Well, dear church family, this Lord's Day morning I would like for us to consider that most precious of Gospel truths, that most precious of doctrines, justification by faith in Christ alone. And so critical, dear church family, is this doctrine. So foundational is this doctrine to the truth of the Gospel that we see here the Apostle Paul really going face to face with the other giant apostle, the apostle Peter, in defense of it. It is fair to say, therefore, that the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone is an incredibly important doctrine, a foundational doctrine to the gospel. Friends, we must earnestly contend for the faith That was once delivered unto the saints, as Jude puts it in 1.3. And so for today's sermon text, I would quite simply like for us to consider two principal truths which we see are so evident in today's passage of Holy Scripture. The first truth, I believe, we see is the fallibility of man. The fallibility of man. That's the first truth, the principle, the fallibility of man. And the second one, of course, is the justification by faith in Christ alone. It's worth defending at all costs, isn't it? And so to give us some context, we read earlier in verse 11 of Peter's coming to Antioch. Antioch, of course, is in Turkey. It's not far from Ephesus. And according to Acts 11, 26, It's where believers in Jesus Christ were first called Christians, weren't they? And by the grace of God, many Gentiles were saved there. In fact, it became one of the main churches, didn't it? For Gentile believers. Of course, there were also Jews that were saved, but by and large, it became a church where many Gentiles came to know the Lord by faith. from Judaism to Christianity, to faith in Christ. In verse eight of today's passage, it confirms that the Holy Spirit made Peter the apostle of those on circumcision, Jews, those who were still trusting in the works of the law, observation of the law, justification. And the Holy Spirit made Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. Now friends, why momentarily do we see these two great men of God, these two of the chiefest apostles, really, why momentarily do we see them, as it were, locking horns? Why do we see these two great men of God momentarily have this justification by faith in Christ alone for one's salvation, and not by the deeds of the Lord. Hence the Apostle's words in verse 11, I withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed. I don't suppose at first reading we can appreciate the gravity of the occasion here. I withstood him, the words are very telling. Peter, as it were, this is who I withstood. Those in who the shadow of Peter would convict people of their sin and make people tremble, such was this godly man, this is who the apostle Paul withstood to the face, stood up to, really because the truth of the gospel here was at stake. Now dear brethren, like I said, I don't think we can always appreciate the gravity of such passages of scripture at first reading. So please allow me to labour on this point, because it really shows us But God, and it seems to me that we live in such a day, in these days, where it's a, we live in the celebrity age, don't we? Where men are lifted up to this great high pinnacle, as it were. This great status, as it were. We think of the Washers and the MacArthur's and all the other, they're lifted up to this great high pinnacle. And many, many people really follow them in everything. follow men in everything, only in so much as they agree with the Word of God, both in faith and in practice. The Apostle Paul in today's account shows us very clearly, does it not, that men at best are fallible, even the best of men, even the best of preachers. And so does it show us that throughout church history, this teaches us, friends, that we only follow men inasmuch as they follow the word of God, the word of the living God, and no further than that. Think of the striking gravity here of this occasion. Paul reproves Peter publicly, publicly, before the whole church at Antioch here. The great Peter he reproves before the whole church at Antioch. He goes even further, does he not? to Christians everywhere, throughout the world at the time then, and of course, through Christians throughout all time. What a thing, to write someone's fault down, where all Christians will know of it, dear friends. And you see, friends, how these words that we have written down in our Bibles, they're not men's words, are they? of truth, dear friends, has caused these precious words to be written down for our learning. And so we would do well, would we not, to listen, as it were, with our hearts to what the word of God has to teach us this morning. This passage teaches us that truth, the truth as it is in Christ, is more important than unity. Let me say that again. As it is in Christ, it's more important than Christian unity. As important as Christian unity is, and we value it dearly in this church, and it's an unbecoming thing to go off on one's own self, as it were, to become those who are contentious. But truth must always, dear friends, come first, as it were. It teaches us this. It also teaches us that great men of God, great ministers, can also make great mistakes. Even assemblies of God's people can make great mistakes. Consider who Paul was reproving here. Peter. Peter, one of the greatest of all the apostles. He was the old disciple, wasn't he? Who had been a constant companion of the Lord Jesus, really from the beginning. pretty much on his ministry. Peter heard the Lord Jesus preach, didn't he? He saw his miracles firsthand, what the Lord