Galatians 2:6-9 God Is Not Partial, therefore, Live out Your Calling in Christ

Galatians 2:6-9 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Paul was not concerned with titles and places of honor. He did not seek to be a pillar in the Church nor did he rely upon the pillars for the message he preached; though he did listen to the gospel they preached to make sure his preaching was correct (v. 2). Yet they did not add anything to his gospel. They accepted his gospel as it was. Thus we can be certain that the writings of Paul, whether they were written before or after Galatians, all line up with the gospel as it was preached by the Jerusalem elders. The only difference was that Paul was commissioned to go to the Gentiles whereas they were to be apostles to the Jews (though the first Gentile converts came through Peter as recorded in Acts 10).

However, they were commissioned and saved by the same God. As Peter had been effectually saved by God and commissioned (Peter was chosen by God, not vice-versa, cf. John 15:16), so was Paul effectually saved and commissioned (Acts 9:1-30). They were both chosen vessels of God. The Spirit had worked in them both and had turned them from lives that were against God to lives that were within His will; using them for His pleasure. It is the same way with you, Christian. God chose you. He had a purpose for your life; His purpose, and day by day He is working out that purpose in you and revealing His will for your life. You cannot boast, for it is God who gave you both your gifting and your calling.

In a side note, Paul mentions a deep theological truth. God is not partial with humans. He is not a respecter of persons. God cares no more for the President than a factory worker, no more for an actor than an old woman in a nursing home. God also does not deal with people based upon sex, race, or ethnicity. He further does not deal with His children based upon their ministries and positions in ministries. After all, God is the one who gives the talents, gifts, and abilities (cf. Matthew 2514-:23), and He does not owe anyone anything (Romans 11:34-36). Let this be of encouragement to you. God does not favor Billy Graham over you or any other Christians. While He has gifts some in different ways, the Bible clearly teaches that no part of the body of Christ is greater than any other (1 Corinthians 12:4-30). God is an impartial judge.

Because God is impartial, He is seeking and saving both Jews and Gentiles. God commissioned Paul to take the gospel to the Gentiles while the others (James, John, and Peter) He commissioned to take the gospel to the Jews. The “pillars” recognized Paul as legitimate and gave Him their approval, acknowledging that they each had differing roles in the body of Christ for God’s global purposes. It is the same today. Recognize that God has a purpose for your life and that He has a unique purpose for everyone else’s lives. Some He has called to missions, others as pastors, others to support those who are in those roles (seriously, those are the only three roles that there are; everything fits into that broad scope). We must work together as the body of Christ, supporting one another and encouraging one another in each of our roles toward the fulfilling of Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:17-20).