At the beginning of our study of Paul's letter to the Galatians, in chapter one, we learned of Paul's amazement that the Galatians had so quickly turned from the truth of his gospel of grace, and began trying to establish their righteousness with God through
their works.
The men from Jerusalem, the Judaizers, who had come to challenge Paul's authority as an apostle,undermined Paul's gospel of grace by convincing the Galatians they had to live under the Law, be circumcised, and obey the Mosaic covenant in order to be saved.
Paul's anger is apparent, telling the Galatians, "if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!" The Greek word, anathema means let him be condemned and sent to hell. (Gal. 1:8-9)
In chapter two we learned that even the apostle Peter, and Paul's helper, Barnabas, had fallen prey to the pressures of the legalists, those stealers of joy, to separate themselves from the Gentile Christians in the church at Antioch because they were
uncircumcised and unfit to associate with.
So Paul confronted Peter publicly about his hypocrisy. Peter knew better, yet he succumbed to peer pressure, and joined with the Judaizers and ate with them, separating himself from the Gentiles
Scripture References:
Galatians 3:1-5
Jeremiah 31:31-37
Galatians 1:8-9
Galatians 2:16
Hebrews 5:5-9
Hebrews 7:23-28
Hebrews 8:6-13
Hebrews 9:11-15
Hebrews 10:10-14
Romans 6:10
Romans 7:14-25,
Romans 8:1
Romans 11:17-18
Galatians 3:19, 24, 28-29
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Hebrews 13:20-21 |
