We are one in Christ

Galatians 2:14

• But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Continuing from the previous post, Paul points out that Peter and all the other Jewish Christians with them in Antioch were not at all in step with the truth of the gospel.

They were contradicting the truth of the gospel with their hypocrisy. 

Peter, by separating himself from the Gentile Christians, kept the dietary law of Moses again that Christ set aside on the cross.

Colossians 2:13, 14

• God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 

Colossians 2:16, 17

• Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 

• These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Paul told Peter before them all.

• “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:14)

It is surprising that even after Peter, being the leader of the apostles of Jesus, received the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost, and preached boldly about the good news of Jesus, Peter still erred in regards to the truth of the gospel in his own conduct. 

Peter was still steeped deep in the law of Moses. Peter kept the law of Moses pretty much all his life. Even Jesus, during his ministry kept the law of Moses. It was only after the cross of Jesus that the legal demands of the law of Moses was canceled, because of the new covenant that took effect when the precious blood of Jesus was shed on the cross for our sins.

Matthew 26:28

• for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

• "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

• It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.

• "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

• No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

But you may say that God promised this new covenant to the Jews only. Really?

Romans 4:16, 17

• Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

• As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

Therefore, it is very important to remember that we don't come to God with our hands full of our own good works and to-do-lists to gain His approval and love. 

We come to Him empty-handed, no, rather He comes to us who are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17) if not physically, definitely spiritually.

Let us remember that we are one in Christ. One body. One church in God.

We have different roles but we have the same Lord and God, Jesus Christ.

Our value does not depend on who we are, or what we do, but rather we are valuable because we are valuable in the sight of God. 

• There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

Ephesians 2:8, 9

• For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 

• not by works, so that no one can boast.