Peter’s Hypocrisy at Antioch Ancient City of Antioch on the Orontes

I.Paul and Barnabas in Antioch A. First journey took a year or more to accomplish B. Stayed about one year in Antioch C. Peter visited Antioch during this year 1. Enjoyed “table fellowship” with the Gentiles 2. Certain men from James arrived a. Peter separated himself from the Gentiles and would not eat with them (Gal. 2:11-21) b. these are men “of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12) c. false brothers? (Gal. 2:4) – any professing Christian who believes he must do something beyond what Christ has already done

3. Peter feared he was putting the Jerusalem church in danger a. separated himself from the Gentiles b. he was afraid of the circumcision group c. other Jews and even Barnabas were led astray by his hypocrisy 4. Paul believed they were compromising the law- free gospel a. Gentiles were not second-class citizens in the church of Christ b. Peter and others were nullifying the grace of God and denying the true gospel 5. Paul rebuked Peter to his face (Gal. 2:14-21)

NIV Galatians 2:14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. 17 "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

a. Paul’s “either/or”: - attempt to achieve righteousness by the law and negate Christ’s cross-work - die to the law, be united with Christ in his death, and live to God through his life 6. From Acts 15 we realize Peter returned to “table fellowship” with the Gentiles Letter to the Galatians: The Magna Carta of Christian Liberty The Magna Carta of Christian Liberty I.Written during Antioch stay about 49 A.D.

II. Paul received word of the Judaizers in the Galatian churches A. the Judaizers brought a “different gospel” (not true!) a. their Christology was correct – Jesus was the Messiah b. their soteriology (view of salvation) was incorrect- Paul’s work was incomplete (swthria) c. Salvation included circumcision and performance of the works of the law III. Three dominant themes of the letter A. Paul’s apostalic authority was from Christ B. Justification (right standing before God) comes through faith in Christ apart from law-keeping C. Justification by faith leads to a life of freedom lived in the Spirit

APPLICATION I.Our salvation is attained only by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. II.There will be some who come to us quoting Scripture and saying their way is right. We must discern truth using all of Scripture. III.Sometimes debate and arguments are good within Christ’s church and the body of believers. They help resolve conflict and maintain truth. IV.Confronting people (as Paul did) is the biblical way of resolving conflict. V.If you stand for Christ, you will be persecuted.