Be Free, Week 4
Galatians 2:11-21
Verse 11: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”
₋Face to face confrontation with two spiritual giants: Peter & Paul
₋Matthew 18:15-18 – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee none or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church, but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Verse 12: “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.”
₋Peter regularly ate with the Gentiles, but when Judaizers from Jerusalem showed up he separated himself
₋Guilty of fearing man and Guilty of trying to please both sides
₋Pleasing God should be our motivation
Verse 13: “And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.”
₋"Dissembled" – Acted hypocritically
Verse 14: “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?”
₋"Not walking uprightly" – Literally, straight-footed, forward, unwavering
₋"According to the truth of the Gospel" – Their conduct was contrary to the gospel
₋Private sin should be confessed privately
₋Personal sin should be confessed personally
₋Public sin should be confessed publicly
₋II Peter 3:15 – "Our beloved brother Paul"
Verses 15-16: “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.”
₋“Knowing that a man” – Any man, Jew or Gentile
₋"Is not justified by works of the law" – Justification is the judicial act of God whereby He declare a sinner righteous
₋All the guilt & penalty is forever removed
₋Romans 8:1 – "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Verse 17: “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.”
₋Grace does not encourage men to sin
₋Romans 6:1,2 – "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
₋Purpose of the law: To reveal the reality of our sin and To reveal our need of a Savior
₋Romans 1:16 – "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Verses 18-19: “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.”
₋"For if I build again" – If I return to the law
₋Romans 8:2 – "Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
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.”
₋In Christ, Paul found two things:Perfect sacrifice for sin and Perfect righteousness forever
Verse 21: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
₋I Corinthians 15:10 – "But by the grace of God I am what I am."
₋Hebrews 13:9 – "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace."
Galatians 2:20 – "I am crucified with Christ, nevetheless 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."
₋"You are totally forgiven, fully accepted, absolutely loved child of God" – Tony Evans