Paul defends the unity of the church by publicly challenging Peter for not eating with Gentiles and publicly inviting both Jews and Gentiles to have faith in Jesus. The key points are: 1) Paul confronted Peter for separating himself from Gentiles out of fear of criticism, undermining the gospel message of unity. 2) Paul argued that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, not works of the Jewish law, and that both Jews and Gentiles can be justified by believing in the Messiah. 3) Paul taught that table fellowship, including communion, is available to anyone solely based on their faith in Jesus.

2. { Chapter 2: Who Is Welcome @ The Table? }{ Chapter 2: Who Is Welcome @ The Table? }

3. PAUL DEFENDS THE UNITY of the CHURCH
by:- Publically CHALLENGING Peter for not eating w/Gentiles,
(because Peter’s actions under mind the Gospel!)
- Publically INVITING Jews AND Gentiles to wear a badge of
faith in Jesus, based on HIS Covenant faithfulness

4. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I stood up to him.
He was in the wrong. Before certain persons came from James, Peter was eating
with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back, and separated himself,
because he
was afraid of the circumcision-people. The rest of the Jews
did the same, joining him in this play-acting (hypocrisy)
.
Even Barnabas was carried along by their sham.
GALATIANS 2:11-13

5. But when I saw that they weren’t walking straight down
the line of gospel truth, I said to Cephas in front of them all: ‘Look here: you’re a
Jew, but you’ve been living like a Gentile. How can you force Gentiles to become
Jews?’
GALATIANS 2:14

6. We are Jews by birth, not ‘Gentile sinners’. But we know
that a person is not declared ‘righteous’ (justified)
by works
of the Jewish law, but through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. That is
why we too believed in the Messiah, Jesus: so that we might be declared
‘righteous’ on the basis of
the Messiah’s faithfulness, and not on the basis of works
of the Jewish law. On that basis, you see, no creature
will be declared ‘righteous’.
GALATIANS 2:15-16

7. Let me explain it like this. Through the law I died to the law, so that I might
live to God. I have been crucified with the Messiah. I am, however, alive—but it
isn’t me, it’s the Messiah who lives in me. And the life I do still live in the
flesh, I live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me. I don’t set aside God’s grace.
If ‘righteousness’ comes through the law, then the
Messiah died for nothing.
GALATIANS 2:19-21

8. PAUL DEFENDS THE UNITY of the CHURCH
by:- Publically CHALLENGING Peter for not eating w/Gentiles,
(because Peter’s actions under mind the Gospel!)
- Publically INVITING Jews AND Gentiles to wear a badge of
faith in Jesus, based on HIS Covenant faithfulness

9. - Table Fellowship, including Communion, is available for
ANYONE based SOLELY on their FAITH IN JESUS
BECAUSE OF JESUS & WHAT HE‘S
DONE:

10. “…we have no right to add a particular mode of
baptism, or confirmation, or any denominational,
racial, or social conditions...the only barrier to
communion with God, and therefore with each
other, is unbelief, a lack of saving faith in Jesus…
access to the Lord’s table simply because (someone)
has not been immersed, or confirmed, or is not
this or that, is an offense to the God who has
justified them, an insult to someone for whom Christ
died, and a contradiction of the truth of the gospel.”
(The Message of Galatians, by John Stott)
BECAUSE OF JESUS & WHAT HE‘S
DONE:

11. - Table Fellowship, including Communion, is available for
ANYONE based SOLELY on their FAITH IN JESUS
- Baptism is available to ANYONE who decided to
step over the line of faith, repent of running their
own life, and commit themselves to life as a
follower of Jesus in His Kingdom family
BECAUSE OF JESUS & WHAT HE‘S
DONE:

12. - Table Fellowship, including Communion, is available for
ANYONE based SOLELY on their FAITH IN JESUS
- Baptism is available to ANYONE who decided to
step over the line of faith, repent of running their
own life, and commit themselves to life as a
follower of Jesus in His Kingdom family
- “If ANYONE is in Christ, they are a new creation…the old
has passed away, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
BECAUSE OF JESUS & WHAT HE‘S
DONE:

13. SPRING BAPTISM SERVICESPRING BAPTISM SERVICE
{ Sunday, May 1 @ 10:30am }{ Sunday, May 1 @ 10:30am }
Directions to Bloomington BeachDirections to Bloomington Beach
& food instructions are online at& food instructions are online at
vintagelawrence.comvintagelawrence.com