But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 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....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?...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....For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."Paul condemns the hypocrisy of Peter (Cephas) and the legalism of James as further evidence that these apostles had nothing to add to the Gospel message he received from Jesus. I think it's worth noting that both James and Peter in their epistles teach a doctrine of righteousness by faith. Even James, who places more emphasis on works makes it clear that works are not a condition of salvation, but a result. He encourages his readers to look "intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty." [James 1:25 NASB]
This is important because it points out that anyone, regardless of reputation, can be in error. Honor your leaders. Learn from your teachers. But always judge what they say by the Word of God. And never let anyone persuade you to live according to their standards. "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." [Philippians 2:12-13 NASB]
The point of contention in this encounter is whether Christians should have to follow the Law of Moses. Remarkably, this is still a debate in many churches. We grow up in the church being taught that we need to keep the ten commandments. Yet, the ten commandments are the foundation of the Mosaic Law. All of the other commandments and rituals are built on this foundation. A prominent pastor was recently condemned by a large number of Christian leaders for saying that Christians do not have to keep the Old Testament Law.
What did Paul say about the Law? "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God." Romans 7:1-4 says, "Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God."
Having died to the Law, we can accept the reality that "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."
This principle has even broader applications. Any set of religious rules becomes a law. It doesn't matter if these rules are imposed by the church or by yourself. Any rules that you follow in an effort to please God are of the flesh and are counter to faith. That includes anything you do or don't do "for religious reasons".
Any effort on our part to be righteous negates the grace of God. "If righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."
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