Galatians
2:14 But
when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I
said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and
not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Let me re-frame Paul’s words
to Cephas (Peter). “If you, though a Christian, live like a Pagan and not like
a Christian, how can you force the Pagans to live like Christians?” It makes
more sense now, doesn’t it?
No one likes to be told they
are wrong. Men, especially, bristle at a rebuke by others. Married men think
they always know more than their wife. When a child corrects an adult, watch
how fast the adult gives some lame reason for their actions or words. Confrontation
is not easy for people.
As Christians we are free
from the need to prove our worthiness to God. Christians are already acceptable
to God because He has sent his Holy Spirit into us. We have been bought for a
price, Christ Jesus. The Cross of Christ is the event that we believe has been
offered to us as a gift. We receive His work on our behalf through faith. We
are acceptable to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We are free to follow Him.
Such a freedom has
its dangers. Many Christians believe that this freedom permits them to do and
say anything they want. We are not free to continue to live as sinners. We are
free to choose to live a life that is pleasing to God. In prayer and with biblical
obedience we can live to God’s glory.
