Forgiveness and Reconciliation within One's Church Family
Your Biblical Identity in Christ
Galatians 2:11-21
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas (Peter) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”
~ Apostle Paul,
Galatians 2:14
Paul Opposes Cephas
11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
We have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. The life we now live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.
When the Apostle Paul found fellow Apostle Peter setting a hypocritical example, he was willing to confront him to keep the church aligned with the Gospel’s message of truth; That is taking sin and reconciliation seriously. Maybe this was one of those “takes one to know one” moments. Paul knew what it was like to know God’s Word but be misapplying it. As Jesus graciously redirected Paul in Acts 9, Paul in turn redirects Peter – hopefully with similar grace and kindness that he received from Jesus. Paul can be a model for us when we see others living at odds with their beliefs. But oh, be careful! Paul warns even as he teaches,
Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Paul could work from a place of humility when correcting others. Can You? Paul encourages us to use him as a model as he follows Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1). Pray for help here and talk with God about who has permission, grace, and willingness to call out your ungodly behavior or attitudes. And – ask for a willingness to listen as well.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, where I can be of help with others who need direction, let me be full of grace, humility, and kindness. Where I need help from others, enable me to receive it willingly and humbly. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.