Freedom! - Confrontation
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Passionate
Passionate
What are you passionate about? Are you willing to defend, to stand up, to even confront someone about something you are passionate about?
(insert a family picture here)
Most can say they are passionate about their family, especially grandkids, lol. Many will say they are passionate about marriage. How about God, your faith, your belief, are you passionate? Are you willing to defend any of these? Are you willing to have a confrontation regarding any of these?
Wendell Phillips in speech on anti-slavery in 1852 said
“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”
Passionate adjective; showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief.
"passionate pleas for help"synonyms:intense, impassioned, ardent, fervent, fervid, zealous, vehement, fiery, heated, feverish, emotional, heartfelt, eager, excited, animated, spirited, vigorous, strong, energetic, messianic, fanatical, frenzied, wild, fierce, consuming, violent, tumultuous, flaming, raging, burning, uncontrollable, ungovernable
So again, what are you passionate about?
As valid as Phillips point is, as passionate as he was at the time, in the time that Paul is writing, slavery too is a big deal. But the slavery Paul is addressing is not physical slavery (though 26% of Rome was slaves according to one writer). Paul is addressing spiritual slavery.
Paul is passionate about the gospel and his ministry
(Justification by faith picture)
Paul is passionate about justification by faith and that comes into our study and is main theme throughout the book of Galatians.
What we do needs to line up with what we say or it avails nothing and can create division. Paul is passionate in our passage to correct something that does not line up before it gets out of hand and the gospel is distorted by actions.
Reason for opposition/confrontation
Reason for opposition/confrontation
There was a problem that was thought to be dealt with (Act15:1, Act15:19-20) that now sometime later becomes a problem of hypocrisy and that is the reason for the confrontation and opposition in our passage tonight.
1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Problem was law and grace mixed together and lead to Jerusalem Counsel
19 “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
The outcome was no law and grace mixed together, don’t trouble the Gentiles with the Law.
The issue that comes about today is hypocrisy, but with a reason, so may we take the time to look at the passage before us and get into it.
It is sometime later after the Jerusalem counsel where Peter was proponent of the grace of God that had been recieved by the Gentiles too (Act15:7-9)
7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
So there we have the history, now let’s look at the passage.
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Can you see the problem (v.12)?
Peter who already enjoyed freedom in Christ, who previously enjoyed fellowship with Jews and Gentiles alike now separates himself from the Gentiles.
Can you see the reason (v.12)?
Fear, it was because of fear.
Peter had been raised in a Jewish culture, in a Jewish world and had teachings from Jesus that were contrary to that. That things were going to be different when He was gone(Mt15:1-20). Still there was struggle until Peter had his own heavenly encounter (Act10:9-17)
I know this is a longer passage, but I think we need to read it so to get better understanding - turn to Act10
9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;
11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.”
15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate;
Interesting fact that Cornelius was dispatched to go find Peter (Act10:1-9) prior to Peter having his encounter, vision.
OK, so back to our passage, Peter separated himself, but then we cannot condemn Peter either, we need to examine our own lives to see if we let some biblical doctrine (teaching) slip by and not adhere to them. It is easy when we are all together, but in the world it may not be so easy as we see in the passage today with Peter. Fear, fear of what other people thought or may think crept in and isolated peter and brought about the confrontation with Paul.
Have you ever let fear keep you from doing or saying what you know is right?
Peter previously an advocate for the Gentiles (Act11:1-18) now let fear replace the courage he had (Gal2:12) other scripture to consider (Pro29:25)
17 “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
Here is something that we need to remember, some wise words
25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
Two points we can get from Peter’s slip (or fall if you like to call it that)
It made him a hypocrite
Peter was not living by his words; he had stood up for the Gentiles in Act11; sharing boldly about the gospel of grace and now he does this.
We too can be hypocrites can’t we? Say one thing and do something else because of fear.
He lead others astray (Gal2:13; Mk9:42)
Peter was in a place of leadership, he was very visible and by his leadership was an example for others. The results were the Jews and Barnabas followed Peter in his hypocrisy.
We need to be careful where we go for others may follow, remember we do not want to stumble our brother. A beautiful concept found in Romans 14. Then there is Jesus words about stumbling someone
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.
Anytime anyone does not act on conviction or by conviction but on the basis of what someone else may think or say is hypocrisy.
The true reason for the opposition of Peter by Paul is not a matter of personality or preference, but an issue with the “truth of the gospel”
Paul felt he had to say something, do something, it goes hand in hand with what Jesus taught in (Mt18) though we don’t know if Paul spoke to Peter privately first or not, but the issue is bigger than just Peter, isn’t it?
The Confrontation (rebuke)
The Confrontation (rebuke)
Peter’s actions are doing several things that are detrimental to the church then, and can be even to the church today, may we read, be reminded and learn.
