GALATIANS 2:11-16
THE MINISTRY OF CONFRONTATION
[Acts 10]
The Jerusalem Council had convened and doctrinal clarity had been established, but that did not mean the issue of how a person is saved was over. Is salvation only through Christ or by Christ and the law? Knowing the right answer and acting on or practicing the right thing in daily life does not always follow. Old man habits that are carried on into the Christian life don’t 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 trumpet another cause. Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we should never compromise the truth of God’s Word. If we feel we need to change our Christianity to get along with our companions we may be following a dangerous lie. Paul made a stand for the truth opposing powerful people within the fledgling Church (CIT).
I. HELD ACCOUNTABLE, 11-13.
II. ESSENTIAL UNITY, 14.
III. JUSTIFICATION THROUGH JESUS ALONE, 15 -16.
Verse 11 tells us that we must stand up for living out the gospel truth against anyone, even 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 Antioch. It was in Antioch Syria that believers were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). It was the third largest city (over 500,000) of the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria. [See Word Biblical Com. Longenecker, pp 65-70 for detailed history.] 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 do not know why Peter visited Antioch or what he was doing there [did he visit occasionally, was it a stop over to somewhere else] but while there he committed an error so serious Paul felt obligated to oppose or resist him to his face which means directly and openly. Paul thought Peter’s action entirely inexcusable which is under stood by the clause, because he stood self-condemned. Paul recognized the issue, what was at stake and had the courage to speak up for the right application of biblical truth.
It is no light thing to rebuke a church leader so in verse 12 Paul begins explaining his action. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
When Peter came to Antioch he found Jewish and Gentile Christians regularly eating together in a meal (love feast) much like our pot-luck suppers, 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. (Not to mention all the man-made regulations tacked on to these- see Hendriksen, NT Com. pp. 90-92).
Peter’s freedom in Christ was threatened by his fear of men-or by his need for their approval (Proverbs 29:25). When the upholders of the dietary & traditional law, [or maybe they were promoters of Jewish nationalism- Longenecker, pp 74] arrived from Jerusalem he compromised what he knew was right to gain the approval of the circumcised.
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, became a Christian. In an article titled “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.”
Paul confronted Peter face-to-face for his hypocrisy. How embarrassing for Peter. But he needed the rebuke. Peter knew from his previous boasting and denial of Christ that he couldn’t trust his own estimate of himself (John 21).
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 Christian brother or sister to show you where you need improvement. They can help hold you accountable.
Also notice Peter’s spiritual maturity here. Peter recognizes the higher claim of truth over rank. He recognizes Paul’s rightful rebuke and defense of the Gospel. So in humility Peter accepts the severe public correction from an inferior in both age and standing.
Don’t be a spiritual lone ranger. Have someone, preferably a group or a very mature Christian, give you a spiritual check up. Ask yourself the following questions. Do you immediately become defensive when criticized? Is the criticism you give others loving and helpful? In what ways can we become more accountable? True friends speak the truth in love.
[The picture presented in v 12b is that 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. Longenecker, pp 75]
Peter’s actions, however intended or self-justified began to cause a division as we seen 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 tactical action was contagious. The rest of the Jews in the Antioch Church joined with him in acting (sunupokrinomai) self-righteous. They acted like hypocrites (hupokrites). The idea is that Peter knew he was acting contrary to his own inner convictions. He and the other’s including Paul’s best friend Barnabas were hiding their own real beliefs just as an actor conceals his real face behind a mask (Mark 7:19).
[A well-known manufacturer once asked Will Rogers to write a testimonial for his pianos. Rogers, who never endorsed products he did not believe in, wrote, "Dear Sir: Your piano is the best I’ve ever leaned against!" The long- benefits of shunning hypocrisy far out weigh any short- term comfort level.]
II. ESSENTIAL UNITY, 14.
Since Peter was a leader who knew he was doing wrong, Paul confronted him publically with his hypocrisy 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 withdrawal and the slow division had progressed to a point where it could no longer be ignored or hoped that it would solve itself. What was occurring in the fellowship would not advance people straight forward or upright (Gk. orthopodeo, where we derive orthopedics) in the integrity or honesty of the Gospel. Paul knew that he had to confront Peter before his actions damaged the church and the Gospel. So Paul publicly opposed Peter for leading the brethren astray by means of a severe rebuke.
Note, however, that Paul did not go to the other leaders, nor did he write letters to the churches telling them not to follow Peter’s example. Instead, he opposed Peter face to face. Sometimes sincere Christians, even Christian leaders, make mistakes. And it may take other sincere Christians to get them back on track. If you are convinced that someone is doing harm to himself/herself or the church, try the direct approach. There is no place for backstabbing in 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 OT 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 fell back under the law and his old habits of life. Paul brings to his mind the truth of the Gospel.
III. JUSTIFICATION THROUGH JESUS ALONE, 15 -16.
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 verse15. “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 (Rom. 9:4-5), law abiding can not save anyone.
Verse 16 then proclaims that law-keeping will not save anyone, Jew or Gentile. nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
A Jew even if he has meticulously observed the law must turn to Christ 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. (See Hendrikson pp. 97-99 for full explanation.) 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 (Romans 4:1-8; Psalm 32:1-2 ) and imputes into them the righteousness of Christ.
If observing the Jewish laws cannot justify us, why should we still obey the Ten Commandments and other Old Testament laws? We know that Paul is not saying the law is bad, because in another letter he wrote, “The law is holy”(Romans 7:12). Instead, he is saying that the law can never make us acceptable to God. The law still has an important role to play in the life of a Christian. The law:(1) guards us from sin by giving us standards for behavior; (2) convicts us of sin, giving us the opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness; (3) 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.
CONCLUSION
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, but good works will not save anyone.]
Cast off all other hope of deliverance from sin for it is only sinking sand. The salvation received by entering into Jesus Christ is the only solid rock that will extend past time into eternity.
