The Origin and Power of the Gospel

Introduction:

Before we begin let’s remind ourselves a little bit about Galatians.

The Apostle Paul is writing to a group of churches in the region of Galatia. Some of these believers have been affected by false teachers called “Judaizers” and were insisting Paul’s message of the Gospel was incomplete. They suggested that to be saved Gentiles had to keep certain aspects of the Jewish law. The problem is when you add human effort to Christ’s completed work on the cross and His victorious resurrection, it is no Gospel at all.

To try to discredit Paul’s message they attacked his credibility. They suggested that he really wasn’t an apostle at all. The implied that the message he was peddling was second-hand and diluted.

In the passage before us Paul gives his defense. He provides evidence that His message and calling was not from man, but directly from Christ Himself.

Notice, as he emphasizes...

1. The Gospel's Divine Origin (Galatians 1:11-12) 

Galatians 1:11–12 NKJV

But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul vehemently denies that His message does not find its origin in man. It came through the “revelation of Jesus Christ.”

His message was not philosophy, another religious innovation, or oral tradition.

Notice again Galatians 1:12

Here, Paul makes three emphatic denials and one definitive affirmation to clarify his point. 

He did not receive it from man. 

The Greek word for "received" (parelabon) was a technical term for passing down sacred tradition. Paul insists his gospel did not come to him through this normal channel. 

He was not taught it in the traditional sense. 

No human instructor gave him a course of instruction on the Christian faith. 

His gospel came "through a revelation of Jesus Christ." 

The Greek word for revelation is apokalupsis, from which we get our word "apocalypse." It means an "unveiling" or a "disclosure" of a truth that was previously hidden and that humanity could not have discovered on its own.

For Paul, the event on the Damascus Road began as the divine unveiling of Jesus' true identity as the message. 

Application & Reflection 

Since the gospel originates with God, it is perfect, complete, and unalterable. It is the absolute standard for truth.

No one or institution has the authority to add to it, subtract from it, or modify it to suit cultural tastes or human traditions.

The gospel of grace is not a starting point to which we add our own efforts; it is the whole and complete work of God for our salvation. 

Question:  In what ways do people today try to add to or change the simple gospel of grace that Paul preached? 

Paul proceeds to offer the most compelling evidence possible—his own radically transformed life. 

2. The Ultimate Proof: A Transformed Life (Galatians 1:13-17) 

Paul understood that the most powerful evidence for a supernatural message is a supernatural transformation. He offers his own life as Exhibit A, arguing that the radical, 180-degree turn he made could not be explained by human persuasion, gradual evolution of thought, or personal reflection. His testimony serves as irrefutable proof that his new life, his new mission, and his new message were the direct result of a divine intervention. 

A. The Zealous Persecutor (vv. 13-14) 

Galatians 1:13–14 NKJV

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Paul first reminds the Galatians of who he used to be. He paints a vivid picture of his past, which was defined by two consuming passions: 

Violent Persecution: 

Paul describes how he persecuted the church of God "beyond measure." The Greek imperfect tense used here implies continuous, habitual action. His goal was not merely to harass believers but to "destroy" and "make havock of" the church (eporthoun), a term used for sacking and laying waste to a city. He was, by his own admission, a religious terrorist whose very breath was "threatening and slaughter"

Acts 9:1 NKJV

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

Religious Ambition: 

He was a "rising star" in Judaism. His zeal was directed toward "the traditions of my fathers," a reference not just to the Old Testament but specifically to the vast body of oral law that was the hallmark of the Pharisees. Paul saw himself as a modern-day champion for God, which makes his subsequent preaching of grace all the more staggering. 

Paul’s background made him the single least likely candidate for conversion to Christianity. A man so deeply invested in Judaism, both intellectually and emotionally, and so violently opposed to the church, was in no state to be reasoned with. Only God could reach him. 

B. The Divine Intervention (vv. 15-16a) 

Galatians 1:15–16 NKJV

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

It was God's good pleasure: 

"But when it pleased God..." The conversion was initiated by God's sovereign will and timing, not Paul's readiness or seeking. 

It was part of an eternal plan: 

"...who separated me from my mother's womb..." Echoing the call of Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5), Paul understood that God had a purpose for his life even before he was born. He was, in God's eternal plan, a "chosen vessel." 

It was an act of grace: 

"...and called me by His grace..." Paul took no credit for his salvation. It was an act of pure, unmerited favor bestowed upon an enemy and persecutor of God. 

It was a revelation of Christ: 

"...to reveal His Son in me..." On the Damascus Road, God unveiled the glorious reality of Jesus Christ to Paul, an experience that utterly transformed him from the inside out and commissioned him for a specific task: to preach Christ among the Gentiles. 

C. The Immediate Response (vv. 16b-17) 

Galatians 1:16–17 NKJV

to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

He states that he "did not immediately confer with flesh and blood." This is a clear declaration that he did not consult with any human being for validation, instruction, or approval—especially not the apostles in Jerusalem. 

