An Apostle by Any Other Name

When you go shopping, do you prefer variety or ease? Do you go in for a belt and simple choose between black and brown, or do you go in and evaluate every brown option?

The belt may be called Mahogany, Walnut, Saddle, or Tan, but in the end you walk away with a brown belt.

Due to the fatigue that Ann continues to experience from chemo and radiation, sometimes she goes into the store with me when we need groceries, and sometimes she stays in the car. Her decision to go in or not is greatly influenced by my choice of grocers. If I go into Aldi’s and Chicken Stock is on the list, I will come out with Chicken Stock. If I go to some other markets and Chicken Stock is on the list, I have to decide between store brand/name brand; Low sodium/traditional; broth/stock. Sometimes the complexity of the marketplace is overwhelming.

Similarly, when it comes to God, Jesus and getting into Heaven, there is a COMPLEXITY of opinions. Paul had presented one Gospel to the Galatians. A few others had come and presented another explanation of how to get to God while discrediting Paul’s authority and truthfulness.

Just because this group of Judaizers didn’t want to call Paul and Apostle, did NOT mean that his authority or message were to be disregarded, doubted, or dismissed.

The problem faced by the Galatians is the same dilemma we find ourselves today; Who should I listen to? and How do I know what is true?

Transition: The end of last week’s text declared that Paul sought the approval of God as a servant of Christ. From that position and motivation he clarifies his message in verses 11-12 today.

The Source & Content of Paul’s Message (vv.11-12)

Authority of Source

The gospel of grace (that Jesus gave himself for our sins in order to transform us now) [v.1:4] did not come out of a brainstorming session, a user poll, or some test group.

It didn’t originate by any human agency (v.12)

Revelation of Jesus Christ

Was this a revelation from Jesus? Or was it a revelation about Jesus?

We have the same problem when we talk about the love of God. Does this phrase refer to God’s love for us, our love toward Him, or His love flowing through us towards others?

The question before us in this text is, Was Jesus Christ doing the revealing or the one being revealed?

Some find the answer in v.16 where is clearly specifies God as revealer and His Son as revealed.

Most of the Top commentaries come down on the side of Jesus is the one being revealed. But I appreciate Dr. Grant Osborne’s comment, “It is likely that Paul is using here a `general genitive’ in the Greek, where both aspects are emphasized”[i].

V.12 speaks of the unity of persons in the Triune Godhead and v.16 speaks of the diversity of persons in the Godhead. They are one, yet 3, and united, yet distinct.

4. But it is important that we don’t get lost in the “of”. Paul’s main assertion in the first half of v. 12 is the source. Rather than being humanly developed, it was revealed directly by God!

Transition: Because the source is the perfect God, the message is 100% true.

Truth of content

man’s gospel in v.11 has a double meaning, just like the of we just spoke about. The “gospel” promoted by the Judaizers originated in men who wanted to intimidate others and who wanted to make themselves look good.

Paul exposes man’s “gospel” in his letter to the believers in Ephesus:

Ephesians 2:9 ESV:2016

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Those who were dismissing Paul were those who wanted to make themselves look impressive.

Because they had been circumcised and observed traditional fasting and feast days, they elevated their experience to a requirement for ALL.

It is one thing for me to say that God considers bald heads to be beautiful. It is quite another for me to say God only accepts those with bald heads.

5. False religions thrive on making the founder or leaders admirable. These Judaizers were preaching an untruthful “gospel” because it was a message that exalted their experience.

Application

1. Any denomination or congregation that adds to the glory of Christ by elevating it’s followers above others ought to set off falsehood meters in our minds.

2. A particular diet or particular spiritual gift or particular way of exercising faith (whether it is bus ministry, door-to-door visitation, a particular translation of Scripture, or a particular style of music, or use of instruments) should immediately cause movement of the needle in your falsehood meter.

