The Ground is Level at the Foot of The Cross

Peter’s Relapse [How we view people]

Peter had problems accepting the new way and moving forward in the New Covenant

He had issues with doing away with Old Testament customs

More specifically accepting Gentiles as equals

in doing so he displayed a deep prejudiced towards certain men

Peter withdrew and “held himself aloof” 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.

Aloof meaning not friendly or forthcoming

He previously had enjoyed fellowship as seen in the first part of v.12

“He feared the party of the circumcision” v.12:b

this ultimately meant he was trying to avoid persecution associated with fellow-shipping with the Gentiles

this was the same reason that he denied Christ

The bigger problem was that Peter while alone in his thoughts began to influence others with his false ways of thinking , of how he viewed people The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

This sparked open rebuke from Paul towards Peter

In looking back at Peter’s vision on the roof , he actually wanted to debate God on what was right and wrong when he said in A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”

Peter understands the truth And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

Peter said this to Cornelius after his vision and he was summoned by Cornelius. God dealt with Peter in his vision that all men were equal when it come to salvation and evangelizing the lost

Before God could save the Gentiles, He had to prepare Peter to bring that message to the Gentiles

While Christ set the standard and the requirements for salvation, He ascended into heaven where he continues to perfect His church by using men here on earth.

So here are some questions that deserve answers

Is the God we serve worth total devotion

Do we view all men as equal, disregarding prejudice caused by

race

nationality

conflict

past or present

leads to forgiveness

If the answer to these being yes, what is holding us back

a conscious decision

Close with Van Gogh of no light coming from the church and no doors