We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
In the early days of the church, leaders like Peter and Paul were busy finding out “who” they would be, and what they would preach and teach. There were problems. One preacher brought the issue to the light like this:
“You are a Jew,” said Paul to Peter, “but you used to live like the Gentiles, with no barriers between you and other Christians. Now you want the Gentiles to live like Jews, doing what you did not even do yourself!” [1]
Paul raised a ruckus with Peter because they both were Jews, but Paul had settled the issue on the basis of freedom in Christ – there was no difference between Jew and Gentile – everyone was the same in Jesus’ kingdom. On the other hand, Peter was doing what was expedient…when no one was looking he was eating pork barbeque with the Gentiles. When the Jewish brethren from Jerusalem showed up, he ducked-out the back door, lest he be seen eating with the “unclean”.
Paul had the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the big fisherman; he got in Peter’s face and bellowed, “Shame on ya’, big fellow!” Paul could do that because when it came to pedigree, he had it all. Paul was Jewish born, an educated man with powerful connections in high places. Peter was a nobody – just a stinky fisherman who could probably barely read. He had a lousy track record; he followed Jesus or denied he knew him depending on the circumstances. Paul told Peter he was being a hypocrite. It stung, but it was the truth!
Separation, arguments, prejudice, unfairness – what a tangled existence we human beings create for each other. When it comes to things that separate or divide people, the list is pretty long:
• Race – that’s always a big one these days.
• Lifestyle – there are messy people, clean people, fast and slow people; there are skinny people and generously piled “high and wide” people.
• Language – Press one to continue in English
• Region – I am one of the few “Yankee preachers” to ever have an ordination certificate signed by one Jefferson Davis!
• Age – the young person complains the adults have it made, while the aged shake their heads in disdain over the way youth is wasted on the young.
• Economics – the poor and rich seldom rub elbows.
• Religion – Our creeds have created more different kinds of separation and distrust than 9/11.
• Health – those in poor health are pitied and despised by those watching healthcare costs rising and parking spots close to the mall entrance shrinking. The health-challenged are envious of those able to jog!
• Gender – there is a whole war going on to determine who’s got the power….I will say no more, lest I get no lunch this afternoon.
Separation…you stay over there, don’t get in my space! Anger, contention, strife, games-playing, backbiting. This is the stuff of which legalism is made. This is what Jesus came to forgive…and what he expects us to forsake.
The Choice to Live by Faith
While the list of things that separate us is quite long, there is only a very short list of that which unites people. There are two: family and love. That’s it…just family and love. I tried to think of anything else that will truly unite people, and, other than accepting one another in this human family with love, there is nothing.
There is a crew at our house in Thomasville. They’ve been working for the past few months putting two new rooms on the back of our house for Mom and Dad to come live there. Next to the house is a dumpster…it is about 8’ x 25’ and full of scrap wood, shingles, discarded Pepsi bottles and sandwich wrappers.
Inhabitants include untold millions of fly larvae, mice and roaches, not to mention the odd family or two of black snakes. (Don’t tell Elizabeth I said that!)
If I were to ask Mom and Dad if they prefer to live in the new rooms or the dumpster, the only question would be if I have been drinking. Nobody in his right mind lives in a dumpster if there’s a new house waiting.
Yet, when it comes to living in faith, accepting others, we human beings would rather live in the “dumpster of separation” we create with our prejudices than the new rooms of joy Jesus is building for us.
Today Paul’s in-your-face to Peter calls to us to make a decision as well. How do we live like Paul said – in Christ, with Christ living his life through our life? It’s living together in love, in the faith family. That’s what Jesus came to die for, that we might have life. We were born into the deficit of sin. It separates us from God and each other. Jesus came to break down the barriers that separate us, so that we can walk together.
He came to tow away the dumpster of separation. He’s building a new house full of love and family. There’s room!
--------
ENDNOTES
--------
[1] Wiersbe, Warren W., Wiersbes Expository Outlines on the New Testament, Quickverse Ed.
