Accept one another

There’s a little section in Paul’s letter to the Galatians Chapter 2 where he tells us about the time when Peter came to visit him at Antioch.

¹¹But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹²For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. ¹³And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴But 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?”

Why did Paul challenge Peter?

Not because Paul was some sort of exhibitionist who enjoyed an argument,

not because he couldn't control his temper

                       but because of his passionate belief in the truth of the gospel.

When Peter was at the house of Cornelius a gentile in Caesarea he was amazed because they received the Holy Spirit just like the disciples had done at Pentecost. So he knew that the gentiles were true believers. He had even explained it all to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem who also accepted the fact that gentiles had become believers.

So why did he withdraw from them in Antioch?

Because he was afraid.

Afraid of the men who came who belonged to the circumcision group, the Jewish believers who thought that it was necessary to obey the Jewish laws and customs in order to be saved!

Peter’s action was nothing short of hypocrisy.

He believed in the gospel.

He knew that he and the gentile believers were all justified – made not guilty - by faith.

He knew what he should be doing but he didn't do it and as a result the other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

This is why Paul challenged him face to face in front of everyone.

Not because Paul was some sort of exhibitionist who enjoyed an argument – not because he couldn't control his temper but because of his passionate belief in the truth of the gospel.

This is why we need to accept each other.

Because of the truth of the gospel.

Because

          those who God accepts we too must accept:

                                   our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in Christ.

You see – as Christians we are called into a community, the fellowship of faith, the community of the kingdom.

Now a community is a group of people who have a common unit.

And our common unity comes from the truth of the gospel.

Those who accept the truth of Jesus and trust him for their salvation are His community.

So it doesn't matter what denomination you are. Whether you prefer to sing hymns or modern worship songs.

It doesn't matter if you prefer the Book of Common Prayer or no liturgy at all

What matters is that we share in the truth of the gospel – the truth of Jesus.

Paul says in his letter to the Romans:

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Now this has tremendous implications – and not just in theory or just about what sort of songs we like to sing. It matters – so that God may be praised.

Jesus prayed for all His followers - that they may be one – so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

When we are one – when we accept one another it has an impact – not just on ourselves but on the world!