Jesus had done. He went out with the Lord Jesus. He came back with the Lord Jesus. And he was blessed by the Lord's private teaching, as it were. He was numbered amongst the Lord's most intimate of acquaintances, of friends. Peter was the apostle to whom the keys and the kingdom of heaven were committed, were given. And by his hands those keys were first used, weren't they? First opened up the door of faith to the Jews at the preaching at Pentecost. Peter was first opened So zealous is he for this truth of the gospel that he is willing to take on this giant of a man, as it were, this godly man, as it were, because such is at stake here, such is the truth that's on the line here. In Acts 15, Peter was supposed to rise up in the church council and to defend God's grace to the Gentiles, wasn't he? And who God could make clean all unclean, should we? And so, in light of all these things, we see here the great Peter, the great apostle, is clearly at fault here, clearly to be blamed by his actions in bringing the truth of the Gospel into disrepute. He was not acting in line with the Gospel, was he? And it really shows us, this text shows us and cries to us. Man is fallible. Man makes mistakes. Ministers make mistakes. We should not put our trust wholly upon the words of men, even great men. and he was afraid of them, separated himself from these Jews, from the Gentiles, and in so doing, almost, portrayed that there was something unworthy about these Gentiles. That the gospel of grace that's in Christ, by faith, to have faith in Christ's finished work, was not enough. That it needed something additional to be added to that. by him, by him removing himself from the Gentiles, separating himself and going over and eating away from them and making the Jews likewise to do the same. the apostle, Peter, led many other believers astray by his hypocrisy. And this we know was not the first time that Peter committed great sins. We know previously, do we not, that he denied the Lord three times, didn't he? We know previously that he did not savour the words of God and discourage the Lord, didn't he? And it would seem that Peter of all men was perhaps one of the most fallible, reveals the most fallible of the apostles. Of course, besides, we think of Judas Iscariot. But the word of God, it's very clear that even the most greatest of men, as it were, the chiefest of apostles, are at best, without grace, they are some of the most fallible of men. They get it wrong, we all get it wrong. Well, look at Abraham, the father of the faithful, the father of all the faithful, who was once unfaithful, who was once without faith, because God took her, didn't he, from the land of earth. He was a pagan, wasn't he? He wasn't a Christian, he wasn't a believer. He was taken from a pagan lifestyle, and God made him a great man of faith. truth. What shall we say then that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? Verse 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not of God. You see, Abraham had nothing in and of himself of observation of the Lord to justify himself. Nothing. Nothing to glory in and of God. Nothing he could point to in the flesh he was a pagan before. Because he got it wrong, even as a believer, he got it wrong. And verse three says, for what sayeth the scripture? This is the fundamental point I want us to take hold of. What sayeth the scripture? This is the authority that we Christians need to hold on. What sayeth the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. There we have it. He believed God. and it was counted to him for righteousness, without the words, him. He believed that through his seed, that through his family lineage, through Isaac, as it went right through to David, right through to Christ, as it were, that the Messiah of the world would come through his seed, and that every single nation of the world would be blessed through the Savior. And through His seed the Saviour would come and that Saviour would be His salvation, that Saviour Christ would be His righteousness, His perfect obedience, and that every single nation of the world, those who would come to turn from their sin and trust alone in Christ and His righteousness, above. Even when Abraham was a believer, he made some bad mistakes, didn't he? He listened to his wife Sarah, didn't he, in marrying Hagar and taking her to wife in her desperateness for a child. Do we remember Aaron, the high priest who listens to the children of Israel and made them a golden calf? How about wise Solomon, who very unwisely took to himself many wives, contrary to how it was in the beginning, and whose wives, for a time, took him far away from the Lord, and who built places of false worship to the many gods of the nations. Do we remember Josaphat, the good king, who helped the wicked king, Ahab? What about David, a man after God's own heart? Was he such a man after God's own heart? When he committed adultery with Bathsheba and consequently plotted the death of Uriah, he wasn't, was he? All these things cry out to us. Man is fallible. Man makes mistakes. Do not put your trust in men's words. men's institutions, don't put your confidence in these things. Put your confidence in the Lord and his word. The Lord our righteousness. All these things, dear friends, are written down for our learning. They're written down for a great purpose. They cry out, by the deeds of the Lord, there shall no flesh be justified in my sight. Romans 3.20. It's the knowledge of Senna, I was speaking to a brother earlier about this, that the Bible teaches us two fundamental truths. It teaches us, our own