4 ways Paul’s confrontation with Peter helps us live out the gospel
I. Be Confident That the Gospel Is True and Authoritative In All Times and All Places
A. The argument from 1:11-2:14:
1. He received the gospel from Jesus Himself and wasn’t taught by any man (1:11-17)
Galatians 1:11-12 - For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
2. After 3 years of preaching, Paul and Peter meet and are in agreement about the gospel (1:18-21)
Galatians 1:18-19 - Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
3. After 14 years, Paul and the apostles in Jerusalem are still in agreement with the gospel of salvation by grace alone apart from works (2:1-10)
Galatians 2:9 - …and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
4. Paul’s rebuke of Peter shows that Paul’s gospel isn’t just endorsed by the Jerusalem apostles, but that it actually stands in authority over them (2:11-14, cf. 1:8-9)
Galatians 1:8-9 - But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
II. Confront Conduct That the Genuine Gospel Condemns
Galatians 2:11 - But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
A. Because the authority comes from Jesus Christ
III. Avoid Conduct That Confuses the True Gospel
Galatians 2:12-13 - For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
A. By guarding against the fear of man
B. Because it’s hypocritical and can lead others into hypocrisy
C. Legalism
IV. Compel Conduct That Is Consistent With Freedom We Have In Christ
Galatians 2:14 - 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 Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
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