Gospel Freedom vs. Religious Control (Galatians 2)
In this episode, we dive into Galatians chapter 2 and uncover a powerful message about freedom in Christ—a freedom threatened by religious rules, even in the early church. Paul recounts his face-to-face confrontation with Peter over hypocrisy, challenges the idea of adding requirements to the gospel, and defends salvation by grace alone.
For Latter-day Saints, this chapter raises important questions:
- Do we need religious leaders to validate our message from God?
- Are modern commandments—like the Word of Wisdom—spiritually necessary?
- What does it really mean to be “justified by faith”?
📖 Key Scriptures:
- Galatians 2:4-5 – “They wanted to enslave us… but we refused to give in.”
- Galatians 2:6 – “They added nothing to me.”
- Galatians 2:11 – Paul opposes Peter to his face
- Galatians 2:16 – “We are made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.”
- Galatians 2:21 – “If keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”
🔍 Main Takeaways:
- Paul's Gospel Didn’t Come from Church Leaders: He didn’t need Peter’s approval—and neither do you need a prophet to affirm what Christ has already revealed.
- Religious Rules Can Undermine Grace: Just like Jewish food laws, modern LDS regulations can create barriers to true fellowship.
- The Word of Wisdom Parallel: Paul would not have endorsed any rule that divided believers or suggested that Christ’s work was incomplete.
- Justification Is Not Earned: We are declared righteous by faith—not after all we can do, but because of what Christ already did.
💬 Questions to Ponder or Discuss:
- What “modern regulations” might be adding pressure to your faith?
- Do you relate more to Paul’s gospel of grace—or to Peter’s moment of religious compromise?
- How would your relationship with God change if you truly believed that Jesus finished the work?
📣 Join the Challenge:
This is Part 2 of the Galatians Challenge for Mormons. Read Galatians 2 this week. Pray honestly. Ask hard questions. The true gospel is worth fighting for—just like Paul did.
👉 Subscribe to follow the full series and share it with someone who’s ready to rethink religion.
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