Instead, he went to Arabia.

I believe that while he was in Arabia for these 3 years he was taught directly by the Lord Jesus. Jesus as Jesus spent about 3 years with His disciples, I believe the resurrected Christ also spent 3 years with the Apostle in Arabia. He could truly say his Gospel came from the Lord Jesus, not from second-handed from other apostles.

Application & Reflection 

Paul stands as a permanent monument to the truth that no one is beyond the reach of God. The most ardent opponent of the gospel can become its most passionate advocate. If God could save and utterly change Saul of Tarsus, He can save and change anyone. 

Questions: Paul's zeal was intense but misdirected before his conversion. How can we ensure our own passion and zeal are directed toward God's truth and not just human traditions? 

Paul had an "Arabia" experience—a time of preparation and solitude with God. Why are such "desert" seasons important in a Christian's life, and what might they look like for us today? 

He now turns to address his later, though limited, contact with the Jerusalem apostles to prove that even these meetings did not compromise the divine origin of his gospel. 

3. Apostolic Independence Confirmed (Galatians 1:18-24) 

In this final movement of his testimony, Paul demonstrates that his interactions with the other apostles were so brief and limited that they could not possibly have been the source of his comprehensive gospel message.

A. A Brief Visit to Jerusalem (vv. 18-20) 

Galatians 1:18–20 NKJV

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

• The Timeline: 

He waited "after three years" from his conversion before making the trip. This significant delay proves he was not reliant on the Jerusalem leadership for his initial ministry and message. 

• The Purpose and Duration: 

He went specifically "to get to know Cephas (Peter)." The Greek word used, historesai, implies a visit of inquiry or acquaintance, not one of subordination or training. The visit was remarkably short, lasting only "fifteen days." 

• The Limited Contact: 

During this time, he saw "none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother." The time was simply insufficient for the kind of in-depth training the Judaizers were likely alleging. While this brief fifteen-day visit was entirely insufficient for the kind of rabbinic training the Judaizers alleged, we should not assume it was devoid of content. As scholar Craig Blomberg notes, this period would have been crucial for Paul to learn specific historical details about Jesus' life and ministry directly from Peter.

So critical are these facts to his entire argument that Paul buttresses them with a solemn oath in verse 20: "before God, I do not lie." This is not a casual remark; it is a legal-style affirmation that underscores the gravity of the accusations he is refuting. He is staking the integrity of his entire ministry on the truth of this testimony. 

B. Ministry and Reputation (vv. 21-24) 

Galatians 1:21–24 NKJV

Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.

Following this brief Jerusalem visit, he departed for the regions of his home territory, Syria and Cilicia, far from the influence of the Judean churches.

What the Judean churches did have was a report—an astonishing testimony that was circulating about him. They kept hearing that, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." The persecutor had become the preacher. The transformation was so profound and undeniable that it produced a singular reaction, which Paul highlights as the capstone of his argument in verse 24: "And they glorified God in me." 

The earliest churches in Judea, the "mother churches" of the faith, did not credential, train, or ordain Paul. Instead, upon hearing of the miracle God had performed in his life, they validated his ministry in the highest way possible: they gave praise to God for it. They recognized his conversion and commission as a divine work, confirming the authenticity of his apostleship by their worship. 

Application & Reflection 

Our transformed lives serve as objective evidence that validates the gospel's power. It is a testimony that precedes our arrival and prepares the ground for our message. When a life is so radically changed that the only possible explanation is divine intervention, that life becomes a powerful witness to the truth of the gospel, moving others to praise God for His power and grace. 

Question: Paul's life story was the evidence for his message. How can our own life stories serve as powerful evidence for the truth of the gospel we share? 

The key lessons from this powerful testimony provide an enduring foundation for our own faith. 

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from Paul's Defense 

Paul's defense of his own life becomes an enduring defense of the gospel itself—a message so powerful it needs no human endorsement, only a transformed life as its evidence. 

Core Principles for Our Walk of Faith 

As we reflect on Paul's powerful defense, several core principles emerge that are vital for our own walk of faith today: 

1. The Gospel is from God, Not Man: 

The good news of salvation by grace through faith is a divine revelation. We must be vigilant to protect it from any human additions or distortions that seek to add the requirements of works. 

2. No One is Beyond God's Grace: 

Paul's transformation from a violent persecutor to a passionate preacher is the ultimate proof that God can save and radically change anyone, no matter how far they are from Him. 

3. A Transformed Life is the Most Powerful Witness: 

The most credible evidence for the truth of the gospel is a life that has been visibly and undeniably changed by it, causing others to see that change and give glory to God. 

4. Divine Calling Includes a Divine Commission: 

God saves us not just for our own benefit, but to equip us for a purpose. Every believer is called to be a servant, tasked with sharing the good news that has transformed their own life. 

5. Personal Time with God is Essential for Ministry: 

Just as Paul had his time in "Arabia," we all need seasons of focused, solitary communion with God to deepen our understanding of His truth and prepare us for effective service in His name.