GALATIANS 2:11
“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”
It is not easy to confront someone who is in sin, is it? You risk losing that friend for life. But if you don’t confront them in love, you risk seeing them spiral downward. In the ministry I am serving in, Every Man A Warrior, we teach men to hold other men accountable. In fact, they have to sign a commitment to be a part of the group. One of the commitments says:
I will not be defensive if my brothers challenge me if I do not fulfill my commitment. I will welcome their challenge and seek greater faithfulness.
Paul had to confront Peter in Antioch. Why? Well, we will see that whole story in the next 10 verses (2:12-21). Paul had a mission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. He, being a former Pharisee, was very careful to guard these new converts from being influenced by anyone who wanted to add to the requirements for salvation. That was through Christ alone. Just watch over the next several days how Paul confronts Peter about his hypocrisy. I am sure it was not easy to do this.
APPLICATION
The application for us in this verse is obvious. We have to confront our fellow believers when we see them in obvious sin. Why? Because we want to present to a lost world a united front. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. “24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” Notice, Paul said “with gentleness.”
We even see Jesus confronting the religious leaders of His day in Matthew 23:25-26. “25 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean.’” Read verses 13-32 to see all eight of the woes Jesus lays on these individuals. Remember, even though all this sounds harsh, Jesus loved these people and would eventually die, even for them.
As I said at the beginning, this is not easy. But it is so necessary. My wife will confront me when I am wrong. I may not like it, but I appreciate it (I really do, honey). I want to be a better man for her. I want to be a more godly man for her. I can get blinded to my own sin at times. I am thankful for others in my life who will hold me accountable and lovingly draw me back to Christ.
Father, give me the boldness to confront a brother or sister in Christ who are straying from the path.