Standing Tall: Galatians 2:11-21 Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, October 28, 2012

Paul continues his defense of his right to speak Last week: with a blend of humility and confidence he presented his teaching to the apostles in Jerusalem, and he was recognized by them as a true authority (Gal. 2:1-10) This week: yet, in at least one instance, he even had to correct Peter, demonstrating that he is not inferior to the others or dependant upon them in any way

Galatians 2: But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

Galatians 2: The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “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?

Galatians 2: “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Galatians 2: But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.

Galatians 2: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Once again, translating into Canadian...

Now, a wrinkle... Evgeni Malkin

Fanciful Parallel 11 But when Mario came to training camp, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from the NHL head office, he used to eat with the Russian players; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the patriotic North Americans who remembered the Cold War and the Canada-Russia series from the 70s.

Fanciful Parallel 13 The rest of the players joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even the coach was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth that we were all working for a common goal, I said to Mario in the presence of all, “If you, being a member of a team, live like an individual instead of a team player, how

Fanciful Parallel is it that you ask the Russian players to join us in our quest for the Stanley Cup? That is a reward for superior team play, and only a strong team can hope to win it... analogy breaks down; back to the text! And remember Acts 10...

Acts 10 9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

Acts and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.”

Acts Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

Acts Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.

Acts While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

Acts For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

In other words... Peter should have known better But issues like these are tricky—you have to balance what you think is right with what others are feeling Paul understands though, that this is a ‘make or break’ moment for the real message of Good News that God has given to the world

Tough parts v. 14, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “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?” Only a small percentage of Jewish people lived according to all the laws. Paul was one of them; Peter probably wasn’t

Tough Parts v. 15, “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed... We had a perfect law to follow and some of us tried to do it; we weren’t able to connect with God through it, though

Tough Parts v. 17, But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! By lightening up on our focus on law, are we leading people into sin? Don’t people need restraints?

Tough Parts v. 18, For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. The real sin would be if I took attention away from what Jesus has done for us and tried to re-build the human desire for a law—it doesn’t work

Tough Parts v. 20, I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Think of a faucet above our heads or our heart that can be turned on and pour life into us

Tough Parts v. 21, I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. You can’t have it both ways—God’s grace or human effort; since we’re all in need of grace, let’s go forward together with every human that wants to turn the faucet on