This confrontation/rebuke is about the truth of the gospel
This confrontation/rebuke is about Christian liberty
This confrontation/rebuke is about protecting the unity of the body for it could destroy the unity of the church (Gal2:14)
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17 “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
18 “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
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Peter’s actions could destroy unity of the church (Gal2:14; Gal3:28)
Peter’s actions were contrary to what he was saying (Gal2:14; Act15:9)
Peter’s actions could destroy justification by Faith (Gal2:15-16; Job9:2; Hab2:4)
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Peter’s actions could destroy unity of the church (Gal2:14; Gal3:28)
As a Christian we are a part of the church, the body of believers, just as Peter was. Peter was separating and causing conflict,division within the church that caused disunity to the church. There is to be no division, no distinctions within the church
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Peter’s actions could destroy unity of the church (Gal2:14; Gal3:28)
Peter’s actions were contrary to what he was saying (Gal2:14; Act15:9)
Think about this just for a minute, Peter a Jew living as a Gentile, stood up, spoke boldly on behalf of the Gentiles by his actions are saying the opposite.
9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Peter’s actions could destroy unity of the church (Gal2:14; Gal3:28)
Peter’s actions were contrary to what he was saying (Gal2:14; Act15:9)
Peter’s actions could destroy justification by Faith (Gal2:15-16; Job9:2; Hab2:4)
Here is where the term justification by faith comes in. It is an important doctrine and it was the key to the reformation movement. Though it has been twisted some by many, it is vital to understand it. But it is not a new term, you can find the term, the inference in the O.T. too.
15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
and in the O.T.
2 “In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
and
4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.
Justification by faith further shown (Rom1; Gal3:11; Heb10:38)
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
and add to that
38 But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
Justification is not “just as if I did not sin” and I’m sure you have heard that phrase before. And while it is true that is how God see’s you. But justification by faith is being declared righteous, or justified in the eyes of God through the blood of Jesus. The guilty sinner is still guilty but the the guilt penalty or our guilt was nailed to the cross with Jesus for He took on our penalty. It happens the moment we put on Christ.
Justification is not an act of man, but an act of God!
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Justification is an act of God (Rom8:33; Rom4:5)
Justification is needed because law reveals sin (Rom3:20)
Justification possible because of Jesus work (2Cor5:21)
The justified sinners sin are remember no more (Ps32:1-2)
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Justification is an act of God (Rom8:33; Rom4:5)
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
Let me add another verse here too
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Justification is an act of God (Rom8:33; Rom4:5)
Justification is needed because law reveals sin (Rom3:20)
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Justification is an act of God (Rom8:33; Rom4:5)
Justification is needed because law reveals sin (Rom3:20)
Justification possible because of Jesus work (2Cor5:21)
21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Justification declares the believing sinner righteous but does not make him righteous. That is where our changed life, our transformed life, our maturing life in Christ comes in. The changed life does include the good works as seen in Eph2:20 and expounded on in James chapter 2.
Justification is an act of God (Rom8:33; Rom4:5)
Justification is needed because law reveals sin (Rom3:20)
Justification possible because of Jesus work (2Cor5:21)
The justified sinners sin are remember no more (Ps32:1-2)
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Justification is because of your faith, your pierced, broken, contrite heart that lead to your obedient faith that you responded to the gospel call and are then declared rigthtous.
Peter, by his actions was telling the Gentiles that their obedient faith was not enough, that Jews and the law were better since they were mixing law and grace together.
Peter’s actions had other destructive features too.
Peter’s actions destroy freedom from the Law (Gal2:17-18)
Peter spoke of the bondage, the yoke of the law in Act15:10; but now he is putting himself under the same yoke.
Paul will bring up the yoke again in Gal5:1 you can look at that on your own.
Peter’s actions destroy the very gospel itself (Gal2:19-20)
The crucifixion is a crux point of the gospel message. Paul told the Corinthians it is as first importance (1Cor15:1)
We cannot be justified by the works of the flesh, nor the works of the law. we died to the law and works when we submitted to God (Rom6:3ff) so that we may walk i the newness of life and receive the Holy Spirit (Act2:38) and operate under that power (Gal5:16-17).
Peter’s actions destroy the grace of God (Gal2:21)
21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
I needed to read that verse again, let that sink in. Peter’s actions state that the grace of God is not sufficient and christ did for no reason. And Jesus words from the cross are untrue.
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
(Eph2:8 slide)
below is not on a slide, leave it that way
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
(encourgement)
May we be people who know the gospel, have obeyed the gospel, walk in the truth of the gospel and are ready to content, stand up for the gospel!
Encouragement slide prayer exit slide