Not Man's Gospel
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Open Bibles to Gal 1.
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We are continuing our series through Paul’s epistle to the Galatians that we are calling No Other Gospel.
Remember, the Galatian Christians were being deceived by false teachers who were distorting the gospel. What was being taught was that in order to be saved, they needed to keep certain Jewish Laws.
In addition to distorting the gospel, these false teachers not only distorted the gospel, but they also caused the Galatians to doubt Paul’s ability to preach the Word of the truth. After all, Paul became a Christian after Jesus’ resurrection… how could he be a genuine apostle who’s gospel is trustworthy?
Today’s text is Paul’s response to these accusations.
Let’s stand together for the reading of the Word.
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.
Let’s pray.
Intro: I love a good movie - and I love a good movie quote
Intro: I love a good movie - and I love a good movie quote
Misquote: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
Actual quote: “Magic mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”
Misquote: “Luke, I am your father.”
Actual Quote: “No, I am your father.”
It’s easy to think we know the truth, when in fact we only know a partial truth.
This is the problem the Galatians are facing. There are false teachers who are telling them what they must to to be saved. But what they are telling them is a distorted truth… a half truth. But a half truth is not the truth.
The question I want us to consider tonight is this: How can we be sure that the gospel is true?
There is virtually no doubt that Jesus was a historical person who died on the cross - no respectable historian believes that Jesus of Nazareth is a made up character.