Christian Hypocrisy

Get Back Right  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 views

Since the Scriptures are for instruction and reproof; we must correct those who teach a false gospel.

Notes
Transcript

Introduction

Edna, Gloria, Diketta, Marcus
Pastor Orr
Bishop Brown-prayers for his family in loss of Grandmother
Special salute to the Mells family, celebrated 42 years anniversary June 9th. Larry and Dorothy.
The McClintons celebrating their wedding anniversary as well (40) years
All of our Sunday School and Christian education and small group leaders.
BMBC has a prayer wall on the home page - prayer and praise reports
Due to the nature of what’s happening in our Country, I am pausing this class from the regular scheduled Programming. We were originally slated to discuss more miracles of Jesus; specifically Mark 5- Jesus heals a woman and raises a girl.
I will circle back around to that, for the sake of this class.
We are making a shift to address the issue of racism, injustice, most importantly Hatred we see/have seen in the history of this great country we live (AMERICA).
It is and has been a sad day for Black and Brown people since this country was established. Slavery for a very long time, Jim crow for a long time. Systemic Racism since 1619, Structural racism shortly after Reconstruction. Harsh police force against Black and Brown; somehow someway, we manage to keep on keeping on.
During the span of time, the Evangelical church has been silent and turn the heads to the reality of oppression at the hands of White America to those who look different. It didn’t matter if you served this country in the military- you are reminded that you are still Black
whether you have ivy league education- still black
you can check all the boxes, making you a rule following upstanding citizen- still black
While this is going on- silence, a deafening silence from brothers and sisters of faith with a whiter hue.
on this day June 12th 1963 Medgar Evers was shot and killed in his driveway because of Hate and racism
Fast forward to 2020- all of the brutality and injustice, people are crying out and there are some who dare say Nothing is wrong. They see the protesting and scoff and recuse themselves from empathy because people are rioting.
They make facebook posts calling people made in the Image of God. . wild animals. . beings with no souls!!! and the list goes on and on.
Another young Black man fatally shot by police in Atlanta as he shot a taser at them. . . juxtaposed to a 22 year old white man has a shoot out with police and he is hand cuffed alive.
and some say injustice doesn’t exist
For this reason we are going to examine the scriptures for the next few weeks and call (those who think they are walking in the light rather they are walking in darkness) to come out from darkness. Open your eyes. .
If I may borrow from Rev. Carson: come from behind the Tree (Racism, Hatred, Bigotry)
Paul in our text gives us a framework on how to handle believers who are out of step with the Gospel.
Galatians 2:11–14 ESV
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?”
Since the Scriptures are for instruction and reproof; we must correct those who teach a false gospel.

Confront- verses 11-12

Paul confronts Peter about his lifestyle and theology
Can you imagine this? Paul and Peter, The unstoppable Force and the Immovable Object. The clash of the Titans, two important pillars of the Church have a confrontation because of Hypocrisy.
What was the offense- one exhibited conduct out of step with the truth of the Gospel. This “out of step” deals with doctrine and theology as well as racial and social implications. Peter’s actions of hypocrisy was so bad; he caused another believer to be led astray.
This is the larger issue at play; when we live in contrary to the Gospel message, it causes other believers to wonder about the Gospel we proclaim.
Paul opposes Peter to his face- one on one.
In our life as Christians we will encounter situations were difficulties will come. People in your life will do things and say things against you unfairly; and the question becomes what do you do.
Just this morning: I had to deal with a decision to confront a lady who wronged me and cut me very deeply. I usually leave the house early on Sunday mornings to head to church. No one is up at the house and I tiptoe out some my baby girl doesn’t wake up. If she ever wakes up in Sunday morning I probably will not make it to be with you at this time.
To show my love and to say good morning from afar, I go to a donut shop near the house and order 3 dozen donut holes.
In my mind 3 dozen equals 36. . sometimes 40 but never 34 or 35. This morning the box did not look the same as last week; my type a personality forced me to count to see if i had 34 or 35. I was short, but decided its probably best for my kids to have a few short this week.
In that moment I have every right to go to the lady and say : hey i am missing 4 holes. It would be wrong for me to condemn her publicly before i gave her a chance to make amends privately.
Paul uses what Matthew 18 provides for us as a guide for handling conflict.
Matthew 18:15–20 ESV
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Paul went directly to Peter and addressed the situation. He did not circle around Peter. . he went directly to the offender and called out the problem.
Two things are at stake in this moment Biblically: Theologically- Jews and Gentile. . . . Socially. . Jews and Gentiles
If you remember in Acts 10, we witnessed the Gospel expansion to the Gentile world. Gentiles were not a part of worship of God in the temple and after Christ ascends into heaven, the gospel goes to the Jew first.
Many of the Jews rejected the reality that Christ was the savior of the world paving a way for the Gospel to go to the ends of the earth.
Remember Jesus tells his disciples to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts. We see that happening in acts. . Jerusalem, judea , samaria and the ends of the earth
why is this important? Peter would get the vision to go to the gentiles to preach the gospel. The vision of unclean foods. .
Acts 10:9–18 ESV
The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
Peter goes, preach, Cornelius house gets saved they get baptised and then it happens. An overlooked passage of scripture
Acts 10:44–48 ESV
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. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
There were believers who came with Peter and witnessed the salvation in cornelius home. They celebrated rejoiced and welcomed into the house of God.
The problem of should they be circumcised was next. The Jerusalem council said no, Faith in Christ alone was enough for salvation
Peter had preached to the Gentiles welcomed them in, but now when the people of the circumcision arrive he jumps away from the table to separate himself from others believers who looked Different and had different practices and customs.
why? Fear. What will the say? He didn’t care about the Gentiles at this time . . only for his nationalism.
He put his nationalism above His faith in Christ; this shared faith we have with other believers.
This is no different from what we see happening today. There is a deep divide between Black and white christians. Black christians are hurting at the brutality and the lack of empathy form white believers. It seems that many white believers can’t divorce themselves of the wrong doing in this great country from the flag. The country who time and time again oppress people of color. . they will not open their eyes. . until property is damaged.
They have put COuntry over CHrist. . they have created a new political religion that excludes all form being in the image of God.
They forget where are true citzenship is
Philippians 3:20 ESV
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Condemn verse 13

Our lack of Biblical unity makes others walk away from the faith
Barnabus led astray by their hypocrisy

Correct verse 14

Conduct not in step with the Gospel
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.