In need of reminding constantly
Paul goes to Jerusalem in Galatians 2. He brings a Gentile with him - Titus. Jerusalem - the city of peace - becomes the display case for the reality of gospel peace. Paul brings a non-law keeping Gentile into the headquarters of legalistic Judaism to show the world the freedom Christ brings from the bondage to the law.
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." 3:28
God displays His glory and His pleasure in crossing every wall of partition imaginable - social, racial, economical, religious. . . . . .
Titus was accepted, without circumcision.The Jewish church leaders understood that Christ's law-keeping and penalty-paying death removed the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, between uncircumcised and circumcised. He had circumcised their hearts. The blood of the Lamb of God had atoned for, payed for, more than covered their sins. As a new entity - Christ's church - they stood up against the legalists who were seeking to bring them again into the bondage of the law. They did not yield any ground.
"so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you." 2:5
If this truth - that there is no longer any division of race in the body of Christ - did not hold true in Jerusalem, then no one outside Jerusalem would have any grounds for hope that it would for them. But it did hold true. The glory of Christ prevailed over the fading glory of the law.
Paul returned to Antioch praising God, approved by the church to do the work that God had called him to do. Paul did not go needing their approval - he was sent from God. God encouraged him by adding their approval to His. Just in case Paul had any doubts about His divine appointment, God used not only His internal witness in Paul's heart but also the external witness of His other sent-ones.
The next thing we read is Peter's visit to Antioch and how quickly the fear of man replaces the freedom of Christ. Peter came up on his own and reveled in his freedom to fellowship with his former enemies. He ate and drank with them. But, when a group of men came up from Jerusalem who were sent from James, this pillar of the church, this foundation rock of Christ's building, toppled in fear. The glorious truths that he had approved and rejoiced in mere months before now became untruths and inconsequential. Fear blinds our reasoning. It closes doors to glory that we had previously enjoyed. It controls our hearts.
I am reminded by this example of Peter's that I am in daily need of absorbing and chewing on truth. What I may have affirmed yesterday and rejoiced in, I must today seek afresh and anew and again. Fear turns my eyes away from Christ. Fear turns my eyes away from truth. When faced with guilt, I must take it to the cross and see my guilt removed. When faced with uncertainty about tomorrow, I must ask for today's daily bread and realize that He gives grace for this moment alone.
Paul did not allow Peter to continue to live in fear. He loved both Peter and the church too much to let that happen. But, most importantly, he loved the gospel and the pure truth of it too much to allow God's glorious freedom to be slandered by man's fear.
"so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you"
Paul rebuked Peter publicly and then reminded him of the gospel. Do you have anyone in your life that will do the same for you?
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." 3:28
God displays His glory and His pleasure in crossing every wall of partition imaginable - social, racial, economical, religious. . . . . .
Titus was accepted, without circumcision.The Jewish church leaders understood that Christ's law-keeping and penalty-paying death removed the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, between uncircumcised and circumcised. He had circumcised their hearts. The blood of the Lamb of God had atoned for, payed for, more than covered their sins. As a new entity - Christ's church - they stood up against the legalists who were seeking to bring them again into the bondage of the law. They did not yield any ground.
"so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you." 2:5
If this truth - that there is no longer any division of race in the body of Christ - did not hold true in Jerusalem, then no one outside Jerusalem would have any grounds for hope that it would for them. But it did hold true. The glory of Christ prevailed over the fading glory of the law.
Paul returned to Antioch praising God, approved by the church to do the work that God had called him to do. Paul did not go needing their approval - he was sent from God. God encouraged him by adding their approval to His. Just in case Paul had any doubts about His divine appointment, God used not only His internal witness in Paul's heart but also the external witness of His other sent-ones.
The next thing we read is Peter's visit to Antioch and how quickly the fear of man replaces the freedom of Christ. Peter came up on his own and reveled in his freedom to fellowship with his former enemies. He ate and drank with them. But, when a group of men came up from Jerusalem who were sent from James, this pillar of the church, this foundation rock of Christ's building, toppled in fear. The glorious truths that he had approved and rejoiced in mere months before now became untruths and inconsequential. Fear blinds our reasoning. It closes doors to glory that we had previously enjoyed. It controls our hearts.
I am reminded by this example of Peter's that I am in daily need of absorbing and chewing on truth. What I may have affirmed yesterday and rejoiced in, I must today seek afresh and anew and again. Fear turns my eyes away from Christ. Fear turns my eyes away from truth. When faced with guilt, I must take it to the cross and see my guilt removed. When faced with uncertainty about tomorrow, I must ask for today's daily bread and realize that He gives grace for this moment alone.
Paul did not allow Peter to continue to live in fear. He loved both Peter and the church too much to let that happen. But, most importantly, he loved the gospel and the pure truth of it too much to allow God's glorious freedom to be slandered by man's fear.
"so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you"
Paul rebuked Peter publicly and then reminded him of the gospel. Do you have anyone in your life that will do the same for you?
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