Galatians 1:11-24
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Last week, we talked about Paul and a little of his backstory!
He’s writing this letter because people are trying to add works to their salvation...
People were coming in and preaching another gospel.
Also, people were claiming that Paul wasn’t a real apostle.. and he preached this gospel in order for people to like him.
Any questions?
Now, we pick it up in Verse 11
Read
Pray
Illustration:
At bible college, my friends and I would always workout together. It was never for my health or anything, I just wanted to look good for the ladies. I did it to please people. I just wanted to be recognized by the hot girls in the gym or on campus… Never really happened. In this instance, I was a people pleaser.
At times, we all can be people pleasers.. We do things to be seen by people, to be recognized by people.
Here, in our passage, Paul is telling us that he is not sharing this gospel to please man.
Remember, these false teachers are accusing Paul of teaching this gospel of grace to please people.
Paul makes it a point to tell them, “Hey, this message isn’t made by man… I didn’t make it up.. I received it from God.”
V. 13-14
Paul communicates 3 things to his readers:
He advanced much further in Judaism than those who are distorting the gospel.
He was far more zealous for the Jewish traditions than the false teacher.
Paul’s zeal and advancement in Judaism led him to persecute the church before he was saved.
Paul knew the teachings of Judaism more than the these false teachers!
Paul is making it a point that this gospel he is preaching is from divine origin, not man… He didn’t make it up, God gave it to him.
V. 15-17
Paul did not come to Jesus because someone told him to, he didn’t because someone forced him to… He didn’t because he chose to…
God called Paul because of His own grace.. Not because Paul was special, but because God is full of grace.
“Before Paul was a Christian, the emphasis was on what he had done: I persecuted… I advanced… (I was) more exceedingly zealous. Once Paul followed Jesus Christ the emphasis was on what God had done: God, who separated me… called me… reveal His Son in me.” - David Guzik
After he was saved, he didn’t talk to anyone..
Why? Because he didn’t need to, Jesus himself gave him the gospel message.
Paul, again, is emphasizing that his conversion and commission owed nothing to man, because they were of God.
How else could Paul changed drastically overnight?
It was a work of God...
V. 18-24
Paul goes on to back up what his qualification and message!
We see people glorifying God because of Paul’s salvation.
It’s pretty clear that other churches didn’t disagree with the gospel message that Paul was teaching..
V. 2: 1-5
Paul went back to Jerusalem after some time, and preached to the leaders (James, Peter, and john are included in this leadership).
But if the Jerusalem leaders insisted on circumcision and other requirements of the Law for Gentile converts, Paul’s labor (running) among the Gentiles was in vain. It was not that the apostle had any doubts or misgivings about the gospel he had preached for 14 years (Gal. 2:1), but that he feared that his past and present ministry might be hindered or rendered of no effect by the Judaizers.
Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 593). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Paul brought Titus along for a special reason..
He was the test.
If they would force Titus to be circumcised, then he would be running in vain.
However, they didn’t force it, because it wasn’t necessary
However, These false brothers tried to impose circumcision on Titus.
They tried to enslave the christians
But Paul stood absolutely firm because the truth of the gospel was at stake for the Galatians, and the entire Christian church. To impose circumcision on Titus would be to deny that salvation was by faith alone and to affirm that in addition to faith there must be obedience to the Law for acceptance before God. Thus the basic issue of the gospel was involved and Paul would not deviate or yield for a moment.
V. 6
The pillars of the church were James, Peter, and John… well, they were recognized as such.
Feel like Paul is reminding us that it doesn’t matter what your platform is, God doesn’t show favoritism.
V.7-8
Paul brought the message to the gentiles, while Peter brought it to the Jews.
The one working in Peter and Paul was God.
Sometimes, God brings in certain people to reach certain people.
V.9
The right hand of fellowship was a common sign of friendship and agreement.
To this day, a handshake or a clasping of the right hand or forearm is used as a way to affirm a promise, to seal a deal, to communicate mutual trust, or to enter a partnership. (Gotquestions.org)
V.10
The pillars reminded them to remember the poor, which Paul was already doing..
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius. Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.
Application:
We see Paul’s conversion story, which tells us that anyone can be saved.
We see that Paul is a true apostle and that his message of grace is true.
The True Gospel message is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was risen on the 3rd day, and is now sitting at the right hand of God… Now, in order for salvation, all we have to do is believe… that’s it.
By grace through faith, we are saved… not by works..