....... But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, " If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? ....... "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus , that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galations 2 v. 14 - 16

What makes me a Christian? Does going to Church? Does putting money in the collection every week? Does being a member of the local Church? Never been nasty to anybody, never done anyone a bad turn, always looking for the good in others. Does all this then, make me a Christian? No! none of those things make you a Christian.

Question one: Okay, then what must I do to become a Christian? Answer one: Nothing! Clarification on Answer one: Nothing? I do nothing surely that cannot be right? Confirmation of Answer one: To be a Christian you do not need to do anything because someone else as done it for you. Jesus Christ took your sins and nailed them to a cross. He died for you.

In this passage we find Peter being rebuked by Paul? Why? Peter was eating with Gentiles, but when certain men of the circumcision (law) came he withdrew from the Gentiles and separated himself from them. By this action he was saying the Cross of Jesus is not enough we need to add something. To add something to the Cross is wrong only the Cross saves us from our sins.

By the Cross we are adopted into God's family. By the Cross we are redeemed and brought back to God. By the Cross we are justified, God the Judge proclaims us Just. Sinless.

Peter had an hard lesson to learn, a lesson that we all must learn. The Cross and only the Cross makes us Christians.

If you believe that Christ died on the Cross for your sins, then you are a Christian. God will even give you the faith to believe, just ask and see.

In the cross of Christ I glory,

Towering o'er the wrecks of time;

When the woes of life o'ertake me,

Hopes deceive and fears annoy,

Never shall the cross forsake me;

Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

John Bowring