originally published 8/25/19
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel …” Galatians 2:14
What did Paul see Peter do that was not in line with the truth of the gospel? He saw that Peter stopped eating with Gentiles after certain Jews had come to Antioch. Paul understood that when Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles, it was no small matter. Paul saw that Peter was turning back from a faithful understanding of the gospel. Paul understood that in some way, Peter was rebuilding the very traditional structures that they had been tearing down (see Galatians 2:18).
Peter had been welcoming and inclusive of the Gentiles before the Jews came, but when they came, he felt the need to satisfy their scruples by showing that he still hadn’t accepted the Gentiles fully. Paul understood that this was a negation of the gospel itself.
While there is a lot that could be unpacked from this exchange that Paul records, I want to focus on how such a seemingly small act can actually communicate so much about our faith. Who we are willing to greet or receive can reveal if we believe we are received by God based on our works or based on His grace. So let’s use this event to help us meditate on other small acts in our lives that may reveal our true, heart-level understanding of the gospel. What other small acts in our everyday lives indicate if we are in line with or out of line with the gospel? Those are questions I encourage you to prayerfully consider this week in your quiet time with the Lord.