Lesson 511

(01-09-13) Galatians 2:11-21, "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 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. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 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? 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. 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. 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.
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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Today's lesson is a very powerful one and should be studied over and over by those who believe they are required to, after attaining eternal life and in order to keep it, live a life that is sin free and perfect according to the Old Testament commandments. There is NO requirement for one who has accepted Christ to live a sin free life, Jesus already did it for us.

Herein, Paul straightforwardly confronts Peter about his unwillingness to stand up for the pure gospel of Christ. He rightfully accused Peter and some of the others of diluting the new law of faith with the old Law of Moses. Paul knew they had done it out of fear of the Jewish leaders, nevertheless, in yielding to the Jews, Peter demonstrated a definite weakness as a teacher of Christ's gospel.

Although today's lesson deals with the differences between the traditions of the Jews as opposed to those of the Gentiles, and how Christian doctrine approaches each of those traditions, this same lesson can be applied to those today who claim that attaining eternal salvation takes more than the acceptance of, and total faith in, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Nowhere in the text of the New Testament is it said that salvation is doled out in parts, one piece at a time, as certain steps are accomplished. Romans, 4:4-8, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

As these lessons continue we will find more dissensions among the early Churches and how Paul fought desperately to keep the purity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am amazed that so many (Catholics) graciously accept Peter as "the father" of the "church" seeing that he was one of the weakest of the original Apostles.
Paul was hand selected by Jesus Christ to bring the gospel to the Gentiles (the vast majority of the world). He did it with and undying zeal and absolute faith in his message.~