Paul now tells a story which one can hardly believe follows this historic decision in Jerusalem. It may be that Paul is now reciting a story which happened before the Jerusalem meeting, because in that meeting (see Acts 15:10) Peter uses the very same words that Paul did when he "rebuked (Peter) to his face" in 2:14-16. Peter had spent time getting to know the Gentile believers in Antioch and had no problems "rubbing elbows" and dining with them at first. However, some men came down from Jerusalem (there's that phrase again) and somehow pressured both Peter and Barnabas to eat separately from the Gentiles, who by their uncircumcision were not following the Law of Moses.

Paul created no small scene by rebuking Peter for his actions in the open hearing of everyone present. But Paul knew something was at stake which reached far beyond "clique-ishness," favoritism, or a minute detail of ceremony. Paul had the life-changing experience of a revelation of Christ. That is, he knew more than anyone else in that room just how glorious Christ is and how comprehensive was his accomplishment in his death and resurrection.

What Paul tells Peter in verses 14-21 may seem a bit jumbled the first time you read them, because his meager vocabulary is bearing the weight of a truth so huge that your page can hardly contain it. Paul will spend three chapters in his letter to the Romans (5-7) on this subject, after seven years of working on how to present these incredible things. Here is the essence of what he says:

"Peter, you and I learned a long time ago that we were never able to keep the Law of Moses. We also learned that our salvation comes only through faith in Christ. But after having forsaken the Law as a savior, we sometimes discover that we are still sinners. This is not because of Christ, it is because of our own weaknesses. What we must remember, however, is that reinstating the Law to its former position (i.e. "rebuilding what we destroyed") is not the answer to our need. All that can do is prove all over again that we are lawbreakers. What, then, is our relationship to the Law? We have died to it forever! It never was able to save us in the first place. We were inside of Christ the day he died on the cross. Don't ask me how, just accept it because it is the heart of the gospel. We are so one with him that whatever happens to him happens to us. Did he die? So did we. Was he buried? So were we. Did he rise again? So did we! Where is he now, Peter? So are we! Seated with him in heavenly places. He is also in us (that's how one with him we are) by the Spirit, and the very faith we have is merely his own faith in his Father coming through us. The life we live is Christ. Even our believing is his believing-- in us. Any other way of living our life is a false one. There is no other way to live. If we go back to striving and self-effort under the Law, we are saying that Christ's sacrifice was worthless. May it never be!! Lean completely on the grace of God in Christ or you will have no hope for following him at all."

These words from Paul are exhilarating, liberating, and need to be read and reread a dozen times. Everything that follows in this letter, in fact everything that follows in every letter from now on, is built on this tremendous foundation. Learn it well because it is the Emancipation Proclamation of our faith. This is our starting point for everything. It is no coincidence that this letter was the first to be written, nor that this would be the most widely circulated of all the letters in the early Church. These truths should form the base on which all subsequent teaching and ministry are built. We are not teachers of the Law (see 1 Timothy 1:6-7). We have died to all of that. What can an ordinance or regulation require of a corpse? May the Lord establish these things deeply in our hearts.

Before moving on to the next section of this study, read Galatians 3:1-25, and we will look at what Paul says there in the next two chapters.