Thursday, March 20, 2025
Not by Works – Galatians 2:11-14 Submitted by Kay Crumley
We can easily be influenced by others. There are times when we are persuaded to alter our own beliefs to align with those who we respect, who have authority, or who are charismatic. However, when our foundational beliefs come under attack, we must remain true to those convictions based on the authority of His Word. We cannot ‘work’ to earn our salvation. Paul was mentoring new Gentile believers in Antioch. However, Peter created confusion among the Gentile believers with false teaching.
We learned in chapter 1 that Paul established that there is only one gospel, and that the gospel was given him by Jesus Christ Himself. Paul explained how he received it and how he perfected his understanding of the good news. He then, in the first part of chapter 2, went to Jerusalem and met with some of the ‘pillars’ of the church to present his teachings. We find in verses 1-10 that Peter, James and John all agreed that he was teaching the correct gospel. Gentiles too could become Christians by faith and didn’t need to convert to Judaism by restricting themselves to all the 600 plus laws enforced by the Sandrin. We are not saved by what we do, the rules we follow, the rituals we practice, or any other thing we can do in our human strength. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. Peter, James and John remained in Jerusalem to teach the Jews and sent Paul, Barnabas, & Titus to teach the Gentiles with the blessing those church leaders. They were in full agreement in Chapter 2:9. Paul agreed to provide financial support for the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, verse 10.
What happened in verses 11-14 is where the problems began between Paul and Peter (Cephas).
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned
12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Cephas (Peter) came from Jerusalem to Antioch after Paul had made the same journey in reverse. Antioch was Paul’s home church. When Paul visited Peter, they parted, united in their core beliefs. Peter accepted that Gentiles did not have to convert to Judaism to become Christians, he spent time in their homes and ate meals with them. All of that was counter to what the false teachers had been teaching in Galatia.
After Peter arrived in Antioch Certain Men came from James. These men must have been Jewish Christians from the church in Jerusalem. Peter was afraid of them. Scripture doesn’t answer what Peter feared. Perhaps he feared the reaction of other Jewish Christian who would be offended or upset by his actions toward the Gentile Christians. He reacted to their presence, perhaps, without thinking through what he was doing. He separated himself from the Gentile Christians to please the Jewish believers. His actions influenced other Jewish Christians, even Paul’s companion, supporter, and friend Barnabas. The Gentile believers were shunned. They were pushed aside and treated as unworthy.
Paul was left with no other option but to confront Peter openly. These men were united, both believing the one true gospel until Peter feared people more than God. Do we fall into that trap? Paul had shown respect and consideration for Peter at their first meeting by going to him privately. Paul is angry, hurt, and protective of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He challenged Peter with his own actions. Peter had been in community with Gentiles by eating with them, food that was not kosher, and spending time with them in their homes. All of that was counter to Jewish law and traditions. Paul called him out in front of everyone. If Peter didn’t follow the laws that had enslaved the Jews, why would he want to enforce those laws on the new believing Gentiles.
What is the authority we live under? Paul has clearly explained that only the gospel he learned from Jesus Christ is the only thing he considered to be truth. There is nothing we can do, no ritual we can perform, that will earn our salvation. He and Peter both believed the truth of the gospel of Christ. Yet, Peter was guilty of behaving differently from his beliefs under pressure from his peers. His actions caused division in the church, lack of trust between friends, and false teaching in the church. As we seek to know His Word, the Authority for our church, NSBC, we must be more like Paul who stood up for his convictions rather than Peter who allowed his old nature to react without thinking. We have this promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.
We must behave like His new creations and allow our values to determine how we think, what we believe, and how we live. We must be true to the only Authority over our lives, His Holy Word.
