Galatians 2:11-14

Intro

Barriers I’m thankful for: interstate barriers. Barriers I’m not thankful for: cones on the interstate. Some barriers are for our protection and are helpful. Other barriers are annoying and don’t make sense.

Some barriers are barriers of a social nature that are unhelpful. Like the barriers we put up for ourselves because we are too holy or because we live like hypocrites and haven’t planted our feet in the gospel.

Need: Through sinful means, we can create barriers between ourselves, other believers, and unbelievers. We are going to see here that Paul addresses Peter for doing this very thing.

Galatians 2:11-14

Main Idea: The gospel tears down barriers

Barriers between the Jews and Gentiles. Jews had ceremonial laws. Persecution became rampant. This forced the Jews to have even more of a religious identity.

Truth #1: Hypocrisy leads others astray

Exp. Verse 11-12. Paul switches from time in Jerusalem to Antioch. Opposed = hostile. Condemned = convicted. Why? Eating with Gentiles. Jewish man; not observing Jewish customs. Then he reverted. Why? Fear. Circumcision party = Judaizers. Jews saw sharing table as acceptance and approval. Peace offering.

Ill. Sitting at the Sunday dinner table. Good fellowship. All is at peace with each other.

Exp. Verse 13. Other Jews followed him. Peter is a pillar of the church. A lot of influence. Even Barnabas.

Ill. You can join church if you become a Tennessee Volunteers fan.

Arg. Hypocrisy leads other astray, but this is what hypocrisy is:

Hypocrisy is telling a lie. “Hypocrisy is nothing better than skin deep holiness.” John Blanchard.

Hypocrisy is indecisive. Lives on fear of man rather than fear of God.

Christ - Jesus dealt with the Pharisees about their hypocrisy. Mark 7:6-7, “And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

App. What fears are causing you to live hypocritically? Who might be following your example? Who’s example are you following?

Truth #2: The gospel impacts our daily life

Exp. Verse 14. Paul confronts him in front of everyone. Why? Not in step with the truth of the gospel. Conduct = live rightly. Tense is everyday living. Peter is not living in step with the gospel. Paul is not saying that Peter is wrong by not observing Jewish customs. He is living one way and then out of fear demanding another. Peter was building barriers based on how he was living. Goes against the gospel. Gospel should impact our daily living.

Ill. Marriage to Bethany. Being in relationship with her impacts my daily life. As a Christian, my relationship with Jesus should impact my daily life.

Arg. Peter’s daily actions didn’t reflect the gospel and built barriers. Ephesians 3:6, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Paul mentions that God does not show favoritism.

Christ - Christ tore down the barriers. His ministry was to the Jews and the Gentiles. He is the fulfillment of Genesis 12:3. It was Paul’s purpose in his ministry.

App. Does your relationship with Christ impact your day to day? Daily hypocrisy can look different:

Students: Getting drunk on the weekend and then leading a Bible study on Sunday. I want you here. Believers = choose to live for Christ daily, not just on Sundays.

Parents: Demanding your children go to church and live rightly, but you actively live in sin. Then excuse it by saying “don’t be like me.”

Maybe it’s how you look at unbelievers. Unbelievers need the gospel, not to be separated and shunned from it.

Conclusion

There is a grace in knowing even Peter fell to sin. Our job is to daily walk with the Lord. We must kill the sin inside of us.

That sin is the ultimate divider. “Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” John Owen

For believers, there is a reality that we must daily kill the flesh. We must daily live in victory over sin.

You may sit here and you don’t know this Jesus. You’ve never fully trusted in him. You can today, and I promise, your life will forever change. The greatest barrier was not the barrier between Jews and Gentiles. It was the barrier between you and God.

Next steps:

Resolve to daily walk with him.

Put your faith in him and be baptized.