Not to embarrass Peter!!Not to embarrass Peter!!

To validate Paul’s apostolic To validate Paul’s apostolic authorityauthority

To Prevent Peter’s error from To Prevent Peter’s error from being used by the Judaizing being used by the Judaizing teachers as support for their teachers as support for their position.position.

To demonstrate that men who To demonstrate that men who were inspired could sin.were inspired could sin.

To provide an example of To provide an example of LOVING & PUBLIC rebuke!LOVING & PUBLIC rebuke!

Peter had come to Antioch and worked among Peter had come to Antioch and worked among brethren there without showing any prejudice brethren there without showing any prejudice against Gentiles. (cf. Acts 10:48; 11:2).against Gentiles. (cf. Acts 10:48; 11:2).

However, sometime later, brethren from However, sometime later, brethren from Jerusalem arrived and Peter gave in to pressure Jerusalem arrived and Peter gave in to pressure and withdrew himself from associating with the and withdrew himself from associating with the Gentile brethren – (11,12) –Gentile brethren – (11,12) –

In doing this he influenced others to sin along In doing this he influenced others to sin along with him – (13) with him – (13)

Was not straightforward with the gospel – (14) - Was not straightforward with the gospel – (14) - Taught & practiced a double standard – Taught & practiced a double standard – associated with Gentiles – but then went along associated with Gentiles – but then went along with Jewish brethren thus undermining the very with Jewish brethren thus undermining the very Gospel he preached. (15)Gospel he preached. (15)

Peter Rebuilt An Old Peter Rebuilt An Old Weakness – (11,12-Weakness – (11,12-14)14)

Peter Rebuilt Peter Rebuilt Partiality – (12)Partiality – (12)

Peter Rebuilt His Fear Peter Rebuilt His Fear of Men – (12)of Men – (12)

Peter Rebuilt A Peter Rebuilt A Negative Influence – Negative Influence – (13)(13)

Peter Rebuilt The Wall Peter Rebuilt The Wall of Separation – (14-of Separation – (14-18)18)

Lord, bid me come – Lord, bid me come – Mat 14:28 . . . 30Mat 14:28 . . . 30

Though all men Though all men forsake thee, yet I will forsake thee, yet I will not, . . . I will NOT not, . . . I will NOT deny you - Mat deny you - Mat 26:33,35 . . . 69-7526:33,35 . . . 69-75

You shall never wash You shall never wash my feet – John 13:8 . . my feet – John 13:8 . . . 9. 9

but God has showed but God has showed me that I should not me that I should not call any man common call any man common or unclean Acts or unclean Acts 10:28 . . . Gal 2:1210:28 . . . Gal 2:12

Inconsistency is a mark Inconsistency is a mark of immaturity! (Eph of immaturity! (Eph 4:12-15)4:12-15)

Inconsistency opens the Inconsistency opens the door for ridicule from door for ridicule from those who are enemies those who are enemies of the gospel!! (Rom of the gospel!! (Rom 2:24)2:24)

We can, (and at times We can, (and at times do), allow our OLD ways do), allow our OLD ways to return – thus we need to return – thus we need to always be on guard! to always be on guard! (Rom 16:19-22; 2 Pet (Rom 16:19-22; 2 Pet 2:20-22)2:20-22)

Actions speak louder Actions speak louder than words!!!than words!!!

He had learned better He had learned better and taught against it!! – and taught against it!! – (Acts 10:9-16,28, 34,35; (Acts 10:9-16,28, 34,35; 15:7-11; Js 2:1-4)15:7-11; Js 2:1-4)

He should have rebuked He should have rebuked his Jewish brethren – his Jewish brethren – (Luk 17:3) Instead of (Luk 17:3) Instead of rebuking them for their rebuking them for their error – he went along error – he went along with them!with them!

Brotherly love makes NO Brotherly love makes NO DISTINCTION!! – (Act DISTINCTION!! – (Act 11:12; 15:9; Rom 3:22; 11:12; 15:9; Rom 3:22; 10:12)10:12)

Do our words and Do our words and actions teach against actions teach against this sin?this sin?

