Galatians God’s Gift of Freedom Food Fight in Church Galatians 2:11-16

Galatians 2:11-16 “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 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.

Galatians 2:11-16 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to 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?

Galatians 2:11-16 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not `Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing 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 observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Freedom and integrity are at stake.

Peter: A Rock of Faith Influence can be good or bad. One day Jesus asked his disciples, “‘Who do you say I am?’ 16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 17 Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:15-18).

Peter: A Rock of Faith Influence can be good or bad. He led the church in food liberty. “Let those who love the Lord hate evil.” Psalm 97:10

“About noon. Peter went up on the roof to pray “About noon . . . Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Why Legalism Stinks The heart of the law is lost in rules. It turns good into bad. It promotes fear. Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”

Why Legalism Stinks The heart of the law is lost in rules. It turns good into bad. It promotes fear. It turns people into hypocrites. “When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel.” Galatians 2:14

Why Legalism Stinks The heart of the law is lost in rules. It turns good into bad. It promotes fear. It turns people into hypocrites. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.

Why Legalism Stinks The heart of the law is lost in rules. It turns good into bad. It promotes fear. It turns people into hypocrites. It imposes restrictions on others.

Avoiding Cliques Allow unity to overpower differences. Use your influence to include, not exclude.

Fighting Hypocrisy Rebuke is an attempt to restore. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.” Galatians 6:1.

Fighting Hypocrisy Rebuke is an attempt to restore. Public sin calls for public response. Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

“It is for freedom that you have been set free “It is for freedom that you have been set free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 God’s Gift of Freedom

Challenge: What is at stake? God’s Gift of Freedom