Tough, Tender Love

April 22nd, 2025

Galatians 2:11-21

The story of Paul’s confrontation with Peter is very instructive. Both men were intensely committed believers. Ironically, Peter was in an intimidating situation, where Jewish Christians opposed his eating with Gentile Christians.

Strong believers must beware that they in no way harm the tender faith of newer believers. Is there ever a time and place for the kind of confrontation that occurred between Peter and Paul? We must recognize that even genuine faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior can be nuanced.

Often, personal experiences can be interpreted as a misrepresentation of the gospel. Paul was adamant regarding the truth of the pure, uncomplicated message of genuine transformation through Jesus Christ.

Paul lived and worked from the context of a radical transformation by the power of Christ’s cross. He took seriously any aberration or misunderstanding of the gospel. At the end of the day, both Peter and Paul lived out of the grace of God, and both were willingly martyred for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Author: David Felter