Galataians 2.11-21

Acts 15 was the great Jerusalem conference- there the dispute of the necessity of following the law, in particular circumcision, was settled.

The believers were free from the law in Christ- they had a liberty in Christ that could not be bridled.

For some, like Peter, who had been orthodox Hews their entire life, this would be a hard matter to retrain in their minds and hearts.

However, Jesus had taught it before his crucifixion in Matthew 15;1-20.

The early church had settled it a tthe conference in Jerusalem, and Peter had been there.

Peter, in this passage, had been overcome by peer pressure- fear. When members of the Jewish party arrived, Peter was now overcome by fear and changed his ways. He had his Christian liberty, until his fear of others made him uncomfortable.

Remember, Peter was impulsive. he could show faith and fear in the same sentence. He walks on water but then he sinks. He says he will die with Jesus, but then denies him three times.

And Peter’s fear led to this story. He was enjoying a love feast with his gentile believers, but when these men showed up, Peter separated from the gentile believers.

Immediately, Peter’s actions make him a hypocrite. Recognize those places in our lives where our actions make us inconsistent to those loooking on.

Peter also led others astray- Paul mentions Barnabas and others that followed suit.

There are five matters that Peter denies because of his actions in this scripture.

Galatians 2:14 ESV

14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

While Peter was a Jew, he was now a believer. But he wasn’t acting like it. He was making racial distinctions depending upon who he was with.

Remember Galatians 3.28

Galatians 3:28 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

PSeter’s own words at the Jerusalem conference clearly stated his beief:ee Acts 15.9

Acts 15:9 ESV

9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Peter’s actions directly contradicted the Unity of the church or of the Believers.

Galatians 2:15–16 ESV

15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Job had asked the question, “How can we be justified”?, in Job 9.2.

How you answer that question matters. God’s answer, found first in Habakkuk 2.4, is that the just shall live by faith.

living by faith, being justified, is what allowed Martin Luther to lead the church to the reformation. God has given us Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews to explain it to us.

Justification is the act of God where he declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ.

See Romans 5.1

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Justification is an immediate transaction between the believer and God. W/hen we ask for forgiveness, He gives it today- it is not a process and it is not withheld- it is an act of God that takes place immediately.

It doesn’t depend on us. See Romans 8.33

Romans 8:33 ESV

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

See Rom 3.20

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

See 2 Cor 5.21

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Justification is not pardon. If you are pardoned, you are still guilty- just free. God no longer remembers his sins

See Psalm 32.1-2

Psalm 32:1–2 ESV

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

See Romans 4.1-8

Romans 4:1–8 ESV

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Most people don’t experience justification because they cannot admit they are sinners. Sinners are who God justifies- not good people. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. See Romans 4.5

Romans 4:5 ESV

5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

When Peter ate with the Gentiles, then walked away when the Jewish leaders showed up- he was saying, “We Jews are different from- and better than- the Gentiles.

Both Jews and Gentiles are sinners and can be saved only by faith in Christ.

Peters’ actions were denying Justification by Faith.

Galatians 2:17–18 ESV

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.

Peter’s actions were rebuilding what he had torn down by faith.

Peter was denying Freedom in Christ.

Galatians 2:19–20 ESV

19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but 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.

Peter’s actions were denying the gospel of Christ itself.

Galatians 2:21 ESV

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

The Judaizers wanted to mix law and grace.

Grace says, “There is no difference! All are sinners, and all can be saved through faith in Christ!

Peter was saying, by his actions, “There is a difference. Grace is not enough. The law is necessary.”

Returning to the law means Christ died for no reason.

Jesus’ final words were, “It is Finished.”

Paul says, “by grace are ye saved through fiath. “

When All I Have Is Me-Jesus Is All I Need

In and of myself- my works, my personality, my goodness will always be insufficient. Anything that adds to the grace of God actually detracts from the power of God. Anything that takes the place of Jesus nullifies the goodness of Jesus. Jesus is enough.

Have you been saved by the grace of God?

See Galatians 1.6-9

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 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. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Are you creating your own gospel by trusting in yourself?

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Are you adding to or taking from the gospel of Christ?

Romans 11:6 ESV

6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Peter was “adding” to the gospel the moment he walked away from his gentile friends. Do we add to the gospel.

Many add to the gospel by saying that we “must” do good works- keep the Ten commandments, obey the golden rule, do the ten commandments, even “God is Love” can mean that all you have to do is love people- that addition denies the efficacy of the grace of Christ.

All you have to do is be nice- no, that adds to the gospel. Paul was mad here- he said he withstood Peter to his face- He didn’t let it go by because it was addint to the grace of Christ, and if Paul let it go by by being a nice person- he would have made new friends and kept old ones but he would have detracted from the sufficiency of the gospel of Christ.

Do I Rejoice in my Salvation?

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Am I Living the Gospel of Christ?

Are You Walking In His Grace and offering it to others as you go?

Are you forgiving as he forgave you?

When All I Have Is Me- Jesus Is All I Need