2025-12-07 Sermon Notes
| Speaker | Archibald Allison |
|---|---|
| Date | 2025-12-07 |
| Location | Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church |
| Passage | Galatians 2:11-16 |
| Title | Be Honest About The Gospel |
| Takeaways | [object Object] |
| Subjects | ["[[Good News |
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned2. For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?1 "We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners, yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Points
- Paul recounts a story when he needed to rebuke Peter.
- First there was deep unity and joy. They were united under the Gospel and Christ.
- Then there was great disunity. There was disagreement, and Paul resisted Peter to his face in public.
- Then Paul and Peter were again united under the truth of knowing that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not in our works.
- What happened:
- In Antioch, the Church was united. Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, men and women all sat and ate together as one, as equals.
- Jews and Gentiles even ate non-Kosher food together.
- God revealed to the Church that we are no longer bound to the law and are no longer required to eat the Kosher foods. Acts 10:9-16
- Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise.
- Ephesians 2:14-18 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off [Gentiles] and to those who were near [Jews]. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
- Jews and Gentiles even ate non-Kosher food together.
- But after the Judaisers came, Peter withdrew and no longer ate with the Gentiles.
- This is because the Judaisers taught that it is not enough to receive the Gospel by faith in Christ. They taught that we must follow the Law to be saved.
- What a travesty this event was!! The many peoples that God brought together, the Jews, and the many peoples of the Gentiles – Paul and the Judaisers separated these people!
- Galatians 2:12-13 For before some people came from James, he [Peter] ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
- fearing: Peter feared the Judaisers. He feared losing his reputation.
- Peter feared that he would be accused of being too liberal, that he would not have been conservative enough.
- It is worth noting that there are some even today hold that Paul was wrong to rebuke Peter here.
- The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Paul ought not to have rebuked Peter, the so-called future first Pope.
- fearing: Peter feared the Judaisers. He feared losing his reputation.
- Galatians 2:14-15 But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do? "We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,
- Paul did not rebuke Peter privately. Paul did it publicly and bluntly so that the whole church would see and realize the importance of this teaching.
- If Paul rebuked Peter privately then the Church would not have learned from this event.
- Paul pointed out Peter's hypocrisy: Peter followed the Law, but only when the Judaisers were present. But in daily life, Peter did not live like this.
- By Peter's actions, he was giving the message to the Gentiles that you are not enough, something is missing in you.
- The apostle Peter was not right in all things. He was a complex, flawed men like we all are.
- It was Peter who said that Jesus must not, could not die.
- It was Peter who denied Jesus Christ three times.
- It was Peter who said to the vision, when he heard Rise Peter, kill and eat, responded three times No Lord.
- Sometimes we must be private and easygoing. But sometimes we must be public and blunt in order to protect what matters. Paul was right to rebuke Peter here, even publicly, because Paul was defending the Gospel.
- Paul did not rebuke Peter privately. Paul did it publicly and bluntly so that the whole church would see and realize the importance of this teaching.
- Galatians 2.16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
- One of the phrases of the reformation is sola fide, by faith alone. We see that truth taught here.
- You do not understand Galatians here unless you understand Genesis 15
- Genesis 15:5-6 Yahweh brought him [Abraham] outside, and said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." He said to Abram, "So your offspring will be." He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness.
- Abraham was declared righteous by God, not because of his works. It was only because of his faith in God.
- It sounds too good to be true but it is: we do not need to earn our salvation.
- It is freely given to us by God. God justifies sinners.
- It is so important that we hold onto the true Gospel and do not lose it no matter what Galatians 3:1-4
- Paul says even if an angel brings another gospel do not believe in him. Even if Paul himself brings another gospel do not believe in it. Galatians 1:8-9
- In Antioch, the Church was united. Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, men and women all sat and ate together as one, as equals.
Application
- ❓: Why do we talk the way that we talk, teach how we teach? Are we worried about what other people think? We must never preach what people want to hear but only what they need to hear.
- Be careful.
- We must be sure not to lose the Gospel or change it in any way. This is our most precious treasure.
- Be patient and not judgmental.
- Did Paul rebuke Peter? Yes. But did Paul deny Peter's authority, or deny that Peter was an apostle? No. Nor did he claim that everything else that Peter ever taught was wrong.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
- ⭐: If you win people by being sensitive and understanding to their culture and situation, then this is not necessarily wrong.
- ⭐: But it is hypocrisy if you change the truth of the Gospel.
- Matthew 23:25-26 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
- Did Paul rebuke Peter? Yes. But did Paul deny Peter's authority, or deny that Peter was an apostle? No. Nor did he claim that everything else that Peter ever taught was wrong.
- Be careful.
- We are saved from our sin only by faith in Jesus Christ.
- sola Christus
- Believe in Him, trust in Him, receive Him today.
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
2025-12-07 Sermon Notes
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💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
Points
Application
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions