Was Peter a hypocrite?

Was Peter a hypocrite?
Radical grace preachers would say, "Yes, all those who believe in the law were hypocrite including the Christian believers who do and teach God's laws and commandments. That's why we still need to preach grace to all the churches. We need to save them from the laws with our Gospel Revolution. Many believers are still under the law. Like Peter, they become corrupted and corrupt others who believe in grace. That's why we must preach radically even though all of them misunderstood us; otherwise we are not preaching the gospel that Paul. We don't preach the gospel that Peter preached; we preach only the gospel that Paul preached or John preached .."

• Gal 2:9-14 ERV  James, Peter, and John seemed to be the leaders. And they saw that God had given me this special gift of ministry, so they accepted Barnabas and me. They said to us, "We agree that you should go to those who are not Jews, and we will go to the Jews."  (10)  They asked us to do only one thing--to remember to help those who are poor. And this was something that I really wanted to do.  (11)  When Peter came to Antioch, he did something that was not right. I stood against him, because he was wrong.  (12)  This is what happened: When Peter first came to Antioch, he ate and associated with the non-Jewish people. But when some Jewish men came from James, Peter separated himself from the non-Jews. He stopped eating with them, because he was afraid of the Jews who believe that all non-Jewish people must be circumcised.  (13)  So Peter was a hypocrite. The other Jewish believers joined with him, so they were hypocrites too. Even Barnabas was influenced by what these Jewish believers did.  (14)  They were not following the truth of the Good News. When I saw this, I spoke to Peter in front of everyone. I said, "Peter, you are a Jew, but you don't live like one. You live like someone who is not a Jew. So why are you trying to force those who are not Jewish to live like Jews?"

Today we don't listen to Peter any more; we listen more to Paul instead. Peter was under the law and, hence, his letters were still full of the law and self-effort. Imagine how Peter fumbled when he could only think of the tabernacle or the law when he saw the glory of God. Peter could never be a true grace preacher:

• Mat 17:4-5 KJV  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

  

Was Paul a greater hypocrite?
I will tell them, If Peter was a hypocrite, would Paul be a greater hypocrite because he accused Peter and then later did something that pleased all the Jews too?

• Act 16:1-4 ERV  Paul went to the city of Derbe and then to Lystra, where a follower of Jesus named Timothy lived. Timothy's mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.  (2)  The believers in the cities of Lystra and Iconium had only good things to say about him.  (3)  Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, but all the Jews living in that area knew that his father was a Greek. So Paul circumcised Timothy to please the Jews.  (4)  Then Paul and those with him traveled through other cities. They gave the believers the rules and decisions from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. They told them to obey these rules.

If Peter or Paul were hypocrites, everyone in the churches are hypocrites too. No, God forbid. We should not just quote from the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) or the Bible version that we like to promote our own radical view on the preaching of grace only or law only. My advice is to read more Bible versions, including the King James Version (KJV), to have a more balanced view on the gospel or man's sin problem.
Based on what I know from the Bible, no one is perfect. And hence, it is ridiculous to use the failure of one Apostle to conclude that all his letters or teaching of God's words, God's commandments, and God's grace will turn us into hypocrites. Of course, none of the writers of the Bible were perfect but the words and commandments that they wrote were spiritually inspired for correction, instructions, warnings, and reproofs for the believers:

• 2Ti 3:13-17 KJV  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hence, it is ridiculous for us to boycott any writer of the Bible (like Moses, Jeremiah, Peter, or James) just because we think that they were angry prophets or 'doom and gloom' preachers, and preach only the letters of Paul because only his words are from the gospel of grace. It is ridiculous to be named after Paul only just because we think that only Paul can preach the gospel and no one else can preach it better. If we have such thinking, I am not surprised that many believers have stopped listening to Paul too. It's because many believers could have been deceived by the false prophets who teach them not to confess any sins. The believers could have been subtly led to think that the false prophets are more righteous, more gracious, more anointed, and more positive than Paul who still confessed his weaknesses or sins:

• Rom 7:18-25 KJV  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  (19)  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  (20)  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.  (21)  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  (22)  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  (23)  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  (24)  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.(Did Paul say that he could never sin because he was  under grace? No, if he could never sin, he would never said "O wretched man that I am! (v24)", confess that he was still brought under the captivity of sin (v23), and admit ".. the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do (v19)". Hence, if Paul still sinned or confessed publicly about his existing weakness or sins in his wretched man, why can't a believer or a sinner confess his sins and admit that he has sinned too? If Paul did not think that he could insult the righteousness of God by admitting or confessing it, how can we think that we will insult God's righteousness by confessing our sins?) 

   

Radical view or intent will cause more confusion and dissension in the churches
I will tell them, If your intent of preaching radical grace is to accuse everyone in the churches as hypocrites and cause arguments and contentions, your radical grace preaching is not from God. How can you be less hypocritical than Peter or Paul if you have prospered more than them by preaching more graciously or more radically than them?

