Keeping In Step With The Truth (Galatians 2:11-14)
What is the difference between bad religion and good religion? You might think that answer is obvious. Every religion that is not like us is terrible, and every religion like us is good. Do we feel pride in that?
But I get it. If I didn't think that our methods of worship and fellowship were correct, I would be somewhere else. I think our way of doing things is the solution to the denominational religious problems. We practice simple New Testament Christianity. But there are millions of people who profess to be Christians globally, and thousands of denominations disagree with me.
This is a bigger and more complex topic than we might think. So, we need to constantly reevaluate our religious beliefs and practices to ensure that they line up with scripture. We tend to get comfortable in our traditional ways, and that's a bad thing. In our text tonight, we see one event being described by Paul that I believe represents the danger of traditionalism. The failure being discussed by Paul could be our failure as well.
Paul Opposes Peter
Galatians 2:11 (ESV) --- 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
The letter to the Galatians is full of shocking statements. He has already said that they are allowing people to distort the gospel of Christ, and those who do this are accursed. Now he brings up Peter being condemned for something. This is a shocking statement. No one opposes Peter! Peter has been the leader of the apostles since Acts 1.
When Paul talked about the church leaders in verse 6, he lowered our perception of Peter.
Galatians 2:6 (ESV) --- 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)---those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
Paul clarifies that all men are fallible under Christ and on the same level. He wants everyone to stop lifting men and start submitting to Christ. Well, what has Peter done to deserve being opposed by Paul?
Galatians 2:12 (ESV) --- 12 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.
Men came from Jesus' brother, James. When they showed up, Peter completely changed. He went from just one of the believers to part of an elite group. He "drew back and separated himself." Why would Peter do that? The text explains, "Fearing the circumcision party."
Social Pressure
This gives us a sense of the social pressure that can develop within the church. Did Peter and James not accept the Gentiles as saved by God's grace? Of course, they did! That's what the end of Chapter 1 and the beginning of Chapter 2 is about. They added nothing to Paul's gospel for the Gentiles. They didn't require them to keep the law. But were they convinced enough to stand up for that truth, or would they bend to the beliefs of weaker brethren?
Now, I have used a controversial term. The text doesn't use the phrase weak, so why would I? Why would I call anyone weak, and what does that mean?
Romans 14:1--4 (ESV) --- 1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Paul discusses the dietary differences between the Jews and Gentiles. He describes the ones who are weak in faith as eating only vegetables. This is what Jews would do to avoid eating unclean meats. Paul says that they are weak in faith. They struggle to believe that God can save and welcome someone who eats unclean foods.
Peter has accepted the Gentile Christians by eating alongside them, but now he has chosen to separate himself. What is that about? These Jews come in, who do not accept the Gentiles, and Peter has to decide.
Now, picture yourself in that situation. It may not seem like a decision. When someone influences us, there is often nothing said explicitly. These Jews from James probably don't say, "Why are you hanging out with those nasty Gentiles?" They don't say, "We refuse to eat with them." They choose to eat somewhere else and invite Peter along with them. One would think that there is nothing wrong if they weren't paying attention.
But Paul and the Gentiles felt the change. They felt the rejection and noticed what happened due to Peter's failure.
What's The Result?
Galatians 2:13 (ESV) --- 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
When Peter moves, all of the Jewish Christians move. It's fascinating to study this right after studying Acts 1 and seeing the disciples' unity. There is such a contrast. Why? The Jewish Christians are not submitting to the truth from God. Now there is division instead of unity, and the division is growing. Paul must oppose Peter.
Paul's Message
Galatians 2:14 (ESV) --- 14 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?”
Notice that Paul doesn't take Peter aside in this case. It's not like Matthew 18, where Jesus explains how to handle a brother sinning against you. In other words, this is not a matter of individual sin. In this case, Peter has done something to cause a divide in the whole church. All of those men separating themselves from the Gentiles were guilty and needed to hear the rebuke.
Let's look at the substance of the rebuke. In verse 13, Paul brings up the word hypocrisy. That word means that you are acting. The religious leaders in Jerusalem always acted righteous when they were evil inside. Notice that Paul calls Jewish Christians that. They act like Gentile Christians are acceptable, but they reject them by their actions.
But his words to them are a little confusing. So let's break it into two parts. He says, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew." What does he mean? The Jewish Christians have stopped offering sacrifices for their sins. They are trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus. They enjoy that freedom in Christ. But they also enjoy freedom from all of the Rabbinical teachings. The Jewish system was full of teachings that made Jews really stand out. Now, these Christians are free from that. They are enjoying life. Paul says that they are living more like Gentiles now than ever before.
