The Gospel & Ethics
Sermon Big Idea:
The gospel of Jesus not only unmasks our hypocrisy, it also restores us through the grace of Jesus.
Sermon Summary:
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The Conflict: The Table Test (2:11–12)
The sermon opens with a collision in Antioch. Peter, who knew better through divine revelation, stopped eating with Gentile believers because he was gripped by a "4-letter word": FEAR. The Ethic of Peer Pressure: Peter’s behavior shifted based on his audience. He prioritized the approval of the "circumcision party" over the truth of Christ’s inclusion.
- The Mask: Hypocrisy is defined as "play-acting"—concealing one's true convictions under a guise to avoid an undesirable outcome.
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The Contagion: The Viral Nature of Hypocrisy (v. 13)
Hypocrisy never stays private; it acts like a virus that spreads through contact.
- The Fallout: Even Barnabas, a veteran leader, was "carried away” from Peter’s hypocrisy.
- The Identity Trap: We are prone to prioritizing our national, racial, or social identities (being "American Christian," "British Christian," etc.) over our identity in Christ. When we do this, we create "first and second-class" citizens in the church, which denies the integrity of the gospel.
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The Core Issue: Out of Step (v. 14)
Paul confronted Peter because his conduct was not "in step" with the Gospel.
- The Drum Major: Like a marching band that loses its rhythm, Peter introduced a "new beat" that deviated from the singular cadence of the Gospel.
- The Confrontation: Paul’s public rebuke wasn't about a personal grudge; it was about protecting the integrity of the Gospel. If the Gospel doesn't change how we treat people at the table, we aren't truly walking in its truth.
The Conclusion: Restoration through "God’s Helpers"
Hypocrisy doesn't have the final word. The sermon points to the "Peter Paradox": despite his massive failure in Antioch (and his three denials of Jesus), God had the "audacity" to restore him and use him to write Holy Scripture.
The Takeaway: We all have a "gravitational pull" toward hypocrisy. To stay "in step," we need God’s Helpers—people like Paul who love us enough to tell us the truth and point us back to the infectious grace and restoration found only in Jesus