Lesson 10 June 30, 2002
Review
Summary 2:12-13
1. See here an
example of fear neutralizing a believer, Peter, in his life, ministry.
2. Peter concluded I believe,
and wrongly at that, that his fellowshipping with the Gentiles would somehow
neutralize his ministry to Jews.
3. Therefore he compromised the truth as his
solution.
4. They were hypocritical because they were
failing to apply the truth they knew.
5. The church at Antioch
faced a crisis situation, a split along racial lines, Jew/Gentile all because
of one man's fear.
6. No one is immune from
negative volition, no application, not
even an Apostle.
7. Here we see operation
bandwagon, others jumping on the hypocrisy started by Peter.
8. One of the greatest blows
to Paul personally had to be the defection of Barnabas
2:14
Waffling on the Truth
We find here they
knew at least the basics of the truth, that should have motivated them to take
different actions, not succumb to the legalists.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel,
- Paul defines the limits
about which they are wavering and waffling.
the truth of the
gospel,
Paul takes
action
I said to Peter
before them all
Paul exposes the hypocrisy
"If
you, being a Jew, (and
you are 1cc) live in the
manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as
Jews?
Paul's indictment why do you compel
Gentiles to live as Jews?
Summary
2:14
1. Because of the seriousness of the issue Paul
gets right to the issue, asks Peter to explain his inconsistency with the
Truth.
2. How do we know Peter knew? That is that the levitical regulations
related to diet, what was clean or unclean were no longer in force. Acts 10:28 [gives BL]
3. Peter's
waffling on the truth had a negative impact on the fellowship in the
Church at Antioch. It was drawing lines
between Jew and Gentile that would if not handled quickly divide the church.
4. Because of the
negative impact of what Peter had done Paul was quick to rebuke him to
prevent further wavering from the truth.
2:15 Race is not an issue in justification
"We are Jews by nature
and
not sinners from among the Gentiles;
2:16 The
meaning of justification, knowing the facts
Paul nails 5 important truths related to
Justification here in verse 16. This is foundational truth!
Truth #1 "to
be justified" means to be declared righteous before God
The verb is dikaio,w to declare just or right. [Rom 3:24]
Truth #2 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law"