Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the Law died to the Law that I might live to God. 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. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died in vain” Galatians 2:11-21 (NKJV).
We must understand what Paul is addressing in this portion of scripture in its entire context. His concerns are still very relevant in today’s church. Hypocrisy is a big problem throughout the Lord’s church. Many of our doctrinal positions are rooted in hypocrisy regarding the more significant scope of God’s Word and our relationship to one another.
Paul is bold in his addressing the hypocrisy he observed in Peter’s conduct. Peter, who with James and John recognized the grace on Paul and Barnabus toward the Gentiles. Peter, who in Acts chapter ten had his own epiphany or vision concerning how God saw the Gentiles.
Beginning with verse 11, Paul writes, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.”
Hypocrisy is a terrible thing in a child of God. It misrepresents the nature of God. It misrepresents the message of heaven. And it misrepresents the kingdom that our Lord is purposed to establish among human society.
Let’s consider a few hypocrisy’s in today’s corporate church structure. Our doctrinal division represents to the world the clear division in Christ’s Body. Paul warned us in 1 Corinthians 3:11 about how we are to build. He begins by saying there is no other foundation but that which has been laid in Jesus Christ. Be careful how you build on that foundation. Many of our doctrines today have become our foundation rather than Jesus Christ. Private interpretation elevates the denomination above Christ. Things like how we receive Christ, baptism, tongues, how about the name of our denomination or the name of the local church. To even say there are many churches in a city goes contrary to the Biblical picture of church. One church in each city is the biblical form. Paul states one church, one faith, one baptism (see Ephesians 2). Peter says one priesthood and one nation in 1 Peter 2. Paul states that “He has raised us up together, and made us sit together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5-6). There is only one church, and biblically that one church is identified with a cities name.
Another form of hypocrisy is our denominational divisions. The Bible speaks of “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” and “the unity of the faith” (Ephesians 4:3 and 13). Much of our modern-day Christian faith is built on the Reformation rather than the foundation the original apostles gave to us. We have followed men and become carnal in our practices through our divisions. Paul deals with these divisions in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and 2:1-5. The foundations the apostles gave to us were laid in the Old Testament Covenant with Abraham and with David. Those foundations were revealed in the “Keys of the Kingdom” (Matthew 16:18). 1) The faith of Abraham, 2) The promises made to King David, His throne established forever and the house God would build him. 3) Messiah’s Administration of His Kingdom, 4) The Mandate to disciple the nations (Matthew 28:18-10).
The last hypocrisy I will mention today is the hypocrisy of our racial divide in the Lord’s body. I call this, “the great scandal” in the church. The gospel of the kingdom clearly teaches one new man in Christ. The Lord’s Gospel teaches unity among the races or ethnic groups. The cross ends Adams sin and human divide with the resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has come to unite us together in Christ. Not just a doctrine, but in the very life of Jesus residing in us. It is a whole new identity that is now heavenly and not earthly.
Verse 11-13 reveals the human component was still very alive and real in the emerging New Testament Church. There are some things that cannot be allowed to continue but must be confronted. In this example that Paul is describing, Peter, a major leader, could not be allowed to model “hypocrisy.” Leaders are to be treated differently than others. They are rebuked publically because of who they are in representing the Lord’s will and character. Paul says, “I withstood Peter to his face.” Ouch! Pete, to his credit, knew he was wrong and did not argue or make excuses.
This hypocrisy was deeply rooted. It was rooted in those men that related to James, who was the lead apostle in Jerusalem. In verse 12 we read that the problem of association was rooted in “fear.” That is Jews eating with Gentiles. Verse 13 tells us that the other Jews that were there at Antioch also played the hypocrite along with Peter. What really is surprising is that even Barnabus was carried away in this great hypocrisy.
This was more than just a misunderstanding or a misinterpretation of scripture. Paul knew that this was directly related to truth and the gospel. Again, lets read verse 14,
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?
Hypocrisy is destructive to the “straightforward truth of the gospel.” Today, on television, radio, and the internet and even in the pulpits, hypocrisy is screaming out via lifestyles, competitiveness, misuse of finances, and very sloppy handling of scriptures. Because we do not have the kind of accountability that the early church had, few are publically called out like Peter and even Barnabus and held to the “high standard” of the gospel.
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified.
Verse 15-16 goes to the heart of the matter, which is “faith.” Hypocrisy is the antithesis of faith. It is the direct opposite of faith. If I am a Hypocrite, I am not a person of faith. Paul makes his point by saying, “knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law.” Period! If you are trusting in the Law, it is not faith. If you trust in anything other than the FINISHED work of Christ, it is not of faith. Paul says, but by faith in Jesus Christ. Our very lifestyle comes back to our faith in Christ Jesus. Paul is saying it in such a way that there is no room for error or misunderstanding. “We have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” End of the story. In fact, the end of Moses and the beginning of Christ. Even Gentiles today want to go back to Moses and the Law. We need to study the Law, and we need to study the prophets and see how completely they pointed to Christ and to His Day in the Spirit.
Verse 17-19 really solves a lot of questions and confusion in today’s church world. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the Law died to the Law that I might live to God. At the center of the Gospel is death. Death to sin, death to the law, death to anything that tries to attain righteousness other than Christ Jesus Himself.
If we have a doctrine of justification through Christ, but we are found to be sinners, it brings reproach on Christ, for He is certainly not a minister of sin. If I go back and rebuild those things, I destroyed I become a transgressor. Any religious works concerning my justification is a transgression. I have died to the Law that I might live to God. It is in this context in which we understand Galatians 2:20-21: “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. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died in vain”
In conclusion, “I no longer live.” “It is Christ who lives in me.” Quit trying to live this Christian life by any other means, but in His resurrection life in the power of the Holy Spirit! When you discover in your thoughts and attempts your own efforts, stop, repent, lay those efforts down and take up your cross and receive the life of Jesus and then follow Him.