Paul’s Testimony Part 1

INTRO

Welcome and if you have a Bible you can turn to Galatians chapter 1 where we are cruising along through the book of Galatians.

If you have not been with us, Paul is writing this letter to the churches of Galatia that he planted on his first missionary trip. A couple years after he left them, Jewish leaders came swooping in and started distorting the Gospel. Paul is not having any kind words for them, as we saw last week, they are accursed, cut off from God and the family of God. This Gospel that Paul is preaching is one that delivers us from the present evil age. Which has nothing to do with Harry Potter or people who like who have a lot of tattoos and look sketchy. The present evil age is the way that seems right to a man, selfishness, bitterness, anger, resentment etc. But God delivers us from that to live for the age to come, in the kingdom of God which is now and still coming. It is the reality that you have another way to live. You can be transformed You don’t have to live in selfishness, bitterness, coveting, etc. anymore because God has delivered you from that. He has delivered you from the approval of man, because he loves and approves of you. It is real freedom to believe the Gospel of Jesus every day, not just a one time event. And Paul knows about this transformation because he has been transformed.

Today we are going to look at Paul’s testimony and why he is so passionate about this Gospel.

But before we get into scripture, I want us to do a little exercise. Don’t worry, it won’t raise your heart rate too much. If you have the notes you can do it on that pice of paper, or take your phone out and use your notes section.

Here is what I want you to write at the top of the page: My testimony is _____________________.

Now leave some space between that and what we are going to write at the bottom of the page.

Now I want you to write this down. My testimony should be shared with _______________________.

Now we will come back to these because I think it actually show us not just what we believe about our testimony, but about God. And how I’m hoping that after our little time together this morning, the Holy Spirit, through the word of God, and this foolish preacher, will stir up in you a desire to share your testimony with someone that needs to hear it.

So, let’s pray and then jump into God’s word today.

BODY

English Standard Version Chapter 1

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

The accusations that Paul is coming against here is that the jewish leaders that were against Paul were saying he learned in Jerusalem this Gospel, just like they did, and so they actually have the full Gospel. He was trained by them and he didn’t deliver the whole Gospel, but Paul says, no way guys! I didn’t learn it from anyone but Jesus himself.

Paul then starts his testimony that you can also read about in Acts 8-9 about how, first, he was violently persecuting the church of God, Christians. He was there to be a coat rack at Stephen’s stoning. He was passionate about murdering these people that believed some Jesus from Nazareth was the promised Jewish messiah. He not only was filled with murdering motives, he also was overly moralistic. Meaning, his life was focused on the do’s and don’ts the Law. Way better than anyone else. He was not an apathetic guy, he was an enthusiasts for the Jewish religion, the same one that these Jewish leaders with the distorted Gospel came from. So this is his life before, and then something happened, we know it as the Damascus road for him, but he explains it a different way.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

I am a visual person so I want to show you a map of Paul’s travels, which is also on the back of your notes.

Paul goes from Jerusalem to Damascus, has his conversion experience. Is blinded and fasts 3 days, Ananias comes (fearfully) to heal him. Paul is baptized, and according to acts, starts going into the synoguauges to preach that Jesus is the messiah. When people start getting angry at him, he goes into Arabi, where we don’t really know where he went. But this was probably a soul searching and learning time for him. Three years, just like the other disciples had three years with Jesus, Paul spends three years of learning and growing before going to Jerusalem. He goes down and confirms with Peter the message that he has already been teaching, meets Jesus’ brother James who also is a apostle now. Then news comes that there are some people angry at Paul and want to kill him, probably previes co workers that sent him to Damascus. So they are able to get him up to Ceasarea where he takes a ship all the way back home to Tarsus.

SO that is what happened geographically. But what happened internally for Paul. This is an incredible understanding of what happened for Paul to understand his testimony and also your testimony as a believer. You may think, Paul’s testimony is so much better than mine, and if he was here today, I think he would say, nope! What happened to me is the same as you. So let’s look at some key phrases that Paul says happened in verses 15-16.

Paul’s description of the Gospel

Set me apart before I was born.

Paul understood that his whole life was in God’s hands. Meaning, all of his selfishness of being a murdering and moralistic person, God was able to redeem and restore and deliver him out of. All the ways that Paul was wired, with passion, devotion, and desire, God was able to use for good, because God knew Paul was just using it for the present evil age. He wasn’t using it for the age to come, the kingdom of God. But when Paul realized how God was able to restore this, he also knew that he was ….

Called me by his grace .

Grace. That word that everyone loves and wants yet we just can’t seem to come to grips with. The free gift God gives us. The unmerited love and forgiveness that we don’t deserve. Paul understood he did nothing right to be called by the living God. This is the same phrase he used for the church of Galatia in verse 6 that they were deserting the one who called them in the grace of Christ. Paul had nothing to boast about in being in the family of God, but he was grateful. He was so aware that this was all an act of God, not his own doing. That’s why it was not a man’s Gospel, because we are not smart enough to think of something like grace. And this grace, like I said last week was to reveal- not doctrine, theology, statement of faith- but to…

Revealed His son to me.

