Galatians 2 verses 11 to 21

 

Galatians 2 verses 11 – 21

But when Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed.  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel I said unto Peter before them all; if thou being a Jew livest after the manner of Gentiles and not as do the Jews why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?  We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  But if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners is therefore Christ the minister of sin?  God forbid.  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.  For I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God.  I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not frustrate the grace of God; for i righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain.

 

Peter’s relapse – verses 11 to 13

After the conference in Jerusalem ended Peter came to Antioch.  He enjoyed fellowship with all the believers, Jews and Gentiles.  Note the phrase “eat with the Gentiles” meaning to accept them, to put Jews and Gentiles on the same level as one family in Christ.

Lesson to learn: believers have been slow to believe and partake of the truths of the Christian faith – it is one thing to defend a doctrine in a church meeting and quite something else to put it into practice in everyday life. 

Peter’s freedom was threatened by his fear – some associates of James (a devout Jew) came to visit the church.  Peter’s fear led to his fall – he ceased to enjoy the “love feast” with Gentile believers and separated himself from them.

“dissembled” means a hypocrite.  Peter pretended his actions were motivated by faithfulness when really they were motivated by fear.  How easy it is to use “bible doctrine” to cover up our disobedience.  Secondly Peter led others astray including Barnabas (a leader in the church).  It was a question of “the truth of the gospel” and Paul was prepared to fight for it.

Paul’s rebuke – verses 14 to 21

Paul builds his entire rebuke on doctrine.  There were 5 basic doctrines being denied by Peter because of his separation from the Gentiles.

• 1.     The unity of the church – verse 14

Peter was a Jew, then he came to faith in Christ and was now a Christian.

He was now part of the church, no racial distinctions.  But he was inconsistent!

Acts 15 verse 9 Peter had said “God put no difference between us and them.”

Now Peter was putting a difference. 

God’s people are one people even though they may be divided into various groups.

• 2.    Justification by faith – verses 15 and 16

“How should a man be just with God?” Job 9 verse 2

“The just shall live by faith” Habakkuk 2 verse 4

Justification is the act of God whereby he declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ.  It is an instant and immediate transaction between the believing sinner and God.  It is not the result of man’s character or works, simply putting faith in Christ.  God declares the believing sinner righteous.  You can never be held guilty before Go.  His past sins are remembered against him no more and God no longer puts his sins on record.  God justifies sinners!

Peter was saying “we Jews are different from and better than the Gentiles.”

Yet both Jews and Gentiles are sinners and can be saved only by faith in Christ.

• 3.     Freedom from the law – verses 17 and 18

Peter had compared the Mosaic law to a burdensome yoke – Acts 15 verse 10

Now he had put himself under that yoke.

Paul is arguing from Peter’s own experience of the grace of God.  To go back to Moses is to deny everything that God had done for him and through him.

• 4.     The very Gospel itself – verses 19 and 20

We are saved by faith in Christ and we live by faith in Christ.  Furthermore we are so identified with Christ by the Spirit that we died with him ie we are dead to the law.

• 5.    The grace of God – verse 21

The Judaisers wanted to mix law and grace but Paul tells us that is impossible.  To go back to the law means to “set aside the grace of God.”

There is no record of Peter’s reply to Paul’s rebuke but he admitted his sin adn was restored to fellowship once again.

The believers’ response

There is a third aspect to Galatians 2 verses 11 to 21 and it is our response.  Peter had shown fear and failure, Paul courage and defense.  What is my response to the truth of the Gospel?

Have I been saved by the grace of God?  It is the Gospel of the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ that saves.  Anything else is false.  Remember GRACE - God's Riches at Christ's Expense.  Am I trusting in myself - my morality, my good works, my religion?

Am I trying to mix law and grace?  What do I mean by law?  Doing something to please God - salvation is not by faith in Christ plus something but rather faith in Christ alone.  No church membership or religious activity.  This is not grace alone, it is a works based faith. 

Am I rejoicing in the fact that I am justified by faith in Christ? Justification - just as if I had never sinned.  Justification brings peace - we need never fear judgment because our sins have already been judged in Christ on the cross. 

Am I walking in the liberty (freedom) of grace?  To enjoy Christ and to become what he wants me to be.  Freedom to do but also Freedom not to do. 

Am I willing to defend the truth of the Gospel?  This means knowing God's word and proclaiming or sharing it with others. 

Am I walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel?  Do I live out the truth?  Does my life contradict what I say?

What a challenge from God's word!

If there is one verse that I love and can quote from memory it is Galatians 2 verse 20 "I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."  To me that is the Gospel in a nutshell!

In Galatians 2 verses 11 to 21 we see 3 things happening - first Peter's relapse, secondly Paul's rebuke and finally the believer's response.

After the great council meeting in Jerusalem Peter came to Antioch - remember this is the place where they were first called Christians.  Peter enjoyed fellowship with all the believers, both Jew and Gentile.  Peter's freedom was then threatened by his fear.  Some associates of James (remember he was Jesus' brother and a very devout Jew) came to visit the church.  Peter's fear led to his fall - he ceased to enjoy fellowship with the Gentile believers and separated himself from them - verses 11 to 13.  Peter pretended his actions were motivated by faithfulness when really they were motivated by fear.  So freedom - fear - fall - faithfulness!

Then Peter led others astray including Barnabas (a leader in the church in Antioch).  Paul was prepared to fight for the truth of the gospel (verse 14).  Paul rebukes Peter to his face and probably in front of the believers.  His entire rebuke was based on doctrine:

the unity of the church - verse 14

justification by faith - verses 15 and 16

freedom from the law - verses 17 and 18

the very gospel itself - verses 19 and 20

the grace of God - verse 21

Peter, a Jew had now come to faith in Christ and was therefore a Christian  He was part of the church.  He was being inconsistent.  But is that not typical of Peter - remember when he said to Jesus that he was prepared to die for him but when Jesus was arrested he denied Jesus.  At the council meeting Peter was the one who had said "God put no difference between us and them - Acts 15 verse 9 - but now he was putting a difference.  God's people are one people even though they may be divided into various groups.

In Galatians 2 verses 15 and 16 Paul introduces us to the doctrine of "justification by faith".  Job asked in chapter 9 verse 2 "How should a man be just with God?" and then in Habakkuk 2 verse 4 we are told "The just shall live by faith."  I love how Warren Wiersbe puts it ...

"Justification is the act of God whereby he declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ.  It is an instant and immediate transaction between the believing sinner and God.  It is not the result of man's character or works, simply putting faith in Christ.  God declares the believing sinner righteous.  You can never be held guilty before God (ever again). A man's past sins are remembered against him no more and God no longer puts his sins on record.  God justifies sinners!"

Only by faith in Christ can we be saved and justified!

The other issue that Paul deals with in this chapter is the Mosaic Law.  Paul was saying "to go back to Moses is to deny everything that God had done for him and through him."  Peter had experienced the grace of God and now he wanted to add to it but Paul was telling him - we are saved by faith in Christ and we live by faith in Christ.  Furthermore we are so identified with Christ by the (Holy) Spirit that we died with him ie we are dead to the law.

The Judaisers (the enemy) wanted to mix law and grace but Paul tells us that it is impossible to go back to the law because in doing so we are setting aside the grace of God.

There is a third aspect to Galatians 2 verses 11 to 21 and it is our response.  Peter had shown fear and failure, Paul courage and defense.  What is my response to the truth of the Gospel?

Have I been saved by the grace of God?  It is the Gospel of the grace of God as revealed in Jesus Christ that saves.  Anything else is false.  Remember GRACE - God's Riches at Christ's Expense.  Am I trusting in myself - my morality, my good works, my religion?

Am I trying to mix law and grace?  What do I mean by law?  Doing something to please God - salvation is not by faith in Christ plus something but rather faith in Christ alone.  No church membership or religious activity.  This is not grace alone, it is a works based faith.

Am I rejoicing in the fact that I am justified by faith in Christ? Justification - just as if I had never sinned.  Justification brings peace - we need never fear judgment because our sins have already been judged in Christ on the cross.

Am I walking in the liberty (freedom) of grace?  To enjoy Christ and to become what he wants me to be.  Freedom to do but also Freedom not to do.

Am I willing to defend the truth of the Gospel?  This means knowing God's word and proclaiming or sharing it with others.

Am I walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel?  Do I live out the truth?  Does my life contradict what I say?

What a challenge from God's word!