"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15 We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” 16 know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. 17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild the system I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing."
Galatians 2:11-21
I'd first like to point out the obvious here: Satan always attempts to counterfeit everything! He appears disguised as an angel of light. His ministers are disguised as angels of light. They are disguised, hidden deeply within the people of God, they are among the people of God, and within the church. Ever so subtly, proclaiming doctrinal error. However, any error, any deviation of the gospel is a cursed thing.
This is certainly substantial evidence this problem exists in many of the modern churches of today.
Good Morning Beloved,
I am thankful for each of you who are here with us today.
Thank you all for joining us.
So is salvation only through Christ or by Christ and the law? Beloved, knowing the correct answer, and therefore acting upon or practicing the correct thing in ones daily life does not always follow. The old habits that are often carried on into the Christian life, simply do not die on their own, they must be put to death by the power of the Cross. We can be tempted to compromise the truth when forceful people promulgate another cause. Compromise, is an important element in getting along with others, however, may I be so bold to say, we should never, never compromise the truth of God’s Word. If we feel we need to change the doctrine in order to please others, we will indeed be perpetuating a dangerous lie. The apostle Paul made a stand for the truth opposing powerful people within the fledgling Church.
Heavenly Father,
We are grateful for Your grace, Your forgiveness that has reached down and touched us
in the midst of our sins, our trespasses. Dead in our sins, You have forgiven us, redeemed us
sanctified us and gave us new life.
Thank You for giving us Your Word of truth, the gospel message, may we always be found faithful, affirming what is truth, never compromising or deviating from Your Word. Lord, we pray for those who are teaching error of doctrine, false doctrine, blasphemy,
Father, give us courage to be so bold as to confront them, correct their error in teaching, with truth, that You might redeem them, that You may be glorified.
Lord, may we live by faith in Christ, who became sin for us, that we may become righteousness through Him. Help us to comprehend the richness of this precious gift and never take it for granted.
In Christs' name
Amen
The apostle Paul, in Galatians chapter 1, verses 6-10, emphatically said, "I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ."
Regardless of Peter's character, when Paul saw him acting in such a way as to hurt the truth of the gospel and compromise the peace of the church, he was assuredly unafraid to reprove him. When he saw that Peter and the others did not live up to that principle which the gospel taught, and which they professed, namely, That by the death of Christ the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was taken down, and the observance of the law of Moses was no longer in force; as Peter's offense was public, he publicly reproved him.
Beloved, there is a vast difference between the prudence of Paul, who bore with, and used for a time, the ceremonies of the law as not sinful, and the timid conduct of Peter, who, by withdrawing from the Gentiles, led others to think that these ceremonies were necessary.
I would like to invite all of you to now open your Bibles to the book of Galatians chapter 2.
Today we'll be studying verses 11-21. I encourage you to follow along with me, as I read to you today's text, Galatians 2:11-21.
"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
We who are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners” know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild the system I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing."
So we see in verse 11, which tells us that we must stand up for living out the gospel truth against anyone, even those who are leaders in the church. "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned."
There was no ancient city out side of Jerusalem as influential in the early Christian community as city of Antioch. It was in Antioch, Syria that believers were first called Christians, as we read in
Acts 11:26, which says, "and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch."
Antioch was the third largest city, with a population more than 500,000,of the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria. The church in Antioch became the mission headquarters for Gentile Christians and Paul and Barnabas’ base for operation. It is likely Paul or Barnabas invited Peter to Antioch at the Jerusalem Council to join the Christian communities more closely together.
There is much about the situation that is unknown. We are not given information as to why Peter visited Antioch or what he was doing there. Did he visit occasionally, or perhaps a stop on the way to or from somewhere else. However, we do know, while there, he committed an error so serious Paul felt obligated to oppose him, to his face. Meaning he directly and openly confronted Peter. Paul thought Peter’s action was so reprehensible, so inexcusable which is understood by the passage, because he stood self-condemned. Paul identified the issue, recognizing what was at stake, therefore had the courage to speak up for the correct application of biblical truth.