We know that the law or the Jewish Old Covenant which includes the law of circumcision is no more applicable to the Gentiles. But if we use that to bring confusion, flame arguments, and create contentions in the churches, we are no different from the carnal Corinthian believers who boasted in the name of the Lord for following the teaching of Paul or Apollos.
We are not bothered by the name or the credential of those who preached the gospel; whether it is the gospel that was preached by Paul, Peter, Apollos, or the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. But we must know and judge the intent of the radical preachers who would just want to create contentions and accuse God's people who hold more balanced viewpoints on the gospel or God's words:

• 1Co 1:11-15 KJV  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  (12)  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  (13)  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?  (14)  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;  (15)  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

No one should boast that he can preach better than others
Who is more important? Is he the one who preaches grace, or the one who preaches doctrine and commandments?

• 1Co 3:1-10 KJV  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  (4)  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  (5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  (6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  (8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  (9)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  (10)  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

No one should boast just because he thinks that he has preached more 'grace'
Or can we boast that we are better than all others because we preach only Jesus Christ and we can confess the name of Jesus Christ better than others? No. Those who have such thinking are no better than the carnal Corinthian believers too:

• 1Co 3:20-23 KJV  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.  (21)  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;  (22)  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;  (23)  And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

I will ask those who argue vehemently that they would never judge others or be judged no matter they do, Do you boast that you can preach better than Peter or Paul? Do you judge all others as the Pharisees or hypocrites in your radical revolution? If you preached that Peter was a hypocrite and that he was still under the law, you have judged him unfairly:

• 1Co 4:2-6 ERV  Those who are trusted with such an important work must show that they are worthy of that trust.  (3)  But I don't consider your judgment on this point to be worth anything. Even an opinion from a court of law would mean nothing. I don't even trust my own judgment.  (4)  I don't know of any wrong I have done, but that does not make me right. The Lord is the one who must decide if I have done well or not.  (5)  So don't judge anyone now. The time for judging will be when the Lord comes. He will shine light on everything that is now hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of our hearts. Then the praise each person should get will come from God.  (6)  Brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself as examples for you. I did this so that you could learn from us the meaning of the words, "Follow what the Scriptures say." Then you will not brag about one person and criticize another.

Believers can still sin, not by stealing or killing, but by 'speaking'
I will ask the radical grace preachers again, So, do you now believe that there is always suffering and persecution for the true believers? and not everyone will always prosper? However, do you explain the correct scripture to your believers?

• Jud 1:8-20  KJV  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ..  (10) But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.  (12)  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; .. (16) These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.  (17)  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
• 2Pe 2:10-22 KJV  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.  (11)  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.  (12)  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; .. (17) These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  (18)  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  (19)  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  (20)  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  (21)  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

Do you realize that sinners or believers do not need to kill or steal to sin? They can just 'speak' to sin. If we are preachers, we can sin even more because, as preachers, we can speak better lies to deceive more people. Hence, how can we lie that the Ten Commandment is no longer applicable to us when we know that it is still God's commandment to the churches?

• Rom 13:9-14 KJV  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ..  (13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
• 1Pe 3:10-15 KJV  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.  (13)  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  (14)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  (15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Many end time preachers will turn the grace of God into lasciviousness
Peter has said it right (in 1Pe 3:10-15 above) because he would still keep the commandments of God (even though he was not perfect in keeping every God's commandment).
However, after reading from Jud 1:8-20 and 2Pe 2:10-22, I realize that there were great similarities in Peter and Jude. They would keep the commandments of God and warn the believers of those who will speak evil of dignities. However, Jude would go further by saying that there could be someone who would turn the grace of God into licentiousness or lasciviousness too

• Jud 1:4 KJV  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

I had made a quick check on the meaning of 'lasciviousness'. It means 'feeling morbid sexual desire or a propensity to lewdness' or 'The trait of behaving in an obscene manner'. Of course, it can mean 'license to sin too'. Please think, Who would turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness? Can the believers of other religions turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness? No, it is very unlikely for anyone outside the churches to turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness. Obviously Jude was talking about those who are teaching or preaching in our churches; not the believers outside our churches. No wonder they could never quote scripture comfortably from the letter of Jude and Peter. Instead, they would constantly speak evil of Peter, Jude, and all the churches who would still keep the commandments of God:

• Rev 12:17 KJV  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Rev 14:11-13 KJV  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  (13)  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

I feel especially comforted to know that we can rest from our labours from henceforth, according to the grace of God. It reminds me of what Paul said earlier in his letter to the Corinthians:

• 1Co 3:1-10 KJV  ... (5)  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  (6)  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  (7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  (8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  (9)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  (10)  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

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