Defending God's Calling

1. Introduction

Have you ever had your credibility questioned or undermined? Have you been in a position where you had to defend what you have said to a person, a team, or a group? Imagine going to a college campus, evangelizing to a group of students who then confess Jesus as Lord. They start their own small house church. Then, you home to prepare for another campus visit, continuing the work of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, when you receive word that another group of supposed Christians approached the group you just left, attempting to pull them under performance-based salvation traditions. Having those performance-based “Christians” calling into question your authority, knowledge, and calling based upon their man-made traditions and rules. That’s not something any one of us would want to hear, especially since we have been called into ministry by God, not man. Well, that’s what Paul addresses in his Pastoral letter to the Galatians. He had to defend his calling the the authority given to him against a group known as the “Judaizers.” We’ve heard in previous sermons about Paul beginning this defense, calling out false Gospels, but the passage beginning in verse 11 and continuing to verse 17 lays out his full defense. turn with me to Galatians 1:11-17.

2. Passage Reading Galatians 1:11-17 (NASB)

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.

12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

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.

3.Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father You are the almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth, we glorify You name today! You have known each and every one of us since before we were born and you’ve laid out a path and a purpose for us. Lord Jesus, You have called us, and we know Your voice, because we are Your sheep. Lead us in this study of the Word today, we submit to You. Let Your words come forth, not my own. Holy Spirit, guide us in this study and illuminate the Scriptures for us, as you are a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. I pray today will be a day of transformation, a day of illumination, and a day of invigoration according to Your will and in Your Mighty name, Jesus, we pray Amen and Amen!

4. Background

The Book of Galatians is an epistle, or pastoral letter, written by the apostle Paul. But who was Paul? Paul was actually born Saul, a Roman Jew, in a town named Tarsus, the chief metropolis of the Roman province of Cilicia,[1]which is located in the southeastern region of modern-day Turkey (Asia Minor).[2]He was raised in the Jewish faith within the communities outside of Judea known as diaspora, a part of the Jewish Dispersion where the scattering of the Jews beyond the borders of Palestine[3]occurred for various reasons. This Jewish upbringing in the Greek-influenced Roman territory uniquely positioned Paul to bridge the cultures when delivering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Gentiles. Think about that - Paul grew up in a multi-cultural environment. Often times, we can look at the circumstances of our early life in a negative light, but God has a plan to use our experiences for His glory.

Paul’s unique position provided him with insight into the people of Asia Minor, and one of the many populations he encountered was the Galatians. The Galatians, as many scholars note, were the progenitors of the Gauls in France and the Celts in Britain, who settled in a almost column-like corridor of Asia Minor (which is modern-day Turkey). It is a mountainous terrain and travel there would not have been easy. Paul, however traversed this area on all three of his missionary journeys. Today, I want to share three truths with you concerning this passage, starting with:

5. Point One: God’s Word and Calling Supersedes Man’s Traditions and Appointments (Galatians 1:11-12)

a) Explanation – God’s Word is eternal (Psalm 119:89), it is higher than man’s thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9), and entirely God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). It did not originate from man and therefore exceeds man’s authority. Paul reiterates this in verse 11 first showing that the Gospel he preached wasn’t manly (kata anthropon), meaning did not originate from man. This is a direct assault on the Judaizers who sought to undermine the Gospel with traditions of the Old Covenant. While circumcision signified being brought under the Old Covenant (Genesis 17), it was not a necessity for salvation (1 Corinthians 7:18-19). Faith in Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation (Galatians 5:6). His calling was not issued by man either. Paul was commissioned by Jesus Himself! So, if Paul did not receive the Gospel from man and was not appointed by man, from whom did he receive it? The answer in found in verse 12, which states that Paul received the apocalypse (revelation, revealing, full disclosure) from Jesus Christ directly! The Gospel isn’t manly, it is GODLY! The encounter is recorded by Luke in Acts 9 as Paul, then known as Saul, was travelling to Damascus - to persecute followers of Jesus! It is there that Paul received the Gospel and there where he received his appointment, not from men - but from God!

