Acting Different

Do you act differently depending upon who you are with? At work, are you giving to speaking one way that you would never speak at home? We will see today that this situation is not unique. Paul confronts Peter for acting in that manner. Peter, having come up to Galatia was enjoying the fellowship of the believers including eating with them until other Jews entered onto the scene. Then his attitude and actions began to change. He became aloof and started acting differently.

Gal 2:11-21
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 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. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17 "But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 "For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me. 21 "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." NASU

But there is more to what Paul was concerned about. He was concerned that these changes really lead to them not be straight forward about the truth of the gospel. Peter by his action was corrupting the gospel by adding to the message "you must live this way".
The question is often asked, "If someone came to your work would they know that you are a believer?". I would ask you, "Do you act differently on Sunday then you do the rest of the week?"

The message of the cross does not change from Sunday to Monday and if you trusted Christ as your Savior your actions and attitudes should not change from Sunday to Monday. If they do, you, like Peter need to confess you sin to God and receive His forgiveness and see to be true to the Gospel which does not change.

Explore for yourself.
1. What happened when Peter showed up at Antioch?
2. Why did Paul confront Peter?
3. What was Peter’s motivation for his actions?
4. What was the result (until Paul confronted him)?
5. How is a man justified?
6. How were YOUR sins paid?
7. IF you have received Christ as your Savior where is Christ living?
8. Rather than living by the flesh how are we to live?
9. If our "works" were necessary to help save us what would this do to Christ’s death?

Be the same person today and on Sunday!