No Longer Bound Series

No Longer Bound

Galatians 2:11-21

June 6, 2007

Galatians 2:11-12 (NLT)

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. [12] When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say.

Hypocrisy in Action

• Double standards

– Peter fellowshipped with the Gentiles

• Until the Jewish believers came to town

– Peter became more concerned with the opinion of others

• Opinion based values

– Values should be concrete

• Opinion based values change with the tides of culture

Galatians 2:13-14 (NLT)

Then the other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was influenced to join them in their hypocrisy.

[14] When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you trying to make these Gentiles obey the Jewish laws you abandoned?

The Danger for Leaders

• Others are watching

– Hypocrisy can have devastating effects

• Others can be drawn in

• Peter’s influence

– Peter had been one of the original 12

• Credibility

• Influence

Open Rebuke

• Even leaders are not above correction

– Founded on the Word of God

– Not done for personal reasons

• The goal is restoration/reconciliation

– Proverbs 27:6

Proverbs 27:6 (NLT)

Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Open Rebuke

• Even leaders are not above correction

– Founded on the Word of God

– Not done for personal reasons

• The goal is restoration/reconciliation

– Proverbs 27:6

• Paul rebuked Peter openly

– Not easily done, but necessary

• Had Peter continued in his course of direction, many could have been harmed

Galatians 2:15-16 (NLT)

You and I are Jews by birth, not ’sinners’ like the Gentiles. [16] And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ—and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law."

A Matter of Faith

• Salvation comes through faith

– Adherence to the law does not make us right with God

• Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

A Matter of Faith

• Salvation comes through faith

– Adherence to the law does not make us right with God

• Ephesians 2:8-9

• Jesus is the only way to salvation

– Not works

– Not religious adherence

Galatians 2:17-19a (NLT)

But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! [18] Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. [19] For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God.

Even at My Best…

• Our nature continually struggles with the law

– We cannot perfectly keep the law

• We could not accomplish salvation

– The law condemned us

• Separating us from God’s grace

Galatians 2:19b-20 (NLT)

I have been crucified with Christ. [20] I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Crucified

• We have been crucified with Christ

– Our sin died with Him

– We are one with Him

– We daily crucify our sinful desires

• Alive in Christ

– Reconciled to God

– Living in resurrection power

– No longer isolated

Galatians 2:21 (NLT)

I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

By Christ Alone

• If it were possible

– Salvation through adherence to the law

• Christ would not have needed to go to the cross

• Only in Christ

– Salvation is found

**powerpoint available on request