The Ridge

Representing Jesus in the ministry of reconciliation

• Jerry Witham
• Aug 20, 2008

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But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.  Galatians 2.11-12

 

The second chapter of Galatians has many layers to it.  As we continued to peel the layers back on Paul’s account of his opposition with Peter in Antioch.  We observe a few things about this account.  First, there is public opposition as Paul confronts Peter.  Second, Peter is stand-offish to the Gentiles (the uncircumcised) because of fear and he falls out of step with the gospel.  Third, there is evidently conflict in Antioch, whether between Paul and Peter, maybe even Barnabas as well, with Peter and the Gentiles and probably even between Paul and the councilmen.  Finally, the truth of the gospel is at stake.  This is why the previous issues are so important.  They must be handled right.  The gospel is being brought to the nations.  It is spreading and the enemy wants to do everything he can to impede its advancement both in Antioch, which Paul writes about and in the churches of Galatia, whom Paul is writing to.  The number one way the enemy tries to do that is to get to top leaders and specifically through hypocrisy to cause others to desert the gospel.  So, the church must be grounded in the truth of the gospel, in sound doctrine (we will talk about that this Sunday), know what to do when there is opposition, know how to handle conflict when it is present and know what to do with the sin of being stand-offish, which are all issues of reconciliation.

 

Paul says to the church in Corinth, Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5.18-20).  We are all, as followers of Jesus, called to represent Jesus in the ministry of reconciliation.  So, looking through such a lens as we look at Paul’s account in Galatians 2 we must ask the following: How do we handle opposition, conflict and the issue of being stand-offish?

 

Opposition

Peter was out of step with the gospel by his hypocrisy in withdrawing and therefore promoting ritual demands (legalism).  He has a temporary lapse in his faith.  He is led astray by fear which the gospel does not produce.  Paul told Timothy, God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear or cowardice) but of power and love and discipline (self control) (2 Timothy 1.7). The gospel produces confidence, hope and boldness.  It produces peace, which we heard from Paul at the beginning of this letter.  Grace to you and peace from God (1.3). Peace is definitely not present on this day in Antioch and Paul unashamedly comes in boldness, confidence, hope and grace opposing Peter, so that peace will reign through the truth of the gospel.

 

When opposing someone what should we think through?  First, will God be glorified?  Here in Antioch and also in Galatia this is what is at stake.  So, we must ask, will my opposition glorify God?  Second, and closely related to the previous, is my motive right?  When we are making such a stand we must act out of humility and make sure our heart is right (Matthew 7.1-5).  Thirdly, we must pray.  This is so important.  This is what the prophet Elijah did before the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18.  We must pray and move forward in power.  Fourth, we oppose unashamedly.  Once God gives us the green light we stand boldly for Jesus even in the midst of hostility (Mark 8.38).  Lastly, what about public opposition?  This is what happened in Antioch.  When a crowd of people have the potential of being led away by such falsehood and by people of such influence you cannot just stand by and watch with passivity.  I believe in such a case you must boldly stand for the gospel, for Jesus, your Savior!        

 

Do not think by this that you have the right to publicly, before a crowd, oppose someone because you disagree about something or simply dislike something.  This is not a non-essential or preference issue with Paul.  This is an essential issue, truly life or death.  This is a special situation that is very volatile, and should be handled this way, but not all should be handled this way.

 

Conflict

Nobody says, give me some conflict.  Most do not like it, in fact many run from it when it comes there way.  That is what Peter does when he has his momentary lapse of faith.  He is trying to avoid conflict with the Jewish councilmen.  In doing so Peter is opposed by Paul for his actions.  Were not sure what happens exactly, but undoubtedly there is some conflict that arises.  Whatever the case, there is no persuasive evidence that after this conflict in Antioch that Peter and Paul were adversaries or disagreed about the truth of the gospel.  In fact, Scripture seems to support that there was unity between the two after this occasion. 

