The Cooling Stream

Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. (Galatians 2:11)

The apostle Peter came to the Gentile Christians in Antioch.

The apostle Paul confronted the apostle Peter because he was to be blamed.

But when they came, he withdrew and separated himself.

He feared those who insisted on the rite of  circumcision for salvation.

And the rest of the Jewish Christians followed him.

Even Barnabas was led astray with their hypocrisy.

What the apostle Peter did was wrong.

He was not honest about the truth of the Gospel.

He had compromised it with the tradition of men.

By His action, he had led many Christians astray.

Salvation is by grace through faith. 

No more and no less. 

No compromise and no excuse needed!

What we have to do is to be honest about the Gospel of God,

And we insist on explaining the whole truth of God in love!

The apostle Paul confronted Peter before everyone else.

The apostle Peter had shown favoritism toward the Jewish Christians.

He had separated himself from the Gentile Christians.

He had put a stumbling block before the Gentile Christians.

He had exalted the Jewish Christians.

He had compelled the Gentile Christians to live like the Jewish Christians!

For the LORD's portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.  (Deuteronomy 32:9)

How are they His?

(1) By His own sovereign choice

He chose them, and set His love upon them. This He did apart from any goodness in them, or any goodness which He foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom He would have mercy.

(2) By purchase

He bought and paid for them with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) By conquest.

He conquered them by His omnipotent love.

"Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." (1 Timothy 1:2)

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Grace is God's unearned, unmerited and undeserved favor. It is kindness from God we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, or can do to earn God's favor. It is a gift from God.

It is divine assistance given to men for their regeneration, sanctification etc. It is a virtue coming from God. It is a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.

Someone says "GRACE is God's Riches At Christ's Expense".

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Mercy is God's goodness confronting man’s misery and guilt. It is God's disposition of kindness and compassion toward a sinner.

It is God's provision for holding back from us the awful things that we actually deserve, due to our sin and rebellion.

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In short, mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it.

Mercy delivers us from judgment, while grace extends kindness to the unworthy.

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Peace is God’s wonderful gift received by faith. It is given when we are right with God. It is a fruit given by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

It is love, joy, hope, kindness, faithfulness, patience, perseverance, and contentment in all circumstances, settings, and situations.

It is the manifestation of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

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The apostle Paul greeted Timothy with God's grace, mercy and peace.

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What a wonderful greeting that is.

What a wonderful blessing that will become when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and begin to experience and enjoy them through the powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit.