AM Service 14 December 2025 Sometimes the sharpest battles for the truth of the gospel are not fought against outsiders, but within the church itself. We expect the world to resist the gospel, but what happens when compromise comes from one of our own? What happens when a respected leader, even an apostle, stumbles and by his example leads others astray? That is exactly what happened in Antioch. The apostle Peter — the one who had preached at Pentecost, the one who had been given the vision that Gentiles were clean in Christ, the one who had defended Gentile inclusion before the church in Jerusalem — fell into fear and hypocrisy. And when Peter fell, others followed. Even Barnabas, Paul’s dear companion, was swept along by his example. In that moment, the very truth of the gospel was at stake. Would the church be divided into two classes of Christians — Jews who were “truly clean” and Gentiles who were “second-class” unless they adopted Jewish customs? Or would the church stand firm on the gospel of justification by faith alone, through Christ alone, without any additions of law or culture? Into that crisis stepped Paul. He did not remain silent. He opposed Peter to his face — publicly, boldly, and for the sake of the gospel. This was not about personal rivalry, but about guarding the gospel of grace. Beloved, this passage teaches us that the gospel is not only a doctrine to be confessed but a life to be lived. To compromise in conduct is to deny in practice what we profess with our lips. And here we will see both the danger of hypocrisy and the glory of Christ, who has broken down every dividing wall and calls us to walk in step with His truth.