Galatians 2:11-21
Q.1. Why did Paul clash with Peter? What impact did Peter’s prejudice have on the others? How did Paul tackle the problem? – (Gal.2:11-14)
Paul recorded that even the apostles could get it wrong. He recalled an incident when Peter disfellowshipped from the Gentile believers because he was under pressure from Jewish legalists called Judaizers. He recorded that – 11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned … 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Literally – why do you compel the Gentiles to JUDAIZE? (Gal.2:11 & 14). Even his ministry partner Barnabas had joined in with the hypocrisy (Gal.2:11-13). To his credit, Paul confronted this crucial matter head on, because it threatened the Truth of the Gospel.
Q.2. How are sinners justified before God? What does submitting to the Law produce? How should we live under the Gospel? – (Gal.2:15-21)
Paul went on to explain that we are not saved by keeping the law, and – … that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law, since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified (Gal.2:16). He also anticipated the argument that Christ might be accused of being the author of sin, since believers continue to sin (Gal.2:17). Paul answered that he would never rebuild the rule-keeping system that he had destroyed. When he died to the Law, it freed him to live for God (Gal.2:18-19). He summed up his new life in Christ, testifying that – I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me (Gal.2:20). He went as far as to claim – I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly (Gal.2:21). We should reject all additional rules and philosophies, or anything else that devalues Christ’s atoning sacrifice.