DON’T FRUSTRATE GRACE

17 May

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

God looked at Peter and found that he could not use him the way he wanted to speak to the Gentiles. He therefore raised Paul and sent him to the Gentiles. He revealed to him the message of grace. Paul began to preach the message of grace and in the process established the church in Galatia. Paul now sent for the Apostles to come and see what the Lord had done and how he had visited them supernaturally.

When Peter came to the Galatians church, he saw that the people were saved and he began to mix with them and eat with them. But when some people were sent from Jerusalem by the Apostles to come visit Peter, immediately Peter saw the disciples from Jerusalem, he stopped eating with the Galatians. In other words, Peter’s action implied that he did not want the Jerusalem Christians to see him mixing up with the gentiles. That is exactly how some of us respond. So Paul said I am not going to allow someone mess up the message of grace over a dinner table. He looked at Peter and rebuked him. Peter you are not walking uprightly. You are a hypocrite. You were eating with them before. Now because people are visiting, you are trying to dodge as if you did not eat.

What Paul was saying is that this is hypocrisy. When you are trying to feign who you are not, it is hypocrisy. There is another side to it. When you, as a Christian, born again, a new creation want to live your life under the law, you are a hypocrite. When you a Christian, redeemed by the blood, saved by grace through faith; now want to prove to people that it is your effort that makes you a Christian, you are a hypocrite. God wants you to give all glory to him. You are what you are by the grace of God, so do not frustrate grace. Do not live your life under the law.

DON’T FRUSTRATE GRACE