GALATIANS BIBLE STUDY 2:1-14

I. THE CONTROVERSY

IN ANTIOCH AND THE IMPLICATIONS TO THE GALATIAN CHURCH

A. The Issue(s) At Hand

1. The Development of the Controversy

a. Antioch was a growing and diverse church of Jews and Gentile

b. Barnabas and Paul (Saul) became the leaders of this new and growing, multi-racial church (Acts 11:22ff)

c. Paul and Barnabas were sent out from Antioch to Paul’s first missionary journey where they founded the churches of Galatia (Acts 12:25-14:25)

d. They returned to Antioch to report all that the Lord had done with the gospel among the Gentiles.

i. This

II. THE CONFRONTATION

A. Why does Paul include this rebuke of Peter?

1. A final example of his apostolic authority

2. To show the power of false gospels such that even the towering apostle Peter would dare act out of step with it.

3. To warn them to not give in.

B. Why does Paul rebuke Peter

1. Peter had a vision (ACTS 10:9FF)

2. Peter had always sat at table fellowship with the Gentiles

3. Peter had been confronted by Jews for this practice but explained his vision as the justification for the practice (Acts 11:2ff)

III. THE COMPROMISE

A. What Does Compromise Look Like?

Galatians 2:12 ESV

For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

B. What Does Compromise Come From?

1. Lack of CONVICTION

a. Doctrinal conviction

Galatians 2:14 ESV

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?”

PRINCIPLE: When doctrinal conviction is not present, cultural pressures intensify and, in ways, prevail and we are out of step with the gospel

This cannot be seen by others therefore, the seeds and beginnings of hypocrisy lay in the lack of conviction about the gospel

2. Pressures of CULTURE

a. Antioch was a diverse church: This produced Racialchallenges.

b. Antioch was a growing church. This produced Relationalchallenges.

3. Succumbing to COWARDICE

a. Fear of Man

i. Contrast of bold and godly leadership

Galatians 1:10 ESV

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

ii. Contrast of the Spirit of Christ (2 Tim 1:6-7)

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:6 ESV

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Fear is a spirit, not a nature … it can come over you

iii. Character of the condemned (Revelation 21:8)

Revelation 21:8 ESV

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

b. Hypocrisy

i. Acting, pretending, performing characters different from who you are

4. Infects other CHRISTIANS

a. Leading others, even the most godly, to STUMBLE (Acts 11:23ff)

PRINCIPLE: When our cultural ethnicity drives our relational engagement, we are out of step

C. What Does Compromise Bring?

1. Condemnation

Galatians 2:11 ESV

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

IV. WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS

A. We must guard against the spirit of compromise

It is possible in all of us

B. Standing for the gospel will mean

1. Standing against men and women of high stature

2. Standing alone

C. God expects our standing against error, at all costs to self and reputation