 

So how do we handle conflict?  Jesus encourages us in Matthew 18.15-17 to do the following:  If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

 

In this context the conflict or needed reprove is between believers (1 Corinthians 5.12-13a).  If a brother or sister is missing the mark or wandering from the path of God, whether it is against you, some sort of dissension, in some cases a mere disagreement that needs to be resolved or a struggle you see in one’s life you are to go and show them their fault in private.  Sometimes it is a simple need to clear the air over a disagreement or misunderstanding, but whether it is this or someone struggling with unrepentant sin it is important to address, so that the enemy does not get an opportunity.  Before you go and show you should, like above, think through and do the following: Is this for the glory of God?  Are my motives right?  Pray and then go and show in love (Ephesians 4.15).  It is important to handle conflict or reprove in such a way with the goal being restoration and reconciliation, especially when confronting someone about unrepentant sin in their life. 

 

It is important that you do this in private.  Too many times we talk to everybody else about it before we talk to the person.  This is called gossip.  One who has problems with talking to others and not keeping it private does not have the right heart and they should not confront until they deal with the plank of gossip in their eye (Matthew 7.1-5).  So, go and show in private.  I must address this because of our day of technology.  Email is not a good tool to be used at any time in this process.  I have learned the hard way in the past.  A face to face visit is the best.  Now, if the brother or sister does not listen and turn from their ways you then go back to them with one or two people, who are like-minded with the goal of restoring the unrepentant one.  If still the brother or sister does not repent you go to the church.  This can include elders, a small group or simply other mature members who are likeminded with the main goal of restoration in mind.  If the brother or sister is unrepentant in their sin you are to treat them as a Gentile and a tax collector.  This is tough, but important.  Paul says to the church at Corinth something similar.  He says, You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral…with such a man do not even eat (1 Corinthians 5.11).  There is so much I could go into with both these text, but basically the church is to discipline in love the one who is unrepentant by excommunicating them (the removal from membership).  Nobody likes this, but it is given by Jesus to do and to follow.  Now how do we act toward such a one?  There are a lot of particulars that will shape this answer in each case.  We are not called to shun this person absolutely.  In fact, I believe the one being disciplined is still welcome to come and attend the public worship of Jesus, to hear the message, and be challenged and convicted by those means God has provided for his or her repentance (Dever, Mark Twelve Challenges Churches Face, p. 57).  We must never forget to show love and compassion or otherwise the steps taken (with the goal of restoration and reconciliation) by the church is just a bunch of noise (1 Corinthians 13.1-8a).   

 

This is never the most wanted topic for people to have taught, but we must address it.  God loves people too much to keep them drowning in their sin.  This process is for the good of the unrepentant one.  God also loves the church too much to allow the body to be infected by unrepentant sin. The church is definitely filled with sin that is what it is for, sinners, but when there is one tolerating sin their life it must be addressed, as mentioned above.  Not only is it for the good of the unrepentant one and for the purity of the church, but lastly it is also the responsibility of the church to judge the inside of the church. 

 

Now let’s make sure we understand that Jesus and Paul are both talking about church members.  Jesus and Paul are not talking about the world and to completely withdraw from it.  Remember we are not supposed to judge outsiders.  That is God’s job (1 Corinthians 5.12-13). We are not supposed to disengage from this world.  We are to be witnesses (Matthew 5.13-16; Philippians 2.15).  We are to purify the church as a witness to the purity of God.  This is both Jesus and Paul’s focus. 

 

So as Paul says, Grace and peace to you (Galatians 1.3).  May we handle conflict and needed reprove with the same grace that Jesus has shown toward us.  As we seek to walk in His grace in such cases may the peace of Christ reign in our heart and may we be at peace with one another.

 

Stand-offish

Peter is stand-offish toward the Gentile Christians because of pressure and fear due to legalism, the gospel of works (2.12).  There is no room for this in the church!  Paul says, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3.28).  The death of Jesus brought the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile down.  Oh that we would accept one another on the same basis that God has accepted us: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone!

 

Love one another                   

Jesus says to the church, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13.34-35).  The door of faith is opened to many when the church loves each other as Jesus has loved us.  May we never forget to love and may we uphold grace to those who oppose it, may we display grace as we deal with conflict, may we accept all with grace as God has and as a result may the peace of God reign in our hearts, so that many will be reconciled to God through Jesus.