Galatians 2:11-14 “Confrontation”

Intro:

Don’t forget the Anniversary Bible Conference next weekend- Sat morning 10-12:30, Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon BBQ at 4:30 and then an evening of Questions and Answers.

Review from last week:

Slippery Spies of slavery- House rules

On Tuesday I started praying, “Lord, please don’t give me a fresh example of confrontation this week…”

Outline:

Condemned: “I Opposed Him” (vs. 11-13)

Clarification: “Conduct” (v. 14)

Summary of the Chapter: “Relying on anything other than Jesus nullifies the purpose of His grace (the Cross)

Memory verse of the Chapter: Galatians 2:21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Illustration: Watching Hallmark and Dr. Quinn and their communication styles. Or the question of “What things do you do on vacation around people you don’t know that you would never do when you come home?

Prayer: Eph. 4:25-32

Condemned “I Opposed Him” (vs. 11-13)- 3 Reasons to confront

Standing continually in the wrong (v. 11)

But when Cephas came to Antioch- for that last little bit of the narrative, Jerusalem has been the focus. Now there is a switch. Jerusalem is predominantly Jewish, Antioch is a Gentile city. Nothing was given to Paul, added to his message, or taken away while he was in Jerusalem! He was given the right hand of fellowship.

I opposed him to his face- “antest-eh-n” aor, act, ind, 1st, sg, to oppose, to be against; expresss opposition to. Notice, to his face, not behind his back or to other people, not on email social media or through text. He has an issue and he went to that individual. Why?

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Because he stood (imperfect) condemned- “kategnwsmenos” perf, pass, part, nom, masc, sg to be condemned (wrong)- to be or become demonstrably guilty or in the wrong. Two words “Kata” down from or against, and the word for know (“ginwskw”). He was continually standing in the wrong (knowingly) and did not repent or change.

1 John 3:20 “for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”

1 John 3:21 “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;”

Separating/widrawing out of Fear (v. 12)

For before certain men came from James- back in Jerusalem,

he was eating with the Gentiles- “sun-eh-sthein” imperfect, act, ind, 3rd, sg, we was eating over and over again with them.

Vision at Simon the Tanner (Acts 10:9-15, 28)- Jesus had to deal with some “House Rules” in Peter’s life with a vision to rise kill and eat. 3x Peter defends the house rules to Jesus. By the end, Peter knew it was okay to eat with the Gentiles and to eat what the Gentiles were eating, “What God has made clean, do not call common”.

He preaches is to Cornelius and company in Acts 10:34-43.

He defends it in Acts 11 to the circumcision party in Jerusaelm

Persecution arises and people scatter all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and …”Antioch” where a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord

Barnabas is sent from Jerusalem to check it out. While there, he goes to Tarsus to look for Saul.

Agabus

But when they came (from James)

he drew back- “hupestellen” imperfect act, ind, 3rd, sg to hesitate, shrink back, he slowly started to pull back.

separated himself- “aphwrizen” imperfect, active, ind, 3rd, sg. to exlude, to separate or isolate something and place in a group apart from others. There is no indication in the text for how long this went on.

fearing the circumcision party- “phoboumenos” pres, mid/pass, part, nom, mas, sg to fear

Acts 12 records the death of James the brother of John and the imprisonment of Peter at the hands of Herod. Before Peter is brought before the people he miraculously escapes. Peter leaves the region because of persecution.

He had a legitimate fear, but that does not allow him to act contrary to what he knows and thus cause division. The problem is that now division has started.

Reason #1 to confront: Continually standing in the wrong

#2: withdrawing/separating or causing division out of fear.

