Today, we continue our series entitled “Living the Grace Life,” where we will learn to embrace and walk in God’s unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved favor throughout 2025.
As part of this series, I am teaching a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians. Let’s get into it.
Key scriptures for this year:
2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT
“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything–every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.”
Galatians 5:4 TPT
“If you want to be made right with God by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh–you have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!”
Romans 6:14 ERV
“Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God’s grace.”
1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Scripture(s) we will study today:
Galatians 2:11-14 TPT
“But when Cephas [Peter] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, for he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he was eating freely with the non-Jewish believers. But when they arrived, he withdrew from them and wouldn’t even eat with the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who promoted circumcision. And the other Jewish believers joined him in this hypocrisy, to the extent that even Barnabas was swept away by their duplicity! But when I saw that they were straying from the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in front of everyone, ‘If you, who are a Jew, live like a non-Jew when it’s convenient, how can you force non-Jews to live like Jews?'”
Proverbs 27:5-6 NIV
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
1 Timothy 5:20 NIV
“But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.”
Galatians 6:1 TPT
“My beloved friends, if you see a believer who is overtaken with a fault, may you who are walking in the Spirit restore such a person with a spirit of gentleness. And be careful that you don’t also fall into temptation.”
Setting the Stage:
Yesterday, we explored how grace gives us the courage to confront error, even in leadership, and how the greatest danger to grace is not opposition but compromise. We learned that protecting the truth is worth any cost and that living #TheGraceLife means being consistent in public and private.
Today, we will dig deeper into this same confrontation between Paul and Peter, but from four different angles that reveal how to confront issues in a Godly way. This passage shows us how to navigate difficult conversations while maintaining both truth and love. We’re about to see that confrontation done God’s way actually builds relationships instead of destroying them.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Grace-Empowered Leadership Confronts the Issue, Not the Person.
Notice that Paul “opposed him to his face,” but he didn’t attack Peter’s character or calling. Paul confronted Peter’s actions and behavior, not his identity or value as an apostle.
How this applies to you:
— How you confront an issue determines whether you build up or tear down.
— Learn to separate the person from the problem. Paul didn’t say, “Peter, you’re a hypocrite.” He said, “Your behavior is hypocritical.” When you attack someone’s character, you shut down the conversation. When you address specific actions, you create the opportunity for discourse and change.
— Address the behavior that threatens the mission, not the person. Paul wasn’t upset because Peter hurt his feelings. He confronted Peter because Peter’s actions threatened the Gospel message and the unity of the church. Make sure your confrontations are mission-focused, not ego-driven. If you can demonstrate how a person’s actions are hindering the overall mission, they will be more receptive.
— Remember that grace-empowered leaders confront to restore, not to destroy. Paul’s goal wasn’t to embarrass Peter or diminish his leadership. His goal was to get Peter back on track with the truth of grace. When you confront in love, your goal is always restoration.
— Use specific examples, not general accusations. Paul pointed to specific behavior: Peter eating with Gentiles when Jews weren’t around, then withdrawing when they came. If your accusations are vague, the person will become defensive. So, use specific examples and be very clear.
— Focus on the impact of the behavior, not just the behavior itself. Paul explained how Peter’s withdrawal was affecting others: “even Barnabas was swept away.” Help people see how their actions impact others, not just themselves. Most sensible people will carefully consider what you are saying when it is clear that their actions are negatively impacting others.
— Confront the compromise before it becomes a pattern. Paul didn’t wait to see if Peter would change on his own. He addressed it immediately. Living #TheGraceLife doesn’t mean you ignore issues, hoping they’ll resolve themselves.
— Remember that you can honor someone’s position while challenging their actions. Paul never questioned Peter’s apostolic calling or authority. He challenged a specific decision. You can respect the office a person walks into, and even the person themselves, while correcting their behavior.
2. God Will Give You The Wisdom to Know When to Go Public.
Paul confronted Peter “in front of everyone” because Peter’s compromise was public and affecting others. This teaches us that the scope of the confrontation should match the scope of the problem. If the error affects many, the correction must be
heard by many.
How this applies to you:
— Private sins require private confrontation; public sins require public correction. Peter’s withdrawal wasn’t a private struggle—it was a public action that affected the entire church community. When the error is public, correction must also be public to prevent confusion.
— Consider who is being influenced by the compromise. Paul saw that other Jewish believers and even Barnabas were following Peter’s lead. When a leader’s actions influence others to compromise, public correction becomes necessary because if you keep the correction private, the negative seeds that were sown will continue to grow. It only takes a little leaven to leaven an entire batch of dough.
— Public confrontation protects the innocent, not just corrects the guilty. Paul wasn’t trying to humiliate Peter; he was protecting the Gentile believers who were being made to feel like second-class citizens.