hearts, how sinful and depraved and how lawless they are by nature. And even the most disciplined amongst us break God's laws. And if we're honest, often, in our hearts and our minds, it teaches us that we are fallen and that our own righteousness is as filthy rags in God's sight. It's by the law, by the law is the knowledge of sin. It shows us that we cannot get it right by our law keeping, by our good deeds. We need a savior. We need the savior, Christ. And the reason why I so labor in this particular point many in our nominal Christianity, which we see has engulfed the West, are more inclined now to hold to men's words rather than the Lord's words. In the Bible, the Bible is very clear, 2 Timothy 3.16, that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that what? That the manner God made thoroughly furnished unto all good works. God's word has the final court of appeal, as it were. And just another exhortation, that the word of God is not just about a literal meaning. When we truly and seriously become serious about the word of God, and seek God's light, and seek God's blessing, in terms of salvation or guidance as a Christian, it's the living word, life. These words here, dear friends, are not men's words. And I always say to my children, the Bible must be your number one book. Yes, we have good books at home. We've got books on the Reformers and the Puritans and many other such books. But the Bible must be your number one book. We could get so bogged down on all these other books and all the theology in the world about the Lord, and actually living for the Lord. And the word is a living word, doesn't it? It speaks to us. I can one year be reading a passage of scripture, perhaps that's living or not giving it my attention, and another year I'll read exactly the same attention. And that be met by the Spirit and the grace of God. and it will speak so deep within my heart, it will so move me, that it will actually completely change the course of where I'm going in life. It's the living word, isn't it? Dear friends, do we treat it as such? Take, for instance, the Roman Catholic Church, basing itself upon a fallible man, Peter, as it were, and not upon the living word, upon Christ, as it were, but they've made the Pope. And men, their intercessors, haven't they? Fallible men. Men as sinful as we are. Probably even worse, for all we know. Those churches that align themselves with the Roman Catholic Church in the Churches Together movement, as it were, are partakers of her sins. They aid and abet her sins. And that's why we have nothing got to do with the Church's Together movement in this church, and ecumenicalism in a false sense, that there's nothing got to do with it, and the amount of pressure that we've got in this fellowship to join hands, as it were, and they may call us all manner of names and everything else, but the truth of the gospel is at stake here, friends. The truth of the gospel is on the line here, isn't it? You know, I've often heard it, I've often heard of it. In fact, this week I went on a business trip, but before I thought I'd just fit in an hour's worth of evangelism. I popped into Tibetan, and I met a man, and he seemed like a genuine believer, actually. And I said, he said, well, what church do you go to? And I said, well, this is the church I go to. And he said, well, this is the church I go to. I won't mention any names. But he said, well, why don't you go to this church that I go to? I've been going there for 30-odd years now. I said, well, I take issue with some of the things that they do. And he said, well, what? And like I said, I don't like to be confrontational. Well, they have women vicars. They join together in the Churches Together movement. And I named a few things. And I said, I'm not intentionally trying to take you away. a really nice believer. But I said, where do you get your authority from? He may be a good man. He may be a good family man. He may do many things. But where are you getting your authority from? Do you get it from the word of God? And it's almost like there's a light bulb that came on. Good men, dear friends, worldly wise men, and decent men, can send us and lead us astray, right into hell. They can. The Bible is very clear about that. How many charismatic churches follow in the bad example of Edward Irving? If you've ever learned about the man Edward Irving, who was the forerunner of the charismatic movement in succumbing to the delusion of speaking in the babble of an unknown tongue. And God's not the author of confusion, is he? He's the author of order. He wants us to understand the simple truths of the gospel. It is the great folly of the natural man and at times compromised Christians, and I speak of myself at times, to lead upon great ministers, great institutions, great articles of faith, great denominations. It is the great folly of us, as it were, to make ministers and institutions our Pope, as it were, and to make these things our confidence and our salvation, when the Lord, and not the Lord himself, and not his righteousness. We all naturally love to have a pope of our own, don't we? We do, that's us. By nature, we all are inclined to lean upon some great man that we can see, rather than the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who we can't see by faith. You can imagine Barnabas, just imagine Barnabas thinking within himself when Peter separated himself from the Gentiles cannot be in the wrong here. Surely this man of God who went in with the Lord, who did these mighty acts with the Lord, who was first to open the doors for Gentiles and Jews, surely