3. Any religion that detracts from the glory of Christ by claiming that a person can be reconciled to God apart from the work of Christ should, not only move the needle but, should bury the gauge and set off the alarm of our falsehood meter!

Transition: After Paul makes a claim of his authority and truthfulness, the rest of the chapter provides 3 arguments for his assertion.

The Support for Paul’s Claim (vv.13-24)

Familiarity with the Other Position (vv.13-14)

The Judaizers’ game is acquisition of credits—how zealous a person is and how notorious [advancing in Judaism] a person becomes.

Paul is able to contrast God’s true Gospel with their false message because he used to play their game (and was better at it than they were!)

Each rabbi had a personal set of ways that he expanded upon the written Torah known as Midrash. Over time the various Midrashim were compiled into a collection known as the Talmud. I have read Ray Van Der Land write that a particular Rabbi’s Midrash was also known as his yoke. He refers to Jesus saying in Matthew 11:29-30,

Matthew 11:29–30 ESV:2016

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

What we would term discipleship (learning and following the teaching of Jesus) was the means that a young Jewish boy could advance in Judaism. Could a person repeat and defend his Rabbi’s human Midrash?

Any sport has a set of agreed upon written rules. That is the same as Torah. But each coach has a way of writing plays that apply the rules differently. This would be a Midrash. [In Baseball there is an unwritten rule that if a player gets hit by a pitch, later in the game the pitcher can expect to receive a bean ball.] Some coaches emphasize speed, others try to maximize strength, others highlight technique. The ability to perform well within a certain coach’s system is the way to advance in the sport. Schemes that combine the ideas of similar coaches (the West Coast Offense, or Run and Gun, or Pass the Basketball to create openings) would be grouped into a Talmud.

5. Paul had advanced under the tutoring of Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) because he was able to cite Gamaliel’s human Midrash more than his peers (14a)

6. Paul claims “my apostleship is superior to yours because I’ve played in both systems and I know God’s True gospel is the only true way to please God.”

Genuine Transformation from Revelation (vv.15-17)

Although he had advanced in zeal for the [human] traditions of my fathers, a change had taken place.

God had set Paul apart before birth (15a)

An implication of the existence of human life before first breath or separation from the womb!

God called Paul through grace (15b)

God revealed Jesus to Paul (16a)

God had determined [in order that] Paul to preach Him [the Son] among the Gentiles. (16b)

God formed Paul directly (16c-17)

Results were Slow but Genuine (vv.18-24)

Paul could not be considered a student of any of the Apostles (as he had been with Gamaliel) because he only spent 2 weeks with Peter and occasionally met James while he was there.

His track record revealed that suspicion of Paul (he had a reputation) was turned into increased glory upon God’s Gospel.

Transition: When we surveyed the book of Acts last year we saw that Paul encountered many ideas and opinion about religion.

Conclusion:

In the marketplace of ideas we gain credibility through authority and truth.

Human opinions leave our neighbors wanting something more satisfying. While we don’t need to cite chapter and verse for every thought, we will be held accountable for our adherence to the worldview described by God (who has the rights of ownership, because He made everything).

Variety of ideas can lead to Paralysis of Choice. When a person is confronted with multiple conflicting ideas, it has become acceptable to just “speak your truth” and since it is your truth, it cannot be questioned.

Popularity does not determine veracity!!

In our society of representative democracy the majority rules, but in God’s economy the majority may be wrong.

This morning we will share a meal that has been instituted by Christ’s authority. He instructed us to do this until He returns.

The 2nd reason we do this is, not only because of His authority but, because we believe it is rooted in truthful History.

On the night Jesus was betrayed He shared the bread and wine with His disciples and connected a new meaning. The bread would symbolize His body broken upon the Cross and the wine would represent His blood spilled for the forgiveness of sin.

Communion Song of Response #..... “Family of God”

[i] Osborne, Grant R. 2017. Galatians: Verse by Verse. Osborne New Testament Commentaries. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.