The Message of God Confronts Error Galatians 2:11-14

Valentine’s Day is next weekend. It is usually a time filled with romance and good food.

What if your significant other made you a beautiful meal but half way through said that they accidentally dropped poison in it. No big deal right?

Read Galatians 2:11–14 “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 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. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 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?””

Paul is going to show how dangerous error is in the life of Christians is not handled properly.

1. Error left unconfronted can lead others to stray vs. 11-13

v. 11 Cephas (Peter) is discussed by Paul and this story shared because it was important for the Galatian church to see that even someone who was a pillar of the church (v. 9) could stray. Peter being confronted by Paul would show the credibility of Paul’s Apostolic calling.

In Acts 10-11 Peter knew and testified that salvation was for all men, regardless of physical circumstances.

Acts 10:44–45 “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”

Peter should have known better and yet error had crept into his life. But it goes beyond that, Paul is using a phrase here of standing against evil. An evil that can creep into all of our hearts, hypocrisy.

Standing condemned doesn’t mean that Peter lost his salvation, but rather Paul was speaking about Peter being guilty of sin by taking the wrong position. In fact, Paul is essentially saying that if Peter were to stand in court, the judge would find him guilty beyond a doubt.

So what made the difference between Paul’s discussion in v. 2 privately and this situation? Well it was public and it was egregious. So it had to be dwelt with publicly.

v. 12 we do not know the length of Peter’s stay but it was long enough for Peter to be known and influential. The verbiage here is one who is habitually eating, or continually fellowshipping with them.

Some argue that these men, from James, who came were legalists, some argue that they were just coming to see what was happening after the account of Acts 15, some argue that these men were the Judaizers who were stirring up trouble that Paul has been dealing with. Regardless the response of Peter was dangerous and filled with error. It was a hypocrisy that was contagious.

The same kind that you’d find offensive if your spouse accidentally put poison in your meal.

“Religious hypocrisy is the worst kind of hypocrisy; it’s the most damaging because it’s the least expected and the hardest to get over.” Todd Wilson Preaching the Word Commentary

Fear and error when combined creates a perfect storm. It is like having a single mold spore in your bread that may not seem like a big deal but over time infects and ruins everything.

“The Christian church cannot be what it is called to be when ritual, race, class, or other distinctions separate members from each other.” John MacArthur

So what was the underlining issue? What the council was saying in Acts 15 that it was ok for Christian Gentiles not to act like Jews but there appeared an understanding that Christian Jews were still to act like Jews. Or at least it appeared this way. Peter was not doing this.

v. 13 Hypocrisy is dangerous and yet we can so often fall into it. Especially when we fear man and his opinion.

“We can think of hypocrisy as a virus. It needs human interaction to survive; indeed it spreads and thrives on contact. And when it finds the right environment, hypocrisy can go viral and infect a whole community. This is what happened in Antioch.” Todd Wilson

I am sure Paul felt discouraged, may be even heart broken that Barnabas would give into the fear of man here.

Considered the partnership that Paul and Barnabas encountered together. It was Barnabas who defended Paul and brought him along. They would pray, preach, encourage each other and suffer together. Yet Barnabas gave in.

Galatians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Consequence

Faithfulness involves more than believing the right doctrine. Right doctrine without right behavior always produces hypocrisy.

It should be a comfort to us to know even men like Peter and Barnabas sinned and failed. When we consider how they repented and turned back to Christ. It means there is hope for us because the same Gospel that worked in them, works in us.

For Peter and Barnabas, God’s grace in their life was demonstrated in Paul’s willingness to address the hypocrisy. What if Paul was not brave enough, or didn’t care enough for them. Could you imagine what would have happened in the church?

Galatians 6:1–2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

James 5:19–20 “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

The second way Paul addressed the error is by reminding us....

2. The Gospel Calls All to Freedom v. 14

v. 14 Paul addresses Peter and reminds him of the truth he affirmed in Galatians 2:9 “and when...Cephas ....perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me...”

As with any sin in our life, we must redirect ourselves back to the gospel message. It is by grace alone through faith. When we fall, we can only get up because of Christ.

“The problem with Cephas’s [Peter’s] withdrawal from table fellowship with non-Jews was what it communicated about the nature of the gospel. It implied that in addition to what God accomplished for sinful humanity through the atoning death of Christ, people had to contribute something to their own redemption before reconciliation with God was complete and fellowship with other, fully justified Christians was possible.” ESV Commentary on Galatians

Peter had gotten off the straight path. It is easy to spot hypocrisy because it waivers. The gospel is simple and easy to understand. It is easy to know when we get off the path as well. What happens then if we do? We repent. We confess our error and return to Christ.

Peter may not have verbally said that the Gentiles need to act like Jews, but his actions demonstrated it by the removing himself from fellowship with them.

That is why Paul will go on to say in Galatians 3:26, Galatians 3:28 “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.”

Peter had seen first hand that the ceremonial law was put away. When we went to share the gospel with Cornelius, he testified of the truth of justification by faith not in keeping of the law. Yet Peter fell into an old temptation.

Paul in no way was attempting to lord it over Peter or embarrass him. He was simply direct Peter back to the Gospel and the very truths Peter himself proclaimed and taught.

Paul will go on, as we will see next week, to demonstrate that we are not justified by what we do but that we are justified by our faith in Christ.

Next Steps:

It is hard confronting people. It’s uncomfortable and if not done well can lead to problems. But let’s be clear if error is left alone it can be damaging to more than just one person.

As we walk this path, let’s make sure we do so humbly and conscious of the gospel’s message.

Be in prayer as you go into the endeavor and seek the Lord’s wisdom as you do so.

Keys to remember:

Paul knew Peter (and Barnabas).

Paul addressed the error of the moment.

Paul redirected Peter to the Gospel message.