1-10
Chapter one ended with Paul affirming that his apostleship was ordained by God. Chapter two begins with him showing that the other apostles were also in agreement with Paul’s ministry and message.
Fourteen years after he visited Peter, Paul says he returned to Jerusalem with Barnabas, who had accompanied him on his first missionary journey, and Titus, whom he had led to Christ. (Titus 1:4)
He makes a point of telling them that he returned due to a revelation of the Holy Spirit. While there he met with “those who seemed influential” otherwise known as Peter, James (Jesus half brother) and John, who were the leaders of the Jerusalem church.
He met with them to make sure they were in agreement with his message so his work would not be rendered ineffective.
Part of that message, of course, was that the Gentile believers were not bound by Mosaic law, such as circumcision.
Titus, a Greek, was the perfect proof for his question. Paul explains that the leaders did not force Titus to be circumcised.
They did not change his message, because, Paul says, it is God’s message. The same message God gave Peter to give to the Jews, He gave Paul to give to the Gentiles.
James, Peter and John saw that God had given Paul the gift of ministry, and so accepted he and Barnabas.
11-14
Paul then reveals an incident in which he was forced to rebuke Peter due to his hypocrisy.
He explains that Peter would often eat with the Gentile believers in Antioch. However, when a certain group of Jews arrived, he “drew back and separated himself” from the Gentiles.
He would no longer eat with them because he was afraid of what Paul calls “the circumcision party.” Basically, it was a group of Jews who believed the Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be saved.
When some of the other Jews saw Peter’s actions, they followed his lead. Even Barnabas, to Paul’s great dismay, got caught up in the hypocrisy.
Therefore, since it was such a public offense, Paul publicly calls Peter out on it.
He asks, “If you, as a Jew, can live as a Gentile (by dispensing with the ceremonial laws of Jews), then why do you force the Gentile believers to live like Jews (and keep the ceremonial laws)?
It was interesting for me to see that Peter, long after he’d been forgiven for his denial of Jesus, was still subject to putting the praise of men above the praise of God.
Just like back during the night Christ was taken prisoner, Peter was too afraid of what men would think of him to stand up for what he believed in.
15-21
Paul then reviews the gospel message for them one more time trying to accentuate the fact that no one is made right with God by following the law. It is trusting in Jesus Christ that makes a person right with God.
He restates his premise once again to make things crystal clear: no one can be made right by following the law.
He then attempts to explain to them that whether Jew or Gentile, we are all justified in the same way. He says, the Jews clearly came to Christ to be made right, but does that mean it was Jesus who made them sinners? NO! Of course not, he proclaims.
That’s the work of the law. That’s its main purpose – to show us our sin.
Having realized all this, Paul says, would it not be folly to go back to the law and expect to be justified either by moral works or ceremonial sacrifices.
I have died to the law in order that I might live for God, he says. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. It is his death which rendered the law no longer effective.
Now, he says, it is Christ who lives in me and His spirit which helps me obey Christ. I don’t need the law anymore.
To say we still need the law to justify us, is destroying the meaning of God’s grace.
If following the law is how we are made right with God, then Jesus died for nothing.
Final Thoughts
I mentioned how Peter, though forgiven, was still subject to his old nature. I say that, not to disparage Peter, but rather to encourage us today. Even as godly and admired as Peter became, he still had struggles with sin.
I was always a shy kid and constantly got down on myself for not being more bold about Christ. The Holy Spirit has helped me make such huge strides since my youth, but if He is not the one in control – Oy vey! I can still be leery about voicing my beliefs in public. That is why I love that God gives us the whole story of Peter’s life – his ups and his downs. It is such an incredible reminder to stay close to my Savior and constantly keep the Holy Spirit in control of my life.