““Fearing The Circumcision” Fearing The Circumcision” (12)(12)

He had heard Jesus teach He had heard Jesus teach ““be not afraid of them that be not afraid of them that kill the body, kill the body, – (Mat 10:28) – (Mat 10:28) but yet he denied Jesus – but yet he denied Jesus – (Luke 22:54-62)(Luke 22:54-62)

Peter's repentance was Peter's repentance was attested attested (1) by the bitterness of his (1) by the bitterness of his

tears; tears; (2) by his humble (2) by his humble

submission to his Lord's submission to his Lord's rebuke (John 21:15-17); rebuke (John 21:15-17);

(3) by his courage in (3) by his courage in confessing Christ in the face confessing Christ in the face of threatening danger (Act of threatening danger (Act 4:8-12; 4:19).4:8-12; 4:19).

It takes courage to leave It takes courage to leave error and obey the gospel!!error and obey the gospel!!

It takes courage to stand It takes courage to stand for the truth and oppose for the truth and oppose error!!error!!

It takes courage to preach It takes courage to preach the gospel to the lost!the gospel to the lost!

It takes courage to live for It takes courage to live for the Lord in an ungodly the Lord in an ungodly world!!world!!

It takes courage to oppose It takes courage to oppose friends who practice error friends who practice error and who try to influence and who try to influence you to join them in you to join them in unauthorized practices!! unauthorized practices!!

Peter’s problem was not Peter’s problem was not what he truly believed, what he truly believed, but what he practiced. He but what he practiced. He was not living up to his was not living up to his teaching. He was playing teaching. He was playing the hypocrite! (Acts 11:3-the hypocrite! (Acts 11:3-13)13)

Barnabas and the other Barnabas and the other Jews were “carried away” Jews were “carried away” (carried away with a (carried away with a flood) with this flood) with this “hypocrisy.” “hypocrisy.”

Barnabas was not a young Barnabas was not a young Christian!! – Thus Christian!! – Thus demonstrating the POWER demonstrating the POWER of influence!of influence!

SOMEONE IS SOMEONE IS WATCHING YOU!!! We WATCHING YOU!!! We MUST ALWAYS be MUST ALWAYS be conscious of our conscious of our influence – (Mat. 5:13-influence – (Mat. 5:13-16)16)

This demonstrates the This demonstrates the danger of following danger of following men – even normally men – even normally good and respectable good and respectable men!! (Gal. 1:6-9)men!! (Gal. 1:6-9)

What kind of influence What kind of influence are you having on are you having on those around you??those around you??

Peters actions were NOT in Peters actions were NOT in keeping with the Gospel! keeping with the Gospel! (14)(14)

Peter’s actions upheld a Peter’s actions upheld a position that had caused position that had caused division! – (Gal 2:1-5; Acts division! – (Gal 2:1-5; Acts 15:2) 15:2)

Peter’s actions gave Peter’s actions gave credence and legitimacy to credence and legitimacy to the Judaisers - (15-18) - the Judaisers - (15-18) - building again that which he building again that which he had once destroyed – (Acts had once destroyed – (Acts 15:7-11)15:7-11)

Peter also built a wall of Peter also built a wall of separation between himself separation between himself and God – He had become a and God – He had become a “TRANSGRESSOR!” (vs. 18; “TRANSGRESSOR!” (vs. 18; Isaiah 59:1,2)Isaiah 59:1,2)

Peter Rebuilt An Old Peter Rebuilt An Old Weakness – (11,12-Weakness – (11,12-14)14)

Peter Rebuilt Peter Rebuilt Partiality – (12)Partiality – (12)

Peter Rebuilt His Fear Peter Rebuilt His Fear of Men – (12)of Men – (12)

Peter Rebuilt A Peter Rebuilt A Negative Influence – Negative Influence – (13)(13)

Peter Rebuilt The Wall Peter Rebuilt The Wall of Separation – (14-of Separation – (14-18)18)

Old Weakness –Old Weakness –

Partiality –Partiality –

Fear of Men – Fear of Men –

A Negative A Negative Influence Influence

The Wall of The Wall of Separation Separation

• Peter preached against partiality, (Acts 10:34,35) – But Peter was guilty of the sin of partiality - (11,12)

• Peter taught against hypocrisy, (1 Peter 2:1), but Peter, by hypocrisy, influenced others to sin – (13)

• Peter spoke of the need to obey the Gospel, (1 Peter 4:17) - but yet he was not straightforward with the gospel – (14)

• Taught & practiced a double standard – associated with Gentiles – but then went along with Jewish brethren thus undermining the very Gospel he preached. (15) –(inconsistency, - 4,5)

• Paul emphasized the need to follow Christ – not the Law – nor the will of men!! – (16-21) (denominationalism)

Actions Really Do Speak Louder Than Words -

Like many of us – Peter preached a

better sermon than he lived!!