A college student once told me, “Whatever your friends do, you will do.” What governs the behavior of a disciple? Do we act differently depending upon the crowd we are with? Should Christians be caught up with the sin of the culture?
Peter was comfortable around the Gentiles until messengers from James came to Antioch. When these Judaizers arrived, he reverted to Jewish custom and distanced himself from the Gentiles. Even Barnabas was caught up with the old customs and joined Peter. But Paul called them out. They did not keep the Jewish law consistently. Why would they demand that the Gentiles do so?
Paul’s solution was a funeral. He died to the law, so that he might live for God. Jesus told his disciples that they would have to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow him. Christ is the only one who can justify us, the one way to salvation. Paul was so identified with Jesus, that he believed he was crucified with Christ once and for all. He no longer lived, but Christ lived in him. Trusting by faith in the faithful work of the Son of God, Paul was saved by grace alone through faith alone.
What governs the behavior of a disciple? The cross. If we could become righteous through the law, Christ died for nothing. But Christ’s death was not in vain. Tozer once observed about people who have been crucified with Christ that we face in one direction, we cannot look backward, and we no longer have any plans of our own. In answer to the college student, “Whatever Christ did, that is what his followers do?” I have decided to follow Jesus. Have you?
