Welcome to episode 148 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Galatians, covering chapter 2:11-21. The series is called “Free.”  Today, we will cover: 

• The need for Paul’s rebuke (vv. 11-14) 
• The nature of Paul’s rebuke (vv. 15-21) 

Key takeaways: 

• Paul’s public reprimand of Peter was warranted because Peter’s sin was committed in the public sphere, and it had public consequences in that others followed his example. 
• Peter, by refusing to eat with the Gentiles if they did not keep the food laws, was, in effect, compelling the Gentiles to live like Jews to be part of the people of God. 
• Peter and his friends did not act out of conviction but were motivated by fear. 
• If members of the covenant people (both Peter and Paul) need to put their faith in Christ to be right before God, and if they cannot be righteous in God’s sight by keeping the law, then it is senseless for Peter to require Gentiles to observe the law for them to have a right relationship with God. 
• Reinstituting the law transgresses God’s will because it denies that righteousness is in Christ and returns to the old era of salvation history.  Therefore, to reach back to the law for righteousness constitutes sin since it denies righteousness is in Christ. 

Quotable: 

• Human beings do not stand in the right before God by observing the law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Application: 

• Even the most spiritual and advanced Christians, like the apostle Peter, are still liable to sin. No Christian reaches a point where he or she is without sin, and even if we are experienced Christians, we may sin in significant ways. 
• None of us live a solitary life. Our sins always have an effect on others. 
• As believers, we are responsible for both encouraging and rebuking fellow believers. 
• No one can stand before God on the basis of what they have done. Salvation is of the Lord, and it is received by faith alone. 
• Righteousness cannot come via the law. If it did, then Christ’s death on the cross is superfluous. Christ’s self-giving on the cross would be completely unnecessary, for right standing with God would be attained through observing the law rather than by trusting in what God has done in Christ to grant salvation. 

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