Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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.

Problem was law and grace mixed together and lead to Jerusalem Counsel

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)

So there we have the history, now let’s look at the passage.

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

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)

Here is something that we need to remember, some wise words

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

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)

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)

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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

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.

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.

and in the O.T.

and

Justification by faith further shown (Rom1; Gal3:11; Heb10:38)

and add to that

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)