Ad hominem

Problems: Problems that arose in the first century church. Avoid the the mistakes they made and because, “There is no temptation that has overtaken you except what is common to man…..” We can see how we are, or will be tempted in looking at how they were tempted.

Two weeks ago we looked at how the Judaizers had pressed into the Galatian churches, trying to influence into believing they had to follow the Jewish law and Christ to be saved.

Jesus + anything is not the Gospel.

They may have sincerely believed that they were right, but regardless of their motives, when they attacked the Gospel, they were acting as pawns of satan.

Not only did they attack the Gospel that Paul was preaching,

They attacked Paul himself in an effort to discredit his preaching.

AD HOMINEM - Logical fallacy (Against the person)

Person 1: I read an article on animal health, and I think you should take you dog on a walk more frequently.

Person 2: You don’t even own a dog, so what would you know?

Three ways they attacked Paul himself.

They claimed that Paul when to Jerusalem and was taught the gospel by the apostles, but then he left and changed it.

Paul preached a different gospel depending on who he was talking to.

Peter is the chief apostle and Paul had the arrogance to rebuke him, which shows that he is a rouge preacher.

This morning, we will only have time to address the first two attacks.

In later part of Galatians 1 and Galatians 2, Paul defends his ministry and the again falls back to defending the gospel.

UNDERSTAND- THE ATTACKS ON PAUL WERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTACKING THE GOSPEL.

It wasn’t personal.

Pulled over by the police…

I pay your salary.

Why don’t you go look for the real criminals.

Don’t you have anything better to do?

Stay on task….

Paul stayed on task…

Galatians 1:13–18 NASB95

13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

He then says in chapter two that he didn’t come back to Jerusalem for 14 years.

He tells them that he wasn’t instructed to preach a gospel that included following the law.

Galatians 2:3–4 NASB95

3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

He wasn’t told to teach a different gospel, but they agreed to preach the same gospel to different people.

Galatians 2:7–10 NASB95

7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.

JUST THE FACTS

Paul hid himself behind the truth.

Didn’t shy away from his past.

Used his past sins as evidence of his true conversion.

Showed that he was more extreme than the Judaizers who were trying to influence them.

He cited relevant evidence.

Titus wasn’t compelled to be circumcised.

They only asked for them to remember the poor.

What can we take from Paul’s defense?

When you share your faith

You may run into ad hominem attacks.

Don’t take it personally.

Know the gospel.

Own your sin.

Live righteously.

SIN

To miss the mark

I helped Jordon yesterday…….

Treat all guns as if they are loaded

There is no sin that you are not capable of.

Never point a gun at anything you aren’t willing to destroy.

Be careful what you focus on.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

Our desires for companionship, pleasure, fulfillment all have both righteous and sinful avenues. Check that desire until the righteous avenue presents itself.

Know your target, what’s in front of it and what’s behind it.

Focus on what is good.

Philippians 4:8–9 NASB95

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

These rules keep you safe, so that you may have the opportunity to then take aim and hit your target.