GALATIANS – A REVELATION OF CHRIST FOR THE UNLIKELY

GALATIANS – A REVELATION OF CHRIST FOR THE UNLIKELY

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. ¹⁸ Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.²⁰ I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. ²¹ Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. ²² I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they praised God because of me. – Galatians 1:11-24

In his testimony, Paul proclaims truths:

1 – Paul refutes the idea that he came to his gospel message through his own reflection, reasoning or thinking.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. – Galatians 1:11-12

‘Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”  The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. – Acts 9:1-9

2 – Paul undermines the claim that the gospel message was derived from man

¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. – Galatians 1:15-16

¹⁸ Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.²⁰ I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. ²¹ Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. – Galatians 1:18-19

3 – Paul shows that his God-given Gospel ‘checked out’ with the message that the other apostles had received from God.

‘Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”  Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” – Luke 24:44-49

Paul’s personal not only establishes his Apostleship but it also illustrates God’s amazing Grace.

Paul never lost sight of the grace of God in his life or his teaching

You cannot make yourself acceptable to God by being zealous or the most meticulous keeper of moral, ethical, cultural or religious

is the free, unmerited favour of God, working powerfully on the mind and heart to change lives.

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace… – Galatians 1:15a

‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. – Genesis 50:20

‘…that by his grace, was to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles’. –Galatians 1:15b

God set his loving grace on Paul not because Paul was worthy of it but simply because God took delight and pleasure in doing so.

‘The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other people’s for you were the fewest of all people. But it was because he loved you.’ – Deuteronomy 7:7-8