Now, look at the second half of his statement. He says, "How can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?" God has removed the rigorous law-keeping from them, but they think it's their job to add laws for the Gentiles. They claim that God accepts the Gentiles and that they accept them. But they are acting hypocritically because they didn't accept them in front of other people.
Lessons
What do we learn from this story? Look at the phrase Paul uses in verse 14, "Their conduct was not in step with the gospel's truth." Do you know what it means to be in step with someone else? In the Army, they sing to keep in step. They say, "Left, left, left, right, left." Why do they do that? They keep in step with one another. It's a way for them to feel unified with one another. These guys may come from different backgrounds and have different opinions about things, but they are united in their service to the Army.
Paul says that the Jewish Christians started their movement. They have branched off and rebelled against the truth of the gospel. They are out of step. Are they out of step because they only want to eat vegetables? No. The Gentiles don't care what they eat. They can eat whatever they want. They are out of step because they made food an issue to divide over when the gospel's truth does not.
What About Us?
Do you see why we have so many denominations today? Men make an opinion an issue worth dividing over when God has not made that an issue.
Now, as I say this, we should feel a little awkward. Doesn't this mean that we should accept every practice that our modern world has developed? I hope you can understand now how people arrive at that conclusion, but no. Not every practice is in step with the truth of the gospel. That's why so much of our New Testaments warns against false teachers and twisting the gospel message. Some things are personal decisions, but other things are clearly defined by scripture. To be in step with the gospel, we must genuinely speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent.
Examples of Being In Step:
1. Food is a clear example. Eating whatever food you want is in step with the gospel's truth. Our salvation and righteousness do not depend on the food we eat. God has made that clear. What is not in step with the gospel is separating over the types of food people believe they should eat. Doing that would mean speaking where the Bible is silent or adding to the word. Food is a personal decision. We can find a way to be united with one another without forcing people to submit to our opinion.
2. Baptism is a different type of clear example. Baptism is water immersion, and it is the point at which God cleanses us by applying the blood of Christ (Col 2:11-15, Acts 2:38, 1 Pet 3:21, Titus 3:5, Romans 6:1-6, Gal 3:25-29). Our beliefs about this must be in step with the gospel. This is not a personal decision. This is not up for debate because scriptures make this crystal clear.
But, even this clear example can lead to division if we let it. I know many people who left a church because they disagreed with the acceptance of a baptized believer. He claimed that he was immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins. Those who left the church said, "He needs to be baptized again at a church of Christ building, so we know for sure." Where did they find that in scripture? We are not the ones who save people. God is, and man or woman's opinion about their baptism's effectiveness is their business. They have to deal with the consequences of that, not us. We can accept them based on their word, as long as they understand and confess the truth. But we shouldn't force someone to submit to our opinions about some more personal things.
3. Worship is another example we can look at. Is how we worship a personal choice, or do we need to conform to one model of worship? I know of a church in Arkansas that changed their Wednesday night Bible study to meet in people's homes. The surrounding churches quickly separated themselves from this church, claiming that they were sinful, liberal, or something else. There is not one thing out of step with the gospel about meeting in homes on Wednesday nights. Just because we don't conform to the preferences of churches around us does not mean that we are out of step with the gospel. They would be out of step with it if they tried to force us to do things like everyone else does! If a congregation member refused to meet with everyone because they wanted to force people to change, that would be out of step with the gospel.
There are many other examples that we don't have time to discuss. I'm happy to share my understanding if you are curious, but the ultimate question we have to ask is, "Do my beliefs push me away from brethren?" If they do, I need to ask myself, "Are they out of step with the gospel, or am I?" I must ask that question with all the humility I can muster.
This text shows us that we need to take great care when deciding what hills to die on. The only hills we ought to die on are those in step with the gospel. Don't add restrictions to the word of God and create division.
Unity
This text shows us that we need to be more inclusive of people with different opinions. If there is someone here who is different from you, do you stay away from them? Do you avoid having them over to your house? You might need the same rebuke as Peter. You might say that you love them but fail to show them love. That's hypocrisy. That's called walking out of step with the gospel.
We have to overcome whatever fear we have and the influence of other people to show love to all. Remember that Peter and the other Jewish Christians fell into this trap because they were afraid. They were afraid to oppose those who were wrong.
Conclusion
"They will know us by our love." Let's show our love by growing closer together and working together for the true gospel to spread like wildfire. Let's pray that all people who call Christ their savior will walk in step with the gospel's truth and seek to glorify God.