"Apostolic Credentials"
Notes
Transcript
Galatians 1:10-24
One of the objectives of the Judaizers was to discredit Paul’s Apostolic authority!
Their primary method was to undermine his Divine authority!
· They spread the idea that Paul was a self-appointed apostle trying to elevate himself and build a personal following—as indicated by (v.10)
· Apparently their strategy was working as the Galatians were doubting Paul’s motives, authority, and the truth of the Gospel!
· This must have wounded Paul deeply to hear of their departure of the gospel.
HOWEVER, Paul did not make his defense on the basis of feeling, but on the basis of FACT!
· He did not make an emotional appeal for renewed personal loyalty to himself, but rather presented clear evidence that contradicted the accusations being made against him!
· His concern was not for his own popularity or personal success, but God’s truth!
In our passage Paul presents both GENERAL and BIOGRAPHICAL evidence for the authority and integrity of the gospel he proclaimed!
I. Paul’s GENERAL Credentials! – (1:10-12)
I. Paul’s GENERAL Credentials! – (1:10-12)
ONE of the apparent accusations was that Paul was purposely watering down the divine standard to make it easy, so that he would be popular and win support of people weary of legalistic Judaism!
In other words, they claimed Paul was simply saying what men wanted to hear!
1. Paul was not a PEOPLE-PLEASER! – (v.10)
1. Paul was not a PEOPLE-PLEASER! – (v.10)
Paul’s commitment to Jesus cost him dearly in human terms!
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.
From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
By nature, people-pleasers are not usually martyrs!
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
2. Paul’s Message was not DEVISED by Man! – (v.11)
2. Paul’s Message was not DEVISED by Man! – (v.11)
“I want you to know…”is from γνωρίζω [gnorizo] a strong Greek verb that means to make known with certainty, to certify!
In vernacular English the phrase could be rendered, “Let me make it perfectly clear…”
Paul didn’t invent it, alter it, nor did any other man!
3. Paul’s Message was not RECEIVED from Man! – (v.12a)
3. Paul’s Message was not RECEIVED from Man! – (v.12a)
The Judaizers of Paul’s day received their instruction from rabbinic tradition by means of rote memorization!
Rather than studying Scriptures directly, most Jesus—religious leaders and laymen alike—looked to human interpretation of Scripture as their authority and guide!
In this regard,Paul was like Jesus!
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;
for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
4. Paul’s Message was DIRECTLY from CHRIST! – (v.12b)
4. Paul’s Message was DIRECTLY from CHRIST! – (v.12b)
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
It’s one thing to CLAIM direct revelation from God, but another to prove it!
In the next 12 verses, Paul proceeds to substantiate his claim by presenting irrefutable evidence of that divine revelation and of his apostolic credentials!
II. Paul’s BIOGRAPHICAL Credentials! – (1:13-24)
II. Paul’s BIOGRAPHICAL Credentials! – (1:13-24)
From the three periods of his spiritual life, Paul shows how certain events before he was saved, when he was saved, and after he was saved all prove his message was received from God!
1. PRE-CONVERSION Proof! – (vv.13-14)
1. PRE-CONVERSION Proof! – (vv.13-14)
Here Paul presents a negative proof in that he did everything he could to destroy the Church!
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
No human explanation could account for the complete turnaround in Saul’s life!
and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?”
But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
(cf. v.23)
(v.15) – We come to God because He first chooses us!
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
3. POST-CONVERSION Proof! – (vv.16-24)
3. POST-CONVERSION Proof! – (vv.16-24)
To give his readers the greatest possible confidence in what he was writing, Paul made a common Jewish vow – (v.20)
HIS POINT: He received his gospel directly from the Lord, not from the other apostles!
Neither the testimony of Paul himself, nor of the other Apostles allows any other conclusion!
Conclusion
Conclusion
The clear implication of Paul is this: to reject Paul’s teaching is to reject God’s Word!
(2 Corinthians 4:1-15)