The discussion about the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church without submitting to Jewish customs is earthed in a painful episode at Antioch where Paul challenges Peter on his behaviour.
Peter has come to Antioch and joins in with Paul, Barnabas and the Gentiles in sharing Christian fellowship around the meal table. Some men come down who are described as coming from the circumcision party, from James in Jerusalem. Peter withdraws to eat with them to the exclusion of the Gentiles and draws others behind him.
In what ways do we value the example of other Christians? How should we reflect upon the importance of our example in our daily living as an encouragement to other Christians, and non-Christians?
Paul challenges Peter as he sees the gospel at stake in this exchange.
In the gospel all are welcomed on the condition of faith in Christ Jesus. Faith in Christ Jesus does not save, does not achieve forgiveness of sins: the death of Christ on the cross and his glorious resurrection do that. Faith is that gift of God which unites us to Christ and by which God exercises the benefits of Christ in our lives.
To impose any other requirement upon anyone is to add to Christ's work something not done by Christ but done by humans.
The works of the law may be those things done by humans aiming to achieve reconciliation with God by our own effort, or they may be those deeds proudly worn as badges which identify us as members of this or that group. It comes to the same thing, we are not made right with God by anything other than Christ and his work for us.
What do we do in our attempt to make ourselves right with God by our own efforts? On what basis do we welcome others into Christian fellowship with us?
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