Galatians 2:1-2

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 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.

(Galatians 2:1-2, NIV)

Paul describes his going on a missionary journey. It's not just him but also Barnabas and Titus. On this missionary Journey, Paul is going to be preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. However, before he does that, he wants to make sure that the gospel he is preaching is correct. In order to make sure, he presents it before those who seemed to be leaders to test it out. As he says, he doesn't want to have been running in vain.

It is a very wise thing for him to present it before others. When we have a speech to present, those of us who are smart will practice it a couple times at least before actually giving the speech. Now, not everybody gives speeches, but there are other things we practice before presenting. For example, you may have practiced driving a car in a parking lot or on some small streets before taking the on the road test to attain your driver's license. For us in Ontario, this may have been the G1 exit test or simply the G2 test. Maybe later you may have practiced a couple of times before tackling the full license test, which required highway driving. Regardless, in the same way that we practice or test things before presenting them, Paul tested his presentation of the Gospel. We should do the same thing as Paul did. Do you know the Gospel? You may answer with a bold "yes", but do you know it well enough to tell an unbeliever in a way they'd understand? Even if you thought you could, are you sure of every aspect what you would tell them? If God would score you on how well you presented his gospel, what mark would you receive? By this, I don't imply that anything you do will convince this person to believe in Jesus aside from the mere presenting of God's gospel. I don't mean to say that how good you look (if you're smoking hot or not) will win someone over to Christ (even though some of you may argue that it might).

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

(1 Corinthians 1:17, ESV)

Paul didn't want to hinder the power of the gospel by his words. He knows the gospel can stand up for itself. In fact, its power is far greater than anything Paul could think or say or do. So, by God grading you I mean his grading upon the accuracy in which you were able to tell others about his gospel. You definitely do not want to get it wrong.

but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

(Galatians 1:8, ESV)

This is one of the tests you want to make sure you get right.

Paul also didn't want to be running in vain. If he were to present a gospel that was not God's gospel, he would be running in vain. All those who are preaching a different gospel are accursed as is mentioned in Galatians 1:8. Also, preaching a different gospel does not have the same power that the gospel of God has. Even though to others it may not seem so, it does have power.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to use who are being saved it is the power of God.

(1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

Make sure you know God's gospel.