— Understand that leadership visibility requires public accountability. The higher your platform, the more public your accountability. Peter was the lead apostle, so his compromise had a greater impact. With greater influence comes greater responsibility for public integrity.
— Make sure your motivation is protection, not exposure. Paul’s goal was to protect the Gospel and the church, not to expose Peter. Public confrontation should always be motivated by love for truth and protection of people, never by a desire to embarrass or retaliate.
— Be prepared for the discomfort that comes with public truth-telling. Paul risked his relationship with Peter and potential backlash from other leaders. Speaking truth publicly is never comfortable, but sometimes it’s necessary.
3. Effective Communicators Use Penetrating Questions to Create Understanding.
Look at how Paul ended his confrontation: “If you, who are a Jew, live like a non-Jew when it’s convenient, how can you force non-Jews to live like Jews?” He used a penetrating question that helped Peter see the contradiction in his own behavior.
How this applies to you:
— Penetrating questions help people take self-inventory, while accusations lead to defensiveness. When Paul asked Peter about the contradiction in his behavior, he forced Peter to examine himself rather than just defend himself.
— Use questions to reveal inconsistencies gently but firmly. Paul didn’t have to list all of Peter’s failures. One well-crafted question exposed the entire problem. Sometimes, one penetrating question accomplishes more than a lengthy speech.
— Help people see the logical consequences of their actions. Paul’s question showed Peter where his behavior was leading: forcing Gentiles to become Jews to be fully accepted. Good questions help people see the trajectory of their choices.
— Frame questions around larger principles, not just personal behavior. Paul connected Peter’s actions to the overall theological implications. This approach helps people understand why change is necessary because they are able to see the bigger picture. They may have initially only considered their immediate actions, which they may have perceived as harmless. But when framed within a broader context, people can see the wider implications.
— Use questions to create dialogue, not to trap people. Paul’s question wasn’t a gotcha moment; it was an invitation for Peter to think more deeply. The goal of confrontational questions should be understanding, not humiliation.
— Remember that the right question can change someone’s entire perspective. Paul’s question helped Peter see that his “small” compromise was actually a rejection of the Gospel itself.
4. Conflict, Done God’s Way, Can Deepen Relationships.
This confrontation didn’t end the friendship between Paul and Peter. In fact, 2 Peter 3:15 shows Peter later referring to “our dear brother Paul” and acknowledging the wisdom God gave him. This teaches us that confrontation done in love actually strengthens relationships.
How this applies to you:
— Temporary tension can lead to permanent trust. When someone cares enough about you to risk conflict for your good, it actually builds a deeper relationship. People respect those who love them enough to tell them the truth.
— Authentic relationships require the freedom to disagree. Shallow relationships avoid conflict; deep relationships work through it. If you can’t disagree with someone, you don’t really have a relationship with them.
— Since Paul was willing to confront Peter when necessary, his words carried more weight in future discussions. When people know you’ll speak the truth even when it’s difficult, they trust your words more.
— Healthy conflict prevents relationship resentment. If Paul had stayed silent, he would have lost respect for Peter, and Peter would have continued in compromise. Unaddressed issues poison relationships. How many times has someone done something wrong and their “so called” friend chose to write them off, instead of confronting it. I know people who say, “I lost trust in this person back in 1995 because he did such and such.” Our relationship has never been the same. However, if he had addressed it back then, instead of just walking away and writing the person off, he could have restored the relationship and not wasted the decades in between.
— I know a person who used to be one of my best friends. He thought I said something (which, to this day, I do not believe I said), and he got offended. Instead of talking to me about it, he withdrew, and even though I tried many times to restore the relationship, it was lost. I never had an issue with him. If he had a problem with me, and he loved me, he should have addressed it. Even if I was wrong, the relationship would have still been intact.
— Learn to disagree without becoming disagreeable. Paul confronted the issue firmly but maintained love for Peter as a person. You can be strong in your convictions while remaining kind in your approach.
— Remember that iron sharpens iron through friction, not comfort. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This happens through healthy friction, not constant agreement. The people who challenge you the most often help you grow the most.
— Understand that avoiding necessary conflict isn’t love—it’s fear. Paul could have stayed silent to preserve peace, but that would have been selfish, and his respect for Peter would have been lost. Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do is create the necessary tension for someone’s growth.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me how to confront in love.
I declare that I will not avoid difficult conversations that need to happen.
I will speak the truth with grace and love, focusing on the issue and not attacking the person.
I will ask the right questions that help people discover the truth for themselves.
I will confront publicly when the situation demands it, but always with the goal of protection and restoration.
I understand that healthy conflict deepens relationships and builds trust.
I refuse to let fear keep me from speaking the truth when the truth needs to be spoken.
I will separate the person from the problem and always seek restoration over retaliation.
I am living #TheGraceLife, and GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