b) Illustration – In the Army, units would regularly lay out their equipment for inventory. This could be for a variety of reasons - something was lost, something was found, or during the changeover time between commanders. If a sergeant is told by his commander to have his squad’s equipment laid out in serial number order rather than alphabetical order (this can make command inventories go faster), he directs his squad to do so. Sometimes though, another sergeant may come along and see that the squad is laying out the equipment in the “wrong order” according to the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP), and will attempt to “fix” the error without knowing the orders had changed from the old tradition. When the sergeant hears that his squad is being led astray, he must correct it by showing that his orders came from the commander, not the SOP. The orders from the commander supersede the SOP, and the sergeant carrying out the commander’s orders, is walking in line with the commanders authority.

c) Application – As we go about our day to day lives we must be cognizant of what is given to us by God, and what man has established. We must be mindful of the difference between what God has set in place for order and harmony in the church, and what man has incorporated into it. God’s Word supersedes man’s traditions and God’s calling on your life supersedes man’s appointments!

d) Transition - So, if God’s word and calling are divine, who can He call to deliver His word? This brings me to my second point:

6. Point Two: God Can Use Anyone for His Glory, No Matter Their Past (Galatians 1:13-14)

a) Explanation – With Paul clearly declaring his apostleship and the source of the Gospel he received, he then supports his assertion by admitting his former nature and posture toward persecuting the church in verse 13. The term persecute in verse 13 has a particular meaning. It originates from the Greek διώκω (diōkō), which, in this context, means to oppress and systematically harass.[4] Theologian F. F. Bruce observes, “While he himself might speak of his persecuting career in order to magnify the grace of God which rescued him from it, others might draw attention to it in order to insinuate that Paul was a doubtful character who could not be fully trusted.”[5] Paul said “Look at how horrible of a person I was!” He thought that he was the chief among sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Others tried to tie his former life to doubt towards his new one, but that’s how the enemy works, isn’t it? They ask “How could God use someone who is that zealous to destroy the church?” I remember an old saying that goes something like, “God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will.” We see that throughout the Old and New testament (Abraham, David, Peter, James, Paul). That makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? In verse 14, Paul details how far he had excelled in following the traditions of man, being a student of Gamaliel, the Rabbinic Scholar of the time. Paul’s fervor propelled him past his peers, and he was on track to ascend into the Pharisee upper hierarchical echelons. That is what makes his conversion so remarkable! Paul had everything going for him, favor with the High Priests (Acts 9:1-2), freedom to go and persecute Christians as far as Damascus. He had no reason to give it all up to become one of the persecuted. And yet, God used him in a mighty way!

b) Illustration – Think of the most evil person you can. Is it Hitler, Bin Laden, Trump, Obama, the CFP Committee? This portion of the passage shows that God could use any or all of them to accomplish His perfect will. No one is so far gone that God cannot encounter them and radically convert them. Look at two rockers: Alice Cooper and Brian Welch (Korn). They were two of the most anti-Christ metal performers, but God drew them unto Himself, propelling ministries from their experiences. Look at Lee Strobel, an Ivy League educated secular humanist journalist who scoffed at his wife’s faith and attempted to “Fix her.” God got a hold of him through his extensive investigation to disprove Christianity [6] God can use anyone, no matter their past!

c) Application – When you feel like you are not “holy” enough for God to use or you’ve been too “sinful”, remember how God used Paul. Your life experiences may be the key to the ministry that God has apportioned to you. Had Paul not grown up in the Hebrew tradition inside the Hellenistic culture, he may not have been able to connect with the people in Galatia, Corinth, Ephesus, and elsewhere!

d) Transition – Listen! God can use you, no matter what your past looks like. He’s already set aside a ministry specifically for you. This leads me to me last point:

