Had Run My Race In Vain

Galatians 2:2-3 - I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 - However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 9:21 - To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

Conclusions:

• Paul recognized the authority of those who seemed to be leaders, and is probably referring to James, Peter and John
• The Spirit searches all things, not in order to know them, for He knows all things
• The Spirit comprehends the depth of God’s nature and His plans of grace; so He is fully competent to make the revelation claimed in 1 Corinthians 2:10
• Because of Christ’s resurrection and ours, we know that serving Him is not empty, useless activity
• Our effort is invested in the Lord’s winning cause
• The Lord will also reward us at His second coming
• Those not having the law are those who have not been raised under the Old Testament law
• Paul accommodated himself to Gentile culture when it did not violate his allegiance to Christ, though he still reckoned that he was under God’s law and Christ’s teachings

Application:

• Has God revealed Himself to me by His Spirit?
• Is my effort invested in the Lord's winning cause?
• Do I accommodate myself to the culture if it does not violate my allegiance to Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Received It By Revelation

Galatians 1:11-12 - I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 - However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 - For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

Ephesians 3:6 - This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Conclusions:

• Salvation is for all and is received by faith in Christ
• The Spirit searches all things, not in order to know them, for He knows all things
• The Spirit comprehends the depth of God’s nature and His plans of grace; so the Spirit is fully competent to make the revelation claimed in 1 Corinthians 2:10
• In 1 Corinthians 15:3 Paul links himself with early Christian tradition
• Paul was not the tradition’s originator, nor did Paul receive the tradition directly from the Lord
• In 1 Corinthians 15:3, Paul is using technical terms for receiving and transmitting tradition
• The heart of the gospel is that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried and that He was raised from the dead
• The repetition of “together” in Ephesians 3:6 indicates the unique aspect of the mystery that was not previously known: the equality and mutuality that Gentiles had with Jews in the church, the one body
• That Gentiles would turn to the God of Israel and be saved was prophesied in the Old Testament; that they would come into an organic unity with believing Jews on equal footing was unexpected

Application:

• Have you received salvation by faith in Christ?
• Has God revealed things to you by His Spirit?
• Are other Christians your source of tradition?
• Do you share in the promise in Christ Jesus?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible