Galatians 2: 11-14
But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
Now after the Jerusalem counsel concluded, Peter came to Antioch, where Paul had had such a fruitful ministry with the Gentiles. Now Peter knew the Truth, that we are not saved by any following of Law, but by the Grace of God, giving freedom from the Law. Even knowing this, Peter still was to blame for what happened there.
For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles;
Evidently the church in Antioch had both Jewish and Gentile believers, who all lived as brothers and sisters in Christ, even having their meals together.
but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
But when these "false brethren" came to Antioch from Jerusalem, supposedly sent by James, they put pressure on the Jewish believers, and even Peter was caught up with not wanting to offend them, considering their opinions over what he knew God had done for them.
The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
Peter was a very influential leader in the church, and the rest of the Jewish believers followed his example, even Barnabas was carried away by this "saying one thing and doing another" hypocrisy.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the Truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) in the presence of all,
Paul here asserted his authority as a true Apostle in calling even Peter to account in this. It is not a trivial thing to cast aside the Truth of the Gospel in order to not be criticized by some group of people! And since Peter had openly done this, then Paul called him out publicly.
"If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?"
Peter had been enjoying the fellowship of both the Jewish and Gentile believers, free from having to follow the Mosaic Law. Then when the Judaizers came, and he withdrew from eating with Gentiles, he was teaching the Gentiles by his actions that the Mosaic Law was still to be followed.
This is very serious. Peter had understood and accepted the Gospel, even receiving the vision of the sheet being lowered three times showing him that God had cleansed the Gentiles and their food (in Acts: 10). And Peter had defended Paul at the Jerusalem Council (in Acts: 15).
But understanding and defending isn't enough--a Christian must also practice the Gospel Truth in his everyday life and attitudes, consistently following God's Truth rather than falling back into old patterns, to not be criticized by the World.
This is why Paul confronted Peter. He realized the importance of maintaining the purity of God's Good News, and because he did, we now have the unadulterated message to carry on even today.
Church history records that other dilutions and additions have mangled this simple Truth so often, as false brethren worm their way into the church to spoil it and draw people away from knowing the beauty of the simplicity of the freedom we have in the Gospel. Satan hates that we could even be saved, so he has been working constantly to change and twist God's Truth all through the time since it's founding.
We all need to be aware of the tactics of our enemy, for even the best of us have been known to be drawn away. If Satan and this World can't keep us from being saved, then he will work to destroy our testimony, as he tried to do with Peter. If even Peter was so vulnerable, how much more are we, am I, who is just one of the Father's many Blood-bought children.
We must all be aware of the ones we listen to, the ones we allow to teach us, that what they're teaching is free from additions or watering down of the pure Truth of the Good News that Jesus fulfilled all the written laws, freeing us from bondage, and washed us pristine clean in His Blood sprinkled on His altar the Cross.
We each need to learn to hear the Holy Spirit's whispers in our spirit, to "walk here, this is the path." And to do our own research to make sure that what we're being taught is True.
If ever you find disagreement with anything I have written anywhere in this whole Blog, please let me know. I think and certainly hope that what I write is True, but I am still human and vulnerable to error and mistakes. I will do further research on your points, and ask my Father for clarity, as I do over every entry.
O my Father, You have been so clear and distinct, more so than human intelligence is sometimes willing to accept. Please keep our thinking processes aligned with Your thoughts, Your purposes, and not clutter it up with complications or requirements.
Help us, Father, to believe You, trust You, and depend on You for our everything, for You are our Source.
Father, strengthen us and send us out into every fertile field to scatter Your precious Seed of the Gospel, and to reap those fields ready for harvest, to grow Your family, Father, to populate Your Kingdom, and to mature us all to lead Your lambs as under-shepherds with our Good Shepherd.
And every eye shall see, every knee shall bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Lord God Almighty, King over all Creation, to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
