Matthew 24:20
Galatians 2:11-14
[SUP]11 [/SUP]But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I (Paul)opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. [SUP]12 [/SUP]For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. [SUP]13 [/SUP]The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
Now I have seen and heard people who refer to all Christians as the elect, but I would lean toward apostles as the elect (or maybe other leading men (Christians) of the first century church). And quite frankly, I don't know how you can say that it was not remarkable for Peter to do a 180 degree turn like that. We see Peter running at the cross, then we see him stand up to the council and tell them that it doesn't matter what it done to them they will continue to preach the word of God. And then this, Gal 2 - What happened Peter? Why did you loose sight of God. Paul says "stood condemned" and you shrug your shoulders and say "no biggie" - There must be something wrong on your end or mine, but it seems that it is yours. Maybe you can shed some light on the situation and show me how I can "fix" it on my end.
Well Timeline, you are sure correct that the ways of God are not affected by human opinions. He never worries about being politically correct.
On the elect, I suggest a concordance study of the term. Perhaps Ephesians 1 would be a good place to start.
Peter at Antioch goofed by separating to a Kosher table, it would appear, and not eating with Gentiles, despite his remarkable dream in Acts. But I believe that most Christians are like that, goofing every day, making these 180 degree shifts from walking in the Spirit & abiding in Christ to walking after the flesh. We have 2 modes of operation, and cannot get rid of the ability to shift gears to flesh mode. So Peter briefly erred at Antioch. But apparently he took the rebuke from Paul and soon after supported Paul in the Jerusalem council of Acts 15. (I date Galatians right before that council meeting.)
Thank you for bringing to our attention two passages which are to be compared. This one in Galatians and Romans 8:1
κατεγνωσμένος ἦν = he stood condemned or convicted.
Οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριμα τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ . = There is therefore now no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus.
I note that the Greek words in each are different. I believe that the 2nd adds in the idea of assigned punishment, where as the first just indicates judgment that the act was evil. Peter did something bad, but he was not condemned to some penalty for it nor sentenced to a situation from which there was no escape. I take Rom 8:1 to indicate that Christians are no condemned to walk after the flesh (Rom 7) and sin all the time, not condemned to a situation in which they can never have victory and abide in fellowship with Christ.
Indeed, all Christians' sins are "biggies," but generally just what to expect. What else is new? He who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin according to Peter (and the Lord). I take that to mean when we die, we stop sinning.
I'm not sure what you mean by
fix it on your end. I assure you that there is absolutely nothing you can do right now that guarantees that in 5 minutes you will not blow it. No filling with the Spirit, no abiding in Christ, no asking Him to take over and run your life, no claiming of Galatians 2:20 (crucified with Christ) can guarantee that you won't sin and walk in the flesh 5 minutes later, if not sooner. I don't know of anything better than praying the prayer in Ephesians 3 for each other, as Paul did for the Ephesians, prayer which requires faith of the man who ends up filled to all the fullness of God. But note that by the time Revelation 2 was written, Paul's prayer that they might know the love of Christ that passes knowledge (Eph 3), that prayer was apparently not effective for that point in the future when they had left their first love.
I think Peter's walking on the water well illustrates the Christian life. Take the eyes off the Lord Jesus, stare at the waves, stop trusting Him, and you start to sink in the waves.
Sorry if I misunderstood you.
I think if you study the term elect in the Bible, you will come to the conclusion that it refers to all Christians and those who will some day trust Christ as Savior, not a special class.
