”And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” | Acts 11: 1-3

What happens when men turn from Christ to the law?

It causes men to divide themselves from others based on some work they have performed in their flesh.

Peter is the one being contended with in our text, but on a different occasion it was Peter who turned to the law. “For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” (Galatians 2: 12-14)

When James separated himself, look what effect it had on others; leading to Paul’s own travelling companion being carried away.

In Galatians 2: 14 Paul said that the group: “…walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.” The table where Jew and Gentile ate together is a good symbol of the table of freedom in Christ who has freed the believer from the law so that we are one in Christ, we walk in his Spirit, under his grace, Christ governing the believer in the inner man in the spirit. Though these were Jewish believers come from James, yet in this example, the Jews table represents the works of the law. By moving to that table, Peter turned many of the Jewish brethren and even Barnabas from liberty at Christ’s Table to go sit at the table of the Law.

Why does Paul say, this is “not according to the truth of the gospel?’ As you read the following Scripture, pause and praying over each one as you go.

Mixing the law with grace:

“For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” (Galatians 2: 18) | Makes one a transgressor against God.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2: 21) | Counts Christ death vanity.

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3: 3) | Makes one think they are made perfect by the work of their flesh.

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3: 10) | Puts one under the curse of the law.

“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3: 18) | Claims God’s salvation to be by law instead of by promise.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3: 24) | Claims justification to be by law instead of faith.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3: 28) | Divides men, making men think their works make the difference between them and other men.

“I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Galatians 4: 11) | Counts the work of God’s true messenger’s vanity.

“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” (Galatians 4: 22-25) | Makes one the son of the bondwoman, serving Mt. Sinai.

“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” (Galatians 4: 29) | Makes one a persecutor against believers who walk in the Spirit, not the law.

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5: 4) | Makes Christ of no effect unto men.

“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” (Galatians 5: 11) | Makes the offense of the cross to cease before men.

“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (Galatians 5: 15) | Makes church’s bite and devour one another.

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5: 18) | Makes one to be led by the law instead of the Holy Spirit.

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5: 24-25) | Makes one unable to crucify the flesh, to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.

“For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.” (Galatians 6: 13) | Causes self-righteousness which forces their misery on others so as to glory in the flesh instead of in Christ.

If the message preached, and the message you delight in, does not declare Christ to be the end of the law for righteousness, to be your Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, if the choice, the work, the wisdom, is left open-ended for you to perform without declaring that Christ alone works in the believer producing our fruit, then your delight is not Christ but in your choice, your work, and your wisdom.

Thus Paul said that turning from Christ to the flesh is to walk not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.

The truth of the gospel is that Christ is the believer’s complete standing and acceptance with God both now and forever: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2: 6-12.)

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

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Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 8 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey