Stay on Track! Paul's Letter to the GalatiansIsampula

Nobody is infallible, not even church leaders.

" . . .but when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned” (Galatians 2:11).

Today's text describes how Paul opposed Cephas (better known as Peter, the apostle) because "he stood condemned." Peter knew very well that non-Jewish believers did not need to keep the Jewish laws and that there was no need for Jewish believers to distance themselves from Gentiles. However, Peter distanced himself out of fear of a group of people who disagreed with him. He was acting hypocritically, confusing others because this “conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel.” (Galatians 2:14). All this was particularly harmful because Peter was one of the major church leaders. Other believers “acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” (Galatians 2:13). If a church leader does not live in step with the truth of the gospel, the whole church is seriously endangered.

Nobody is infallible, not even church leaders. Only God’s Word has the ultimate authority. Whenever a believer "stands condemned," they should be confronted lovingly but clearly — no matter their position within the church.

Are you open to Bible-based correction from fellow believers?