Beloved, it is no insignificant action to rebuke a church leader, so in verse 12 Paul begins elucidate his actions. Prior to the coming of certain men who were from James, Peter previously ate with the Gentiles; however, when these men came, Peter began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, then fearing the party of the circumcision.
When Peter came to Antioch he found Jewish and Gentile Christians regularly eating together in a meal, much like today's pot-luck dinners, and he joined them. The imperfect tense suggests Peter ate with Gentile believers repeatedly or habitually. Now the mosaic law did not forbid eating with Gentiles. However Leviticus 11, sets forth dietary laws for Jews that might be including forbidden food present or the table at joint meals. He let go of the old taboos in the fellowship of the new faith and he shared in the common meal. Despite being an orthodox Jew, Peter had learned at the home of Cornelius that what God makes clean is cleaned indeed. Had not Christ by His death on the cross fulfilled and therefore abolished the Old Testament dietary restrictions. The shadows had lost their reason for existing when their reality come into being.
Peter’s freedom in Christ was threatened by his fear of men, or by his need for their approval. When the upholders of the dietary & traditional law, arrived from Jerusalem he compromised what he knew was right to gain the approval of the circumcised.
Proverbs 29:25, however, reminds of this truth, "The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected."
We need to be accountable to God by being accountable to godly Christians. The spiritual-sounding phrase “I am answerable only to God” may be a subtle excuse for not answering to anyone, including God!
Charles Colson, one of President Nixon’s closest aides during the Watergate coverup, Charles Colson became a Christian. In an article entitled "The Problem of Power," he wrote, "Christians need to hold one another accountable. Although I know intellectually how vulnerable I am to pride and power, I am the last one to know when I succumb to their seduction. That’s why spiritual lone rangers are so dangerous- and why we must depend on trusted brothers and sisters who love us enough to tell us the truth."
The apostle Paul confronted Peter face to face for his hypocrisy. How embarrassing this must have been for Peter. However, Peter needed the rebuke. Peter knew from his previous boasting and denial of Christ that he couldn’t trust his own estimation of himself.
Beloved, all of us must come to that realization sooner or later. One way to make sure you’re not the last one to know when you’re sinning is to have someone hold you accountable. Ask a fellow Christian brother or sister to point out to you where you need improvement. Then, they can help hold you accountable.
I'd like you to notice Peter’s spiritual maturity here. Peter recognizes the higher claim of truth over that of rank. He recognizes Paul’s rightful rebuke and defense of the Gospel. So Peter, in humility accepts the severe public correction from an inferior in both age and standing.
It is not wise to be a spiritual lone ranger. Its important, that we all have someone, preferably a group or a very mature Christian, give us a spiritual check up, so to speak I recommend asking yourself the following questions. Do you immediately become defensive when someone offers constructive criticism? Are the criticisms you give others loving and helpful? In what ways can you become more accountable for your actions? True friends speak the truth in love. Others will speak what you want to hear, not what you need to hear!
The picture presented here is clear, and is one of a misguided tactical maneuver made under pressure-the action of one whose convictions were proper, but who became misguided under pressure, could not bring himself to express his true convictions, and so found himself retreating from what he knew to be right. Fearing the reaction of zealot-minded Jews and the difficulties they could make for the Jewish Christian mission when it was known back in Palestine that one of the leaders-pillars ate in an unrestricted manner with Gentiles, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof from the Gentile believers. Friendship and practical concerns overrode his theological understanding. The dire consequences of his actions would have lead to the shattering of the oneness of the body of Christ or to the Gentiles honoring of the OT dietary laws.
Peter’s actions, however well intended or self-justified, created a division as we read in verse 13. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. Peter’s fearful and tactical action was contagious. The rest of the Jews in the Antioch Church joined with him in acting, the word used is sunupokrinomai, meaning self-righteous. They acted like hypocrites, or the word we derive from the word, hupokrites. The idea however, is that Peter knew he was acting contrary to his own inner convictions. He and the other’s including Paul’s friend Barnabas, were suppressing their own beliefs, as one conceals their face behind a mask!