7. Point Three: God laid out a plan for everyone’s life before they were born (Galatians 1:15-17)

a) Explanation – Look at verse 15 as Paul begins the evidence of God’s hand on his life. He alludes to Isaiah 49:5 “who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant” Paul shifts the focus away from man and onto God. That’s a sermon in and of itself! Paul removes any self-motivating purpose for his conversion and continues in verse 16 to show God’s purpose in his life - to preach Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. God had a specific purpose for Paul and He has a specific purpose for you! All you have to do is seek Him and His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) - shifting focus from man to God, asking for guidance (Isaiah 30:21) and wisdom (James 1:5). We see in verse 17 that Paul did not immediately go to consult with flesh and blood (man), but went into the wilderness in Arabia. Theologian Matthew Harmon explains that the verb rendered “consult” (προσανατίθημι) has the sense here of “confer or communicate with for the purpose of obtaining or giving instruction.” Paul did not seek to learn or teach what Jesus revealed to him initially. He went to meditate on it in the wilderness. That can preach too! As we seek God’s guidance and wisdom, we should be ready to sit and meditate on what the Holy Spirit illuminated, until He guides us to share with others. So many times (even in my life) the Holy Spirit gives direction and is expecting us to meditate or contemplate on it, but we are so excited to hear from the Lord, that we run to the first person we see. That can open doors to doubt and unbelief if we have not meditated on it, asked for clarification, and have measured it against the Word.

b) Illustration – It’s like a student (much like myself) enrolling in a class where the professor already knows what the student must accomplish throughout the semester. It has been planned since before they signed up for that class. The student receives the syllabus, textbooks, and assignments from the professor, not other students. And, while it is encouraged for students to talk amongst themselves, it is only when the student seeks the professor’s guidance, that they are pointed in the truly right direction.

c) Application – In the same way as Paul, we must realize that God has a calling on each of our lives, a calling designed for us from before we were born. Seek after that calling of God on your life, seek the Lord’s wisdom in walking that calling out, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in the calling. All the while, keeping your focus on Him and not on man!

d) Transition - Well, there it is: Three truths about Paul’s life that apply to us today. As I land this plane, I want to remind you that:

8. Conclusion

Paul’s credibility was called into question and he responded in God’s authority and calling. Paul points to God every chance he gets and takes emphasis off of himself. This passage in Chapter 1, verses 11-17, depicts Paul’s defense of his apostleship and ministry as being appointed by God, not man. He showed how he lived in a previous life, excelled in it, and did not seek the same earthly instruction after his conversion and commission. So, today remember these three truths: 1) God’s calling supersedes man’s appointments, 2) God can use anyone for His glory, no matter how horrible a person’s previous life was, and 3) God laid out a plan for everyone’s life before they were born. Let’s pray.

9. Closing Prayer

Father, we are thankful for You and Your word, we are thankful we can come together and study your servant Paul and how it applies to us today. We thank You for having a plan and a purpose for each of us set in place from before we were born. Lord Jesus, thank you for salvation that comes only from faith in You, not from works. Thank you for commissioning us to make disciple of the whole earth, we pray that we will be good and faithful servants. Holy Spirit we thank You for illuminating the Scripture, we pray that you will write it on the tablets of our hearts that it may well up within us, transforming us closer and closer into the image of our Lord. Lord, I pray you bless those here today and keep them, may Your face shine upon them, and be gracious to them., may Your countenance be lifted up on them and give them peace, in Your mighty name Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen and Amen!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 23.

[2] James A. Brooks, “Cilicia,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Chad Brand et al. (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 298.

[3] Allen C. Myers, “DISPERSION,” in The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 286.

[4] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

[5] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1982), 90..

[6] C.S. Lewis Institute, The Side B Stories: Lee Strobel, https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/the-side-b-stories-lee-strobel/

Brooks, James A. 2003. “Cilicia.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, edited by Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, E. Ray Clendenen, and Trent C. Butler. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Bruce, F. F. 1982. The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.

Burer, Michael H. 2024. Galatians. Edited by Tremper Longman III, Andreas J. Köstenberger, and Benjamin L. Gladd. Evangelical Exegetical Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic.

George, Timothy. 1994. Galatians. Vol. 30. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Harmon, Matthew S. 2021. Galatians. Edited by T. Desmond Alexander, Thomas R. Schreiner, and Andreas J. Köstenberger. Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic.

Longenecker, Richard N. 1990. Galatians. Vol. 41. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

Martyn, J. Louis. 2008. Galatians: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 33A. Anchor Yale Bible. New Haven; London: Yale University Press.

Moulton, James Hope, and George Milligan. 1930. In The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

Myers, Allen C. 1987. “DISPERSION.” In The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Robertson, Michael Scott. 2014. “Divine Revelation.” In Lexham Theological Wordbook, edited by Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, and Rebekah Hurst. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.