Summoning others astray to a different Gospel (hypocrisy) (v. 13)

and the rest of the Jews

acted hypocritically- “sunupekrith-eh-san”- 1x in NT, aor, pass, ind, 3rd, pl, to act hypocritically together, to act in a manner contrary to beliefs or opinions that one holds along with another or others. It is not just that Peter withdrew, but that he withdrew with a group of people.

along with him- Cephas

so that even Barnabas- Wow, let that sink in, the one that up until this point, probably spent the most time with Paul.

was lead astray by their hypocrisy- “sunap-eh-chth-eh” aor, pass, ind, 3rd, sg to be deceived together, be misled together

By their actions they were creating two bodies of Christ, one Jewish, one Gentile.

Reason to confront #3: Hypocrisy that leads others astray.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

This text reveals so much. What is one of the main reason we change our behaviour, live by our “house rules”, seek to fit in, give into peer pressure (no matter what age), etc…FEAR, fear of opposition, fear of drawing back, fear of separation, fear of persecution! This goes right back to what went on in the Garden does it not?!

How much does what I do or not do, who I talk to and who I don’t, what I eat/drink or don’t eat/drink has to do with fear? Fear of disease, fear of gaining weight, fear of what others might think, fear of disappointment, etc

This passage gives us some clear lines for when to confront someone or oppose them to their face:

When they are standing continually in the wrong

When they are separating/withdrawing out of fear (causing division)

When they are summoning others astray to a different gospel (hypocrisy)

But what about when “I am…”

There is this going on at Central. As we become like Jesus together we have been experiencing some division over the Day Care ministry and Deacon qualification around being divorced. Take the way you have been responding to others over these areas. How have you been treating people that think differently than you?

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Is there someone in this room that you will sit with during the service but you won’t eat a meal with them?

Do you believe that confrontation is good or that only the good don’t get confronted

Transitional phrase: Paul did not confront Peter because of personal preferent, fear, or house rules. He confronted him because the way he was acting was not in step with the gospel.

Clarification: “Conduct” (v. 14)

Not in step (v. 14)

But- “alla” big contrast

When I saw- “eidon” aor, act, ind, st, sg, to perceive by sight

that their conduct

was not in step with- “orthopodousin” pres, act, ind, 3rd, sg, to behave porperly, walk straight …Not in step with what…

the truth of the gospel- this is the bar, not following dietary laws, ceremonial laws, house rules, personal preferences or convictions, etc.

Legalism- “Is looking to something besides Jesus Christ in order to be acceptable and clean before God” (Keller, 54).

A Question (v. 14)

I said to Cephas- “eipon” aor, act, ind, 1st, sg, I said…to Cephas. Wow, don’t overlook that and move on.

before them all:

“If you, though a Jew- part of the children of Israel, people of God

live like a Gentile- somone outside of the people of God, not from the line of Abraham

and not like a Jew- according to Mosaic law and tradition, “unclean/clean” foods.

How can you force- “anangkazeis” pres, act, ind, 2nd, sg to compel, to force somebody to do something. Physically force

the Gentiles to live like Jews?”- “iousaizein” pres, act, infinitive to live as a Jew, to behave according to the requirements of the entire Mosaic law system (as one in the commonwealth of Israel).

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Paul flat out confronts Peter on forcing others to live a different gospel. What things do you do on vacation around people you don’t know that you would never do when you come home?

Paul attacked the problem, not the person. Peter’s actions were out of step with the truth of Gospel, so Paul addressed the problem.

In what way have I forced my way of living before God on other people?

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Is the reason you are opposing me or the leadership of this church because we are out step with the gospel or because I or we have stepped on some of your “house rules”.

Encouragment from Pastor Lars, 2 Peter 3:15 “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,”

Transitional phrase:

Summary of the Chapter: “Relying on anything other than Jesus nullifies the purpose of His grace (the Cross)

Memory verse of the Chapter: Galatians 2:21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Discussion Starters:

Who or what influences your understanding of Confrontation the most?

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Song: Lord Reign in Me- “You are the Lord of All I am,

Next Week’s Sermon: Creation Ministries International, you don’t want to miss the weekend, then we will take a short breat from Galatians to look at Marriage.

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE