Galatians 2:11-21 =February 23

Paul’s Rebuke To Peter,                      2:11-14

Synopsis:         Paul teaches he did not receive anything from the apostles in Jerusalem; however, Paul rebuked Peter at Antioch for his inconsistent actions. Peter separated himself from eating with the Gentile Christians after he had earlier eaten with them.

11         But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.

Paul has shown that he did not get the gospel from men.  Paul received the gospel directly from Jesus Christ.  Paul stood on equal ground with the other apostles.  Here Paul related he rebuked Peter when Peter acted contrary to the teachings of the gospel.  This certainly proved Peter was not the Pope. Paul did not say when or why Peter came to Antioch.  Peter was in Antioch long enough for his behavior to be clearly seen.  Paul confronted Peter to his face, not behind his back, as Paul’s accusers had done.  Peter stood condemned means he was clearly wrong in his actions.

12         For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.

When Peter came to Antioch, he ate with the Gentiles.  Peter knew this was right (Acts 10:11-16; 11:3, 4, 12).  When certain came from James, Peter withdrew and would not eat with the Gentiles. He ate only with the Jews.  It is not likely James had sent these men in view of Acts 15:19, 24; however, they claimed to be from James.  They were Jewish Christians who still insisted Christians must live by the customs of the Jews that forbade eating with the Gentiles.  Peter knew better; however, fearing these men’s criticisms, he quit eating with the Gentiles.

13         And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; inasmuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.

Peter’s example soon extended to other Jewish Christians.  Even Barnabas quit eating with the Gentiles.  Paul calls this dissimulation. Dissimulation means to hide one’s feelings by pretense.  This was hypocrisy.  They were pretending they believed one principle, when in reality they believed another.  If one cannot eat with his brother in Christ, there is not full fellowship. This would mean there was second class citizenship in the kingdom.  This was contrary to God’s word (Galatians 3:28-29).

14         But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before them all, If thou being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

The issue was not one of opinion.  Peter was not walking uprightly according to the truth.  He had sinned.  Paul rebuked Peter before them all.  There were others in this dissimulation besides Peter - some Jewish Christians and Barnabas.  Paul showed Peter and the others their inconsistency.  They lived like Gentiles; however, they demanded the Gentiles live like the Jews in order to have full fellowship.  This would have required circumcision and the keeping of the law of Moses.  This would have been a perverted gospel. One must not add to the gospel or take away from the gospel (Galatians 1:8-9).  Peter was playing right into the hands of the Judaizing teachers. He knew better.

Justification And Union With Christ By Faith,              2:15-21

Synopsis:         A man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Christ Jesus. Paul died to the law that he might live to God.  If the law of Moses was the savior of mankind from their sins, Christ died in vain.

15         We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

Paul continued to speak to Peter and the Jewish Christians in Antioch.  At the same time, Paul entered into the discussion with the Christians of Galatia.   He used this terminology to show they had a wonderful opportunity to know the difference between the law and the gospel. They needed to know this.  Paul classified himself with Peter and the other Jewish Christians. They were Jews by nature and not Gentile dogs. Being Jews they did not commit the grosser sins characterized by heathen Gentiles.

16         yet know that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Paul quoted Psalm 143:2 to prove what they believed was right. No one could be justified by the law of Moses.  This was the reason the Galatians turned from the works of the law to faith in Christ Jesus.  Justified means one was forgiven of his sins and treated by God as if he had never sinned. The law of Moses was a works system.  The frustration of the law was that no one could earn salvation.  Man needed a Savior.  Paul and the other Jews acknowledged this when they turned from the law to Christ and obeyed the gospel.

17         But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin?  God forbid.

The Jews turned from the law of Moses to follow Jesus Christ in order to have a right relationship with God.  If they found justification was not in Christ, do they make Christ a minister of sin?  By turning back to the law or imposing the law of Moses upon Christians, the false teachers were teaching Christ alone couldn’t save; therefore, he was a minister of sin. To this statement, Paul replied God forbid! - A thousand times no!  Christ alone saves.  No other system was needed. Men are saved by Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Only the gospel is needed.

18         For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.

Paul changed to the first person to drive his point home.  Those things which I destroyed refers to the law of Moses.  Paul stated that if he turned back to the law of Moses to find justification, he would find himself separated from God for two reasons.  First, the law of Moses cannot forgive sins.  The law of Moses only pointed what sin is.  Second, one could be justified only by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9). If one turned from the blood of Christ, he was a sinner.

19         For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.

Paul sought to live under the law and came to the realization that the law of Moses could not save him. The law of Moses showed him as separated from God (Romans 7). The law served as a schoolmaster to bring him to Christ (Galatians 3:24). The law separated him from God.  When Paul realized he was separated from God, he turned to Jesus Christ and was separated from the law - died to the law.  When he obeyed the gospel of Christ, he did it so he might live for God.  Negatively to live for God means no longer living for self.  Positively living for God means living as God wanted one to live in accordance with his will and for his glory (I Corinthians 10:31).

20         I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.

Paul once sought to attain salvation by the works of the law of Moses; however, that part of him had been crucified with Christ.  It had been put to death.  Paul no longer sought to live by himself, but by Christ who lived in him.  Paul declared Christ lived in him through faith as Paul believed in Christ, trusted in him and obeyed his word.  Christ was the Son of God who loved Paul and gave himself up for Paul (I Corinthians 15:3).

21         I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.

Since Paul trusted in Jesus and obeyed his word, he was not making void the grace of Christ.  He would be making void the grace of Christ if he sought to be saved by the works of the law.  This would mean Christ had died in vain.  He was saying, Peter, your course of action leads one to the conclusion Christ died in vain. This is true of anyone who seeks to save himself by good works.