this man cannot be in the wrong. But what happened? He was led astray, with him, wasn't he? He followed suit. And dear friends, it speaks, doesn't it? Do not put your trust in man. Man is fallible, man makes mistakes. It cries out to us, put your trust in the words of the living God, and in the truth of the gospel written down in the Bible, not what men may say. And the problem I think nowadays, which we have in our celebrity age, Do we take the pains to read the scriptures ourselves? All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for us. Study to show thyself approved of God. Pastors, ministers, and I'm not saying, you know, we can learn many things from some of these men, many things, but it's the Christian that must give himself to the word of God, heartily and prayerfully, crying to the Lord every day, dear friends, Ministers and preachers, they are for the perfecting of the saints. They bevel off the edges, as it were, of the saints. They can help them and give them direction, but they are not what the Christian should hope in. The Christian must have his own convictions. Because, I tell you now, many, many people have been led astray by putting their hope in some great preacher or the other. And what happens? That man will let them down, won't they? That man will suddenly, you know, start up a gym, or some karate class, and give it some hard time, you think, well, hold on a second, what's this person doing? You know, suddenly, this great man will lead people astray. We must have our own conviction, surely. You see, friends, what are the best of Christian ministers and preachers? Are there not men of like passion as we are? Are there not men subject to make great mistakes and lead others astray? Are there not men who by certain actions can lead many astray? There are, aren't there? Ministers made deed be worthy of double honour. but study thyself to be approved of God. Do not place his words and opinions side by side by the word of God, dear friends, don't do that. Do not spoil him with flattery, especially over advantage. Do not think that they can make mistakes because we all can make mistakes, but do not say within thyself, I have hope because such and such a man told me that I'm a Christian, or such and such a man, said that I'm a good person, don't do that. Rather be ready to prayerfully and heartily read the word of God yourself, and say I am hope, because what the preacher has said, I've examined the truth for myself. Heartily, I've sought the Lord, and I'm convicted and persuaded, because the word of God does not lie. That person perhaps can exaggerate, but the word of God never, and that's where I'm putting my hope in, That's where I'm putting my assurance, sir. Not in the fallible words of men. And yes, I've said that we agree with preachers as far as they agree with the word of God, but no further than that, dear friends. If our comforts would be lasting, we must fetch living water from the well of life itself. If our comforts would be lasting. Friends, it is certainly possible to have attained a vast amount of knowledge in reading the books and watching sermons online and such the like, but be in great ignorance concerning the gospel, the true gospel of Christ. These things are possible. Church history teaches us. You know, when you look at the great 18th century evangelists, many of them, for years before they were actually used of God, were in great ignorance We think of the Wesleys, we think of Grimshaw. I mean, these men for years were in ignorance, until the light of the gospel came shining in. I said, we're there, we're learning, weren't we? What are the most educated of Christian ministers if they are not educated and moved by the Holy Spirit first? Of course, sound Christian books ought never to be despised, of course not. But friends, it is astonishing to me to observe and yet know very little of the gospel of grace, and hold it to justification by faith alone. It's astonishing, isn't it? And with all the theology we have in the world today, and all the reformed institutions and things, and how little, actually, we see of true saving faith, and actually how little we see of true, true justification, people truly holding to the Lord, as it were, to saving grace experientially, as it were. And I have no doubt that the leaders of Oxford University in the 18th century knew far more in Latin and Hebrew and Greek than did Whitefield and Wesley. I have no doubt that they knew so much more, didn't they? But they knew very little of the saving gospel of Christ and justification by faith alone. sorry, in Christ alone. What do these things teach us, friends? Man is fallible, as it were. Man makes mistakes. Do not put your trust in the opinions of men, neither in great councils, neither in the confidence of the flesh, neither in great institutions. Infallibility, according to the Holy Scriptures, is not to be found amongst educated men, early upon the words of the living God. God makes wise the simple, as it were. I remember preaching this a long time ago at church, and someone was really offended at me. Later on he said, so are you calling me simple? Is that why you say simple? And it really is, when we understand what we are by nature. The Bible must be our ultimate authority for both faith and practice. Friends, we would do well to learn from Apostle Paul's example in today's account, that to keep the truth is more important than to maintain unity. A little leaven leavens a whole lump, doesn't it? And like I said, that shouldn't mean that we think we're God's sole recruit, as it were, and be contentious