The gospel exposes my own hypocrisy

But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?” GALATIANS 2:11-14 NLT

The gospel is neither legalism nor license

Legalism: I’m basically good because of what I do

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. GALATIANS 2:21 NLT

License: It’s all good no matter what I do

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” GALATIANS 5:13-14 NLT
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. GALATIANS 2:20 NLT

The gospel plus something equals nothing
The gospel plus nothing equals everything

It is so easy to be good at being bad to one another

But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. GALATIANS 5:15 NLT

Conflict resolution is best done…

In community

Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. GALATIANS 2:1 NLT

With honesty and humility

I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. GALATIANS 2:2a NLT
I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you. GALATIANS 4:20 NLT

Out of a desire for unity

I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. GALATIANS 2:2b NLT
Gospel unity is more important than cultural differences
For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles. GALATIANS 2:8 NLT

The gospel is the only hill worth dying on

But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you. GALATIANS 2:5 NLT

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. When you have relational conflict, do you tend to be more passive, aggressive or passive-aggressive and why?
2. In what ways does your approach to conflict change at home, with friends or at work?
3. Read Galatians 2:11. When was the last time you had to confront a fellow Christian about something they were doing wrong and how did it go?
4. Read Galatians 2:12. What is something you used to believe as “truth” about the Bible that God has helped you see differently?
5. What is one relational conflict that you are currently dealing with right now?
6. If it is with a Christian, in what way could the truth in the Bible affect your conflict? If they aren’t a Christian, what can you do to share the heart of God with them?

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few minutes to get alone with God and reflect on the message. No one likes hypocrisy, especially in Christian culture. When you point your finger at someone with that “hypocrite” accusation can you say you’re innocent of hypocrisy yourself? Think about times that you might fall into ‘saying one thing’ but ‘doing another thing’ and ask God to help you to be honest with your introspection. Ask God to help you understand what is happening in your mind and heart as you fight against living in truth. Is it fear, shame, the desire to be seen well, avoidance of conflict? Spend a few moments with God and ask him to help you deep in your heart. As you move through your week and come against similar situations, pause, and ask God to change your heart in that moment. Because, whenever we take honest looks at our hearts and admit where we fall short inevitably our relationships benefit because as we get real with God, ourselves and others, health in our relationships ensues–and we have a chance to live more freely and joyfully.