The gospel is not just the starting point of the Christian life—it’s the foundation, the centre, and the sustaining power for everything we do. And at the heart of the gospel is this powerful truth: Christ alone is enough. In Galatians 2:1–10, the Apostle Paul passionately defends this truth and lays out what it means to truly live by grace, not by works. From this passage, we see three crucial commitments that every believer must make if we’re to stand firm in the true gospel.
We Must Hold Firm to the True Gospel (Verses 1–3)
Paul begins by recounting a significant moment in his ministry—his trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. He went “in response to a revelation,” not because anyone summoned him. This reminds us that Paul’s ministry wasn’t rooted in human authority, but divine calling.
Bringing Titus, a Greek believer, was no accident. Titus became a living example of grace: a Gentile Christian who had not been circumcised—and yet was fully accepted. Why does that matter? Because it proved that salvation was not dependent on religious rituals or cultural traditions. The leaders in Jerusalem didn’t force Titus to be circumcised, and that confirmed what Paul had been preaching all along: faith in Christ is enough.
This moment is critical. The early church was on the brink of dividing over what the gospel actually required. And Paul stood his ground. He refused to compromise the message, even when surrounded by influential leaders. That’s what it means to hold firm to the true gospel—to anchor our hope not in religious performance, but in the finished work of Jesus.
We Must Reject the Pressure to Add to Grace (Verses 4–6)
“But it was because of false brothers secretly brought in…” Paul’s language here is sharp. These were people pretending to be Christians, sneaking into the church to spy on the freedom believers had in Christ—and to bring them back under bondage. Their goal? To make grace plus something else.
We may not face the same debate about circumcision today, but the temptation is just as real. Many of us still wrestle with the lie that our performance adds to our salvation. We feel pressure to be good enough, spiritual enough, disciplined enough—when in reality, grace stands alone.
Paul says, “We did not give in to them for a moment.” Why? “So that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.” That’s the fight we’re still in today. We must reject every message that says, Jesus plus something else—because Jesus plus anything is actually nothing. Adding to grace destroys grace.
We Must Work Together to Keep the Gospel Pure (Verses 7–10)
Rather than dividing over cultural differences, the church leaders recognized that Paul had been entrusted with the gospel to the Gentiles just as Peter had been to the Jews. Different audiences, same message. They extended the right hand of fellowship, affirming Paul’s calling and encouraging him to continue his ministry.
This is a beautiful picture of gospel unity. These early leaders didn’t compete with each other; they partnered together for the sake of the gospel. Their one concern? That they remain faithful to the message—and remember the poor. Paul was eager to do both.
We are called to the same unity today. While our churches, backgrounds, and cultures may differ, we must be united around the one true gospel. And that means helping each other stay on course. Encouraging one another to keep Jesus at the center. Refusing to drift into legalism or performance-based religion. And never letting our message be diluted by the opinions of others.
Conclusion: Christ Alone Is Enough
When Paul stood before the most influential leaders of the early church, he could have compromised to keep the peace. But he didn’t. Why? Because he knew that the very heart of Christianity was at stake. And so he fought—so that the truth of the gospel would remain for generations to come.
Today, we’re the beneficiaries of that fight. And now it’s our turn.
Let’s hold firm to the true gospel. Let’s reject the pressure to add to grace. And let’s work together to keep the message of Christ pure and undiluted.
Because in the end, the gospel isn’t about what we do. It’s about what Jesus has done.
And that’s more than enough.
