Lesson 11: Welcomed and Accepted in the Gospel

Question 1

Marco Polo of Mike’s teaching: Monday 15th March 2021

“When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?” Galatians 2:11-14 NIV
From the teaching today:

“Paul is confronting him [Peter] on this because Peter had even let Barnabas astray. And Paul says: “You are not acting in line with the gospel. The gospel. In other words, Paul is pointing Peter to the cross and saying: “Look, Peter! You were once unclean in your sin and …Jesus took your uncleanness on Himself so that you would be clean forever. Look at the cross Peter. Jesus is being shut out of God’s presence so that you are welcomed in and God Himself will now eat with you and fellowship with you and welcomes you. The cross shouts loudly: You are welcomed! You are accepted! You are included!”
Question 1: In this story, who are you?  Are you the Gentiles, the ones being avoided, rejected, or being pushed away? If so, we want to pray for you and for each other.  Or are you Peter, avoiding people because of their past, skin color, or political persuasion even though they are in the body of Christ? Or are you Paul, speaking up for the outcast, defending the gospel by defending those who are being pushed away? On the live course, students will be able to complete this question or task.mic


"Veiled in humanness nailed upon a tree
The Son of God bore punishment for me
Forsaken You cried out the Father turned away
The Son of God bore wrath for me
In the darkness of that awesome day
Jesus' blood would make a way

In hopelessness the cross speaks hope
In fear and doubt the cross speaks peace
In place of pain the cross supplies our every need
Instead of death the cross speaks life"
https://www.rootsontheweb.com/lectionary/2019/100-march-april-2019-c/lent-5-passion-sunday/hymns-songs-music