Peter's Public Rebuke

What Is Hypocrisy  Under The New Covenant?  

Galatians 2:11
11"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, {senior pastor of the Church of Jerusalem} he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come,he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. {other Jews} 13 And the other Jews dissembled (withdrew) likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. (hypocrisy) 14 But when I saw that they WALKED NOT UPRIGHTLY ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, I (Paul) said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

(Peter preaching to the Gentiles.)

Peter had been feasting and fellowshipping with the Gentiles, having a grand ol’ time with his new brethren in Christ.  Suddenly, however, he withdrew himself from their company when word reached him that men from the Church in Jerusalem, sent by their senior pastor, James (the brother of Jesus) were coming to town.  “They” were those of “the CIRCUMCISION,” the text says, meaning fellow Jews.

According to the Law of  Moses you see, Jews were forbidden from fraternizing with Gentiles, from eating certain foods; and they were to obey the Ten Commandments.

None of those things are forbidden under the New Covenant, of course.

Now, these Jerusalem Jews were born again believers but, like many Christians today, were still adhering to the law of Moses.  Trying to obey the laws of the Ten, under the New Covenant is “NOT WALKING UPRIGHTYLY,” as Paul declares in no uncertain terms.

The Apostle Paul had been keenly observing all of Peter’s hypocritical behavior and finally called him out in a very PUBLIC way.  Ouch!

As if that weren’t bad enough, the Holy Spirit recorded his misconduct in scripture so that 2,000 years-worth of believers, like you and me, would be able to read the story.  You see, whenever there is behavior that perverts the Gospel and causes God’s people to WALK NOT UPRIGHTLY, the Holy Spirit wants to make sure that every believer understands exactly what that means.

This is the very same Peter who walked with Jesus, talked with Him, ate and slept with Him, heard him preach and observed Him up close and personal for three and a half years.  He saw miracles too numerous to count, not to mention, incredible.  He saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain, glorified before his wondering eyes.  He even walked on water with Him and became a Christian when Paul was, well, NOWHERE.

Isn’t it curious that it wasn’t to Peter that the full-up revelation of the Gospel of grace was given?  No. It was given to the Apostle Paul, someone who had never met Jesus in person.  Someone, in fact, who had persecuted the Church, had believers imprisoned and even had some killed.  He even stood by, guarding the coats of those who stoned righteous Stephen, thus consenting to his death!

This Paul had some VERY STONG WORDS to say about Peter’s behavior.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN.” (Galatians 2:21)

(Paul reasons with Gentiles.)

So what, then, is “truth of the Gospel?”  “Not by works of righteousness,” (Titus 3:5) our law-keeping, are we justified but by faith in the sacrifice of THE ONE, Jesus Christ.  Our right doing is a fruit of our right knowing that we are forevermade righteous by Jesus.   We love BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.  (1 John 4:19)  We are MADE righteous.  It is done TO us.  We do not do it TO ourselves.

Our holy living is a grateful, effortless, loving response to the love of The One Who first loved us.  If we could “DO” good enough then Christ didn’t have to come and die for us.   If we act as if we can become acceptable to God by our “DOING GOOD” we are, in effect, TRAMPLING UNDERFOOT THE BLOOD OF JESUS and saying He never died, or His death was in vain.

AS IF!!!

Many, (dare I say “most) today, though they believe we are saved by grace through faith, are still looking at what they are doing to make sure they measure up to some standard of right conduct.

NEWS FLASH:  GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION; HE IS AFTER HEART TRANSFORMATION.

Correct me if I’m wrong but if we are transformed by beholding Jesus, then beholding ourselves and our performance is LOOKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.  Of ourselves, we can do NOTHING.  But if all you ever hear in church is how you need to “live holy” by doing this or doing that, not doing this or not doing that and Jesus’ Name is hardly even mentioned, the Holy Spirit has no material with which to work.

WE ARE TRANSFORMED BY BEHOLDING, NOT SCOLDING.

It is by seeing Jesus in His beauty, His Glory, His love for us and our right standing with Him that transforms!

HOW CAN YOU BE TRANSFORMED IF YOU ARE NOT SEEING JESUS??
YOU CAN’T.

Galatians 2:20

“20 I have been crucified with Christ;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 for me.”

Just as we are not sinners by the act of “sinning” but because of Adam’s sin, we are not righteous by “doing right” but by the righteousness of THE ONE:  JESUS CHRIST.
Adam incurred the debt;  Jesus Christ OVERpaid it…..BY A LONG SHOT.
HALLELUIA!!!!!

(The Law has been fulfilled and replaced by the New Covenant.)

As Peter was so publicly told:  TRYING TO OBEY THE LAW IS HYPOCRISY UNDER THE NEW COVENANT.

And that, Church, is the meaning of Peter’s public rebuke.