Confrontation over Justification

The context: gentile believers were mingling with Jewish believers in Antioch.

It demonstrated the power of the Gospel to bring together different cultures.

It demonstrated the power of the Gospel to bring together former enemies.

Antioch was in Syria, which was a hot point for the Jews who recalled the Maccabeans.

Paul was a former persecutor of the church, now a leader in the church.

They Hypocrisy of Legalism (vv. 11-13)

It is based on the fear of man, a desire to look good before others, rather than to walk humbly with the Lord.

Peter knew better - , he defended the gentiles having become believers by faith.

Acts 11:16–17 ESV

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

He was acting katagnosmenos - against his own knowledge. “Peter, you know better!”

Illustration: Pastor skating to church.

The Destruction of Legalism: Division (v 14)

In essence, Peter’s actions were creating two different classes of Christian.

William Carey and the first Indian convert who ate with them.

“Soft” legalism is looking to my works, even as a believer, to give me a better standing before God. In the process we begin to look down on other Christians.

Maybe we have more knowledge in the Scripture than them.

Maybe we were are more committed to certain important things than they are.

Maybe we care more about the poor than they do

2 Cor.

2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

The Cure for Division: The Gospel of Christ (vv 15-16)

The cure for legalism and for division is to refocus on Christ.

Justification by faith alone is the heart of the Gospel.

Peter later used confirmed Paul’s argument at Jerusalem

Acts 15:8–11 ESV

And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Application:

Who are you separating from and why? Are you focused on the intent of the Gospel to unite you with other believers in Christ?