Sermon Big Idea:

Our new identity that comes from the gospel compels us to live out that identity by maintaining unity in the gospel.

Sermon Summary:

In the mid-20th century, the phrase "winning hearts and minds" became a staple of military strategy. The idea was simple but profound: you cannot stabilize a region through brute force alone. To defeat an insurgency and establish lasting peace, you must win the trust and loyalty of the people through persuasion, aid, and consistent presence to win back the hearts and minds of civilian population.

As we dive into Galatians 1:11–2:10, we find the Apostle Paul in the middle of a spiritual counter-insurgency with the same mission: winning back the hearts and minds of the Galatians.

The Insurgency of "Gospel-Plus"

A group of "agitators" had moved into the region of Galatia, gaining authority by "customizing" the Gospel. They weren't removing Jesus; they were simply adding to Him. Their message was "Gospel-Plus"—faith in Christ plus circumcision, plus Jewish dietary laws, plus ancestral traditions.

This subtle shift didn't just contaminate the message; it discredited the messenger. To win back the hearts and minds of the Galatians, Paul doesn't pull rank or use "brute force." Instead, he retells his own story of a shattered identity and a sovereign call.

A Shattered Identity

Paul reminds the Galatians of his "B.C." (Before Christ) life. He was a rising star in Pharisaic Judaism, literally "head and shoulders" above his peers. His identity was constructed around markers of religious zeal: his pedigree, his adherence to tradition, and his violent persecution of the Church.

But when he encountered the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, that identity imploded. He realized that the markers he trusted in were empty. God hadn't called him because of his performance; God had "set him apart" from birth by His grace.

The Integrity of the Litmus Test

To prove the integrity of his message, Paul takes us to a "living case study": a Greek believer named Titus. When the "insurgents" tried to force Titus to be circumcised, Paul didn't give them "the time of day."

Why? Because if circumcision is necessary for salvation, then Christ’s death was unnecessary. By accepting Titus exactly as he was, Paul preserved the truth of the Gospel. He shows us that our changed life—and how we treat others—is the best argument for the integrity of the faith.

The Right Hand of Fellowship

The message concludes with a beautiful picture of unity. The "Pillars" of the Church—Peter, James, and John—recognized that while they had different audiences, they shared the same Gospel. They extended the "right hand of fellowship" to Paul, proving that diversity in ministry doesn't have to mean a division in truth.

Their only request? "Remember the poor." True doctrine always leads to practical, tangible compassion for the marginalized.

Reflecting the Gospel in 2026 in San Diego, California

As we look at our own lives today, we must ask: Are we falling into the "Gospel-Plus" trap? Do we require others to adopt our political views, social statuses, or dress codes before we offer them "the right hand of fellowship"?

When we live out our new identity in Christ, we stop putting stipulations on acceptance. We extend grace to others just as God has extended it to us.

In our next section of Galatians 2:11-14, we discover the gospel was still at stake when Peter himself is put under the microscope as a living test of Gospel integrity.