And, since Peter was a leader who knew he was doing wrong, Paul confronted him publicly with his hypocrisy, as written in verse 14. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all. "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
The gradual progression and the division had proceeded to the point where it could no longer be ignored or hope that it would resolve itself. What was occurring in the fellowship would not advance the integrity or honesty of the Gospel. Nor catapult its people straight forward or in an upright manner. Paul knew that he had no choice but to confront Peter before his actions damaged the church and the Gospel message. So Paul publicly opposed Peter, for leading these fellow brethren astray by means of a severe rebuke.
I would like to direct your attention to this truth, Paul did not, however, go to the other leaders, nor did he write letters to the churches instructing them not to follow Peter’s example. Instead, he opposed Peter publicly, face to face. Sometimes sincere Christians, even Christian leaders, make mistakes. And it may require the guidance of other sincere, faithful Christians to help put them back on track.
If you are convinced that someone is doing harm to himself or herself or the church, try the direct approach. The church is no place for backstabbing, this is not acceptable conduct within the body of Christ. Paul’s confrontation was based on the freedom and unity of the Gospel of Grace. Do Gentiles need to abide by Old Testament laws to associate with you, who no longer follows them? Peter knew that God had freely given the Gentiles the Spirit but instead of continuing to unify with God in freedom from the law and live in New Testament submission to the Holy Spirit, he had fallen back under the Old Testament law and therefore, his old habits of Jewish life. Paul refreshes his mind with the truths of the Gospel.
These verses continue the jest of what Paul said to Peter. Paul lets Peter know that the law was originally intended to keep Jews from sin in verse 15. "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; and if law keeping could save they would have been saved by it. But that is not the case. Despite the advantages that knowing the law gives. Romans 9:4-5, says, "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen."
Case and point: Law abiding can not save anyone. Only Jesus can,
Then, verse 16, proclaims, "know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified."
Even a Jew, if he has meticulously observed the law to the letter, must therefore, turn to Jesus Christ in order to be saved. This clearly indicates that the keeping of the law does not save but only the Gospel of Christ does. Justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone must never be compromised or added to. Justification is the act of God where by He declares the repentant individual righteous through the life and death of Jesus Christ and their faith in Him. The sacrifice for sin by Christ and the obedience of Christ is placed in the account of the repentant individual who trusts in Christ. In justification God covers the individual with the righteousness of Christ and imputes into them the righteousness of Christ.
Romans 4:1-8, "What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor, has found? If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness.
Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works: How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered! How joyful is the man the Lord will never charge with sin!
And Psalm 32:1-2, says, "How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit!"
There have been some who've asked, if observing the Jewish laws cannot justify, why is it necessary that we still obey the Ten Commandments and other Old Testament laws? Paul is not saying the law is bad, because in Romans 7:12, another letter he wrote, "So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good."
Rather, Paul is saying that the law can never make us acceptable to God. However, the law still has an important role to play in the life of a Christian.
The law:
Guards us from sin by giving us standards for behavior;
Convicts us of sin, giving us the opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness;
Drives us to trust in the sufficiency of Christ, because we can never keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. The moral law cannot possibly save us. But after we have become Christians, it reveals to us if we are living as God requires or not.
In Closing....
No man can stand innocent before God by any other means than forgiving of, and cleansing from, sin, and by the provision of righteousness that Jesus alone can give. Justification cannot be earned or deserved in any way. It must be received as a gift from God by placing your faith in Jesus Christ alone. Man cannot justify himself before a Holy God. God must do it. It can only be done if we will enter into Jesus Christ and abiding in His salvation for us.
Saving faith is the kind of trust that leads one to make a personal commitment of oneself to Christ for time and eternity. Good works will follow such a commitment, however, good works alone, will not save anyone.
If you have not yet been saved, by placing your faith in Jesus Christ, won't you consider doing so today?
Matthew 24:36 teaches, "Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only."
And in John 14:36, "Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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