When God Was Pleased To Reveal His Son to Me -- Galatians 1:11-24

Text:

(ESV)

Paul Called by God

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. 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.

Bring us up to speed by telling the story of the talents — the man who didn’t trust the master and was afraid of his harshness are like those who trust in themselves and develop a faulty fear of God.

Intro:

Paul had planted the churches in Galatia.

He heard that the message that he taught them had been distorted.

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. .

He goes on to pronounce curses upon those who distort the gospel - this is a big deal, not just theological squabbling. [They were specifically adding Jewish traditions to the gospel - circumcision, dietary, ethnic segregation, etc.]

English Standard Version Chapter 1

9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Like two medicine that have all the same ingredients, color, and bottle, except for the key saving ingredient. A different and cheap version of the gospel that cannot save.

They had gotten the gospel wrong. They misunderstood the law, and therefore, misunderstood God. Their message was blasphemy against God.

It’s like the story Jesus told in and the story of the servants: The servants were given 10 minas (money) as grace as the master of the house went away. They were charged to and entrusted to use it well, but we remember the one servant who did nothing with the grace he was given. When asked why he was unfaithful, he told the master that he was afraid of him. He said, “you are a harsh man”.

That’s the way legalists view God. They are afraid of him. They are afraid of him, so they trust in themselves for comfort.

The law is like a mirror - it’s meant to reflect a picture of who we really are. It’s meant to show us the ugliness of our sin and cause us to fly to God for refuge and mercy. The legalists, however, use it like a guy in the gym who flexes his muscles in front of the mirror enjoying how good he looks.

The peddlers of this false gospel engaged in character assassination against Paul: “Argument weak, enter insult here”

Why?? (See Gal. 6)

English Standard Version Chapter 6

12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

They want to avoid persecution — free gospel is scandalous

They want to boast in your flesh — True gospel boasts in Christ alone

They thought Paul was teaching cheap grace — Free Love from God without devotion to God’s rules.

So, in , Paul gives his biography and testimony

But first, look at verse one with verses 11-12 that we are about to read. Notice Paul’s aim:

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace

Text Breakdown

Paul Called by God

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

Paul’s Apostleship didn’t come from man.

It came through Jesus and from God.

He didn’t learn it in a class or second hand.

Paul Called by God

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.

He wasn’t taught by any man -- See Paul’s story in

This isn’t a man made concoction

Some of the critique of Paul was possibly that he was a ‘latecomer’ to the gospel message. Or, he didn’t know the right teachers (possibly from Jerusalem).

Luther says, ‘the gospel is the revealing of the son of God.” Paul received the gospel straight from Jesus.

In our backwards world, it’s pride to have a fixed opinion and humble to not know anything with certainty

He didn’t have the right pedigree — Or, he was a man pleaser: [See Ga. 1:10]

Not only was he not taught by man, but this gospel isn’t man made. The world would not have come up with this. — Grace runs contrary to our natural inclinations. Man’s gospel would reveal what is inside the hearts of men, not make new hearts in men.

“But the gospel is God’s grand “no” to all human pride, religion, self-trust, and self-assertion. It’s his “no” to your conviction that you can fix things. In other words, to hear the gospel—even to hear it deeper and louder—you have to give up reliance on yourself, confess your true poverty and powerlessness” — Bush, Daniel, and Noel Due. Live in Liberty:

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.

He reminds them of his drastic and dramatic change.

He’s reminding the Judaizers of his Jewishness. He was a Pharisee [ means ‘one who specified’ or sort - (like pointing a finger to who’s in or out)]

He was advancing in Judaism (that word advancing suggests pedigree and resume -- works). Zealous for the traditions of my fathers [Moses - the law]. We preach Christ, not the traditions of the Fathers! Christ Crucified

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless ().

He understands the gospel -- He used to be so angry at it that he sought to kill those who believed it. The free grace that Christians were preaching undermined the Paul’s traditions and work. It would rob him of his personal glory and make his works useless.

().

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless ().

().

Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith ().

Like two medicine that have all the same ingredients, color, and bottle, except for the key saving ingredient. A different and cheap version of the gospel that cannot save.

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

Sovereign grace

Set me apart - this is all of us who believe

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.

Sovereign grace

Set me apart - this is all of us who believe

Paul was tasked with preaching to the Gentiles

He didn’t consult with anyone -- His gospel understanding comes from Christ.

He didn’t go up to Jerusalem -- He didn’t go to the Apostles -- He went away into Arabia -- Why? To learn more from Christ?

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.  

Paul was talked to preach to the Gentiles

He didn’t meet with Peter until 3 yrs. after Damascus?

The people of Syria and Cilicia glorified God because of Paul and his testimony.

Application

This is what Paul’s biography shows: He confesses the power of the gospel by confessing his own powerlessness. Paul’s story proclaims that the gospel doesn’t come from men. They preach power, not poverty. The gospel is from Jesus Christ. God’s blessing is “yes” in Jesus alone—and that “yes” is simultaneously his “no” to all human religion, law-keeping, and attempts at holiness. The gospel refutes human ambition; it alone brings glory to God

The importance of our testimony — some of us, like Paul, need to stand before those in our past with clear and bold examples of Christ’s gospel.

he question of what is truth should bother us. (Piper)

In our backwards world, it’s pride to have a fixed opinion and humble to not know anything with certainty

Character assasination: “Argument weak, enter insult here”

Insight for the church: We need to be devoted to the word of God and not enslaved to the traditions or preferences of man. When we stick to the word we dodge many of the errors brought on by human dependence.

English Standard Version Chapter 6

12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.