we’re going to truly prove what we believe, we need something more solid than our own story.

That’s exactly the situation Paul faced with the Galatians. False teachers had come along after he left and told these young believers that faith in Christ wasn’t enough—that they needed to keep the law to be saved.

So, Paul wrote the letter we call Galatians to set the record straight: salvation is by grace through faith, apart from the works of the law. And that’s what we’re going to explore today: the objective proof of the gospel, the unchanging foundation that salvation is by grace through faith.

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The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

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https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

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There are moments in the Christian life when we suddenly realise we’ve drifted—subtly, quietly—back into trying to earn what God has already given us.

We may start well in the Spirit, but somewhere along the way, the old habits of self‑effort creep back in. And if that has happened to you, then Paul’s words in Galatians 3 should hit us like a wake‑up call:

In today’s episode, we’re stepping into one of the most personal, piercing, yet liberating passages in the whole letter.

Paul isn’t giving a lecture—he’s asking us to look at our lives and inviting us to seek again at the proof of the gospel in our own lives: The work of the Spirit, the gift of grace, the miracle of our new birth, and the quiet evidence that God Himself has been at work in us from the very beginning.

So, as you listen, let the Word of God remind you of the freedom you already have. Because the gospel doesn’t just save us—it sustains us, shapes us, and empowers us every single day….

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The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit:

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In the latter part of Galatians chapter 2, beginning at verse 11 and continuing through the end of the chapter, Paul recounts a significant second encounter with the Apostle Peter in Antioch.

During Peter’s visit, he initially ate with Gentile Christians, recognizing that Old Testament dietary laws were no longer binding upon him. However, under pressure from certain individuals, Peter withdrew and began to only associate with these Jewish Christians and reverted to keeping the dietary laws.

Recognizing the implications of this behavior, Paul confronted Peter directly, challenging the notion that adherence to the laws of Moses was necessary for salvation. This rebuke underscored the importance of maintaining doctrinal clarity regarding justification by faith alone. And the details of Paul's response to Peter are documented in Galatians chapter 2, providing valuable insight into this pivotal moment in early Christian history….

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The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

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https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

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https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

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In Philippians chapter 1, the Apostle Paul at one point says that he was appointed for the defence of the gospel.

In Jude verse 3, Jude says that all Christians, not just those in leadership, are to contend earnestly for the faith.

Now what is all that about? And how do you go about doing that? How does one defend the gospel or contend for the faith? Also where are you supposed to do this? Does this mean that you are to defend the gospel from attack by those who are outside the realm of Christianity? Or does it mean that you are to defend the gospel from within the Christian community? Or both…. And when, and how are you supposed to do this?

Well, there's at least one passage of Scripture in the New Testament that gives us an illustration of the Apostle Paul himself doing that. And while I do not think that passage answers all of the questions or covers every situation, I do think it gives us some helpful hints on how we are to respond and where appropriate, defend the gospel and even contend for the faith.

That incident is recorded for us in Galatians chapter 2….

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History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit:

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Episode Notes:

Welcome back, friends. It’s great to have you with me again as we continue our time studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In Galatians 2:1–10, Paul takes us behind the scenes of one of the most important meetings in early church history. This is the moment when the apostles — the pillars of the church — gather in Jerusalem to answer a question that would shape the future of Christianity:

Is the gospel really enough?

So, let’s step into this extraordinary moment when the early church stood shoulder to shoulder and affirmed the freedom we now enjoy in Christ.

Let’s begin….

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Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon

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Check out my other Podcasts.

The Bible Project: https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit:

Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

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Last time, Paul grabbed us by the shoulders and said, “Don’t you dare move from the gospel!” — and if you felt that, you’re not alone. Paul wasn’t whispering, was he?

Today, though, the tone shifts. Not because Paul has calmed down — he hasn’t — but because he’s about to tell a story. His story. And it’s dramatic, it’s surprising, and it’s wonderfully encouraging.

Because in today's passage, Paul wants us to know something vital: The gospel he preached didn’t come to him from a Rabbi or via a religious committee, or some clever theological insight; it came from God Himself. And the proof? His life was turned upside down in a way no human could have orchestrated.

So today we are going to explore: How Paul received the gospel, why he didn’t need human approval to preach it, and how his past has now become a platform to demonstrate God’s grace. It also tells us why transformation matters in our story as well. And also, along the way, we’ll see that God has a remarkable habit of choosing the least likely people to carry His message.

Which means if you feel unqualified, unprepared, or just a bit of a mess, then this should be wonderfully reassuring.

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Check out my other Podcasts.

The Bible Project: https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit:

Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

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Welcome back, friends. Today, we step into one of the most startling moments in all of Paul’s writings. If the opening verses of Galatians introduced us to the apostle’s authority and the beauty of the gospel, then verses 6–10 teach us the reason for the urgency felt in this entire letter.

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you…”

This is not irritation. This is not impatience. This is the voice of a spiritual father watching his children wander toward danger. And in these verses, Paul will confront a reality that is as relevant today as it was in the first century: The fact that the gospel can be distorted, and believers can drift away from the truth.

Galatians 1:6–10 is Paul grabbing the church by the metaphorical shoulders and shaking them and saying, “Don’t move away from the gospel.” “Don’t trade grace for performance.” And don’t let anyone redefine what Christ has accomplished.”

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Support the show

Follow and support me on Patreon.

Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon

To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at:

Jeremy McCandless | Substack

Check out my other Podcasts.

The Bible Project: https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast).

https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com

The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891

The Classic Literature Podcast:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906

To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle and now also on Audible, Visit:

Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update