and unbecoming as a Christian. It doesn't mean that. It means that we all should have it in mind to stand true for the Lord, as it were, for His truth, for His gospel first, as it were. It is a sad reality in our present day, even amongst Reformed churches, that men have become more concerned about how they appear to their congregations, how they appear to other fellow ministers, how they appear, and that's why we see all these meetings, You know, they're seen in all these, well, we all have all these meetings with other ministers and fraternals and all these things, instead of actually living out the gospel by faith for the Lord. And I'm not against these things, but it really seems to me, reformed churches, we see so many reformed churches dying, but it seems they're more interested in what people think of them as it were. As Spurgeon put it, and of course any that seem to be an enthusiast, as it were, well of course they are accused, aren't they, of controversy, like Whitfield was. It is my firm conviction that if a man be a doer of the word of God, in terms of the gospel, the true gospel, he will have to endure many false insinuations. He will be called a troubler, as it were, of Israel. Let me just say, let men say what they will, dear friends. Let men say, because God is on His throne. I am righteous in the Lord, and who shall condemn me now that I'm in the Lord, that I'm trusting in his righteousness and his word and his ways? No one, friends, the Lord our righteousness. Is this not why the apostle Paul rebuked Peter, the apostle Peter? Because simple faith That's why, wasn't it? Because he showed by his disassembling from the Gentiles that something extra was needed to become a Christian. Not simple faith in Christ's imputed righteousness. Upon Christ's perfect sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, it's not by works of righteousness that we have done, is it? It's through Christ alone. Remember the thief upon the cross. How was he justified in the sight of Almighty God? Did he have any words to bring to the table and say to the Lord, Lord, I've done all these things? He had nothing, didn't he? He spent a life thieving and stealing, not only from men, but from God, didn't he? He had nothing to boast of at all. But he believed, didn't he? Something happened on that cross, amazing something happened. All the people that said, this is the Son of God, he did all these things, he saved other people, and then something switched in his heart and his mind. This is the Son of God, he did save other people. This is the Messiah, this is the Christ, and he can save my soul, even a lifetime. and saving, that Christ's righteousness can cover his unrighteousness, that Christ's obedience unto death can cover his disobedience, that Christ's blood can cleanse his Adam's tainted blood. He believed all these things, and that was accounted to him for righteousness. What a wonderful thing this is, that God should look upon us, we who have stolen from God, our lives that he has given us. We have lived in sin, haven't we? We have got robbed, haven't we? And that Christ should look upon us in such love, and that he should so move in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, that he should put people and things in our life, means, to point us to him, not to any minister or any person, but to him, and say, this is the way, walk ye in it. These things are wonderful, aren't they, dear friends? No man or woman assurance until they embrace with all their heart the doctrine that we are counted righteous before God because of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. You'll never have assurance with God unless you embrace this true doctrine of the scriptures, this foundation doctrine of the scriptures. Faith in this will save us. Gospel works spirits, won't it? They were established like James, and we've learned from James recently, the epistle of James. It's talking about gospel works, the faith, where we trust in Christ and his righteousness. The works come as a result of that, don't they? They establish the faith as it were. It's never the other way around. It's never we work to get salvation, as so many people teach in the prosperity gospels. Friends, anything that adds to justification by faith in Christ alone is a false gospel. It's not a true gospel. In conclusion, let me just finish with Ephesians 2, 8. For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. It's a free gift. A gift for you this morning, if you do not yet know him. You can trust in his righteousness alone, and he will save you. and give you a new heart and give you a new spirit. And in Romans 3.28, therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Amen. ♪ Praise God's own love and righteousness ♪ ♪ By beauty of thy glorious breast ♪ ♪ This prayer grows in me ♪ ♪ So great with joy shall I lift up my head ♪ O shall I stand in that great day, For you, Lord, to my child shall lay? ♪ For me, out of three me ♪ ♪ I am from sea ♪ ♪ I'm filled there from wilt and shade ♪ ♪ The lowly me ♪ ♪ I started there ♪ ♪ Who from the harvest buds of pain ♪ ♪ Resides on thee, in me ♪ ♪ Church of Bethlehem, my Lord and my God ♪ ♪ This love has grown ♪ ♪ The same appears ♪ ♪ When new invention ♪ ♪ Sticks together ♪ ♪ Valuation changes ♪ ♪ For it's you ♪ ♪ The robe of Christ ♪ ♪ Which I ever knew ♪ ♪ When on the cross ♪ ♪ On death I rise ♪ ♪ To pay my debt ♪ ♪ Shedding tears ♪ Thee, O my King, Jesus, have mercy upon me. O death, O death, have mercy upon me. Let thy banished bloods rejoice, their beauty, their glorious dress, Jesus, the Lord of righteousness.