Today's Passage - Galatians 2:11-14

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 2:11-14   When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.  When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?   The issue of circumcision for the gentile believers brought great impact to the early church, and Peter was caught between the conservatives and liberals.  The leaders in Jerusalem demands that Peter not make any more concessions in their principle, but Paul was trying everything to convince Peter that since the truth of God was to set people free, they ought no longer bound by law.  Therefore, gentiles didn't need to be circumcised, and only need to accept by faith.  In his heart, Peter agreed with the teachings of Paul, but out of courtesy he could not reject the demand of the leaders in Jerusalem.  Can you understand how Peter felt?   We often experience such dilemmas; we know what God's truth, but we out of courtesy it's hard for us to express it.  This incident in Antioch needed to be explained properly, but Peter was still afraid of men's view more than fearing God.  Therefore, before the leaders of Jerusalem church arrived, he ate with the gentiles believers, but as soon as the leaders from Jerusalem arrived he immediately left, fearing criticism from the Jewish believers.  That's Paul immediately rebuked Peter in front of him.   Several principles can be derived from this incident.  First, we must learn to fear God, not fear men.  This is where Peter failed; even though he was an apostle, he was fearful of men's voice more than God's voice.  Fear often makes us compromise in truth, but our fear is often based on misunderstanding and anxiety based on our ignorance.  Peter feared how people would look at him, but in reality it's much better to leave things to God than to our own hands.   We like to solve problems with our own ways, but it often results in even greater harm and mistake.  We need to learn to obey and let God be the judge.  Also, we need to follow Paul's example to stand firm on the truth.  Paul is a warrior for the truth, for he didn't fight for personal convictions, but rather essential truth.  We are justified by faith not by action, and over this matter he didn't have any room for negotiation, thus he insisted that gentiles didn't need to be circumcised when they accept the Lord.  May God give us wisdom, help us to stand firm on the truth, but to accept one another in different convictions.  Give us the wisdom to discern so that we may walk in truth and please God.                                                                 Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because your truth can give us wisdom and strength.  Let us learn to stand firm on the fundamental truth, and to fear God but not fear men, because we know that it's far better to be your hands than in our own hands.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!