Jesus. Jesus is the one who came to him on the road to Damascus. Jesus is the one who told him he was forgiven. Jesus is the one who loved him so that his ego and pride would be broken and he would be set free. Jesus is God’s son who brought transformation to this murdering moralistic man.

So this is the Gospel that transformed Paul. It was a monumental moment for him that changed him not to just be a good person but to totally change his life, his motives, and his belifves.

And I thought it would be good to review some of the main themes that we see in Paul’s testimony as how they are actually part of out testimony. Because you and I believe the same Gospel as Paul. Therefore, there will be the same things in our life that Paul experienced. Yes, they may not be as dramatic, but they are things that happen when you meet Him. Jesus. REVELATION

We won’t spend a lot on each point like I usually do, even though we could. But these are some simple things that Paul is showing us in his testimony that would be good to check and review in our own testimony. And if you don’t, that is not time to go into condemnation, it is an opportunity to repent and be free.

Gospel Transformation

The Gospel Transforms.

Paul was one way and now he is a totally different way. Now I get it, most of you are not murdering people before you came to know Jesus. But maybe you were moralistic? Maybe you were just trying to be a good person, live your best life and be in control, rather than live in what you were created for which is an image bearer of God. Some of you may wrestle with this because church and Jesus is all you have known. Like your first words were Holy, holy, holy. And I understand that, but has there been transformation in your life. A delivering of your actions, mindset and motives out of this present evil age and start living in a way for the age to come, the kingdom of God? Because the Gospel loves you as you are, but does not leave you where you are.

The Gospel restores.

Everything that Paul was, as a religious and devout man with murdering passion, God was able to restore. He took what was evil and turned it into something good for the kingdom of God. He takes people addicted to one thing and realligns there motives and desires to something different. He takes some of our weirdest quirks and says, I’m going to use that to advance my kingdom. I’ve shared before that I had a very sarcastic mouth. I would just rip into my sister or brother growing up with the most sarcastic, unkind things. And now, he takes the same tongue and uses it to share His word every week. Isn’t that crazy? God is just amazing like that.

The Gospel brings you into relationship with Jesus

Jesus doesn’t just forgive you of your sins and you wait for him to return. He is in covenant with you, in your heart, you and him are one! Remember, the Gospel is Him! So to believe the Gospel every daya nd not listen to other gospels out there promising freedom and life, you and I are called to follow Him, believe him, everyday. Not just once and a while. Not just one Sunday. Every day there is a living God who wants to be guiding you, loving you, helping you. It’s a relationship that changes you because he is who he is. And the best thing we can do is surrender and ask him to lead us, teach us, guide us.

This sounds simple but the concern I have for myself and other believers is that we know this but we don’t know this. That we can become like the churches in Galatia and another person comes into our life, someone who looks really important. They have a lot of followers, a lot of power, and they tell us something. And because we fall back into being approved by God, start believing a different Gospel. That is a reality that can happen to any of us if we are not careful to stay in relationship with Jesus through prayer, through worship, through reading the word. and the next point I have.

The Gospel brings you into community.

I don’t know what your image of Paul is, but for a long time I pictured him kind of arrogant and a “my way or the highway” kind of person. But the more I read about him, the more I read his letters to the churches, the more I see he was a man surrounded in community. He had people getting him out of trouble, he had people that cared about him, he had brothers going on mission trips with him. He was not someone who needed others, but he understood that the Gospel approves you into the family of God. If you are a believer and not in some kind of community where you can encourage others and others can encourage you I will say two things. First, you are missing out. Second, you are not obeying Jesus. I’m not saying you are not saved, but he calls us to be discipled and disciple. He calls us to walk, love, serve, care for one another throughout the Bible. If you are needing to get connected in community that cheers you on, this is a great start. Now take a risk and ask people to come over. Or ask them out to dinner. Just try. In this present evil age we are listening to the deception to keep isolating. That’s what Adam and Eve did after sinning, isolating. That did not go well. Please, please, get connected with other believers to be built up, be disciples, and disciple. because

The Gospel calls you to serve.

Paul was called by God, not just to go and live an easy life, but to preach to the gentiles. To spread the Gospel all over. You may say, I don’t have that gifting. That’s great, but you do have the Holy Spirit. And he is a gift giver. Well, I don’t know what mine is. Have you tried? Have you asked him about it? Because we all have gifts, and Jesus calls these gifts in Luke 19 midas that we are to be good stewards of until he returns. This is where being in relationship with him is important, being in community is important. Knowing that we are all called to serve another in the body and that will look different, but all of our serving, all of our testimony will ulitmatley.

The Gospel brings glory to God.

Paul had not met the churches that were in Judea, but they heard about him. You know that guy that killed your brother? Yea? He is one of us now. What! Praise God! The transformation of Paul brought glory to God.

Which brings me back to the first two questions that I asked you. Like I said, I’m not going to grade it. But do you see your testimony as transforming? Redeeming? Something that only God could do? And if not, why not? That might be something to talk to the Lord about today or this week. And the second question, are there people who should hear your testimony? Are there people that God is calling you to share how the living God changed you? I know, it is scary, it is fearful, and yet it is not about us. It’s about God.