GOSPEL REBUKE
Galatians 2:14 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?' (NIVUK)
Peter was inconsistent. He had stopped living according to Jewish customs because he rightly believed that God accepted him because he trusted in Jesus alone for his salvation. But he was forcing Gentiles (non-Jews) to be circumcised and obey the Jewish food laws. He was wrong. But that was not just a private error in his personal life; it affected many other people and got in the way of the simplicity of the gospel.
Private sin should be dealt with personally and out of the public gaze; but when error infects other people, a public rebuke is necessary. Was Paul brave or foolhardy in challenging Peter in that way? Neither! Paul was simply being faithful to the truth of the gospel and pointed out Peter’s inconsistency to cause others to see that Peter had not set the right example. Those who followed him were foolish too.
Often the more thought-provoking rebukes come in the form of a question. Jesus used that method of teaching. It is also a wonderfully direct tool to encourage our friends and colleagues to consider the inconsistencies in their lifestyles, especially if they claim to follow Jesus. Truly wise people will challenge people to think by asking them questions. When the integrity of the gospel is at stake, it is important to help people to understand the implications of their behaviour so that they can repent and be restored. So instead of arguing with people and telling them what you think, why not ask them about the consistency of their lives? It is a fair question even in public, and will help others to think as well.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for stirring my own heart with questions about the authenticity of my faith. Thank You for those people who have helped me by asking such questions. I am sorry for being careless about the relationship between what I believe and what I do. Please help me to be consistent in my faith and actions, and perhaps I can help others by asking kind but searching questions. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Private sin should be dealt with personally and out of the public gaze; but when error infects other people, a public rebuke is necessary. Was Paul brave or foolhardy in challenging Peter in that way? Neither! Paul was simply being faithful to the truth of the gospel and pointed out Peter’s inconsistency to cause others to see that Peter had not set the right example. Those who followed him were foolish too.
Often the more thought-provoking rebukes come in the form of a question. Jesus used that method of teaching. It is also a wonderfully direct tool to encourage our friends and colleagues to consider the inconsistencies in their lifestyles, especially if they claim to follow Jesus. Truly wise people will challenge people to think by asking them questions. When the integrity of the gospel is at stake, it is important to help people to understand the implications of their behaviour so that they can repent and be restored. So instead of arguing with people and telling them what you think, why not ask them about the consistency of their lives? It is a fair question even in public, and will help others to think as well.
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for stirring my own heart with questions about the authenticity of my faith. Thank You for those people who have helped me by asking such questions. I am sorry for being careless about the relationship between what I believe and what I do. Please help me to be consistent in my faith and actions, and perhaps I can help others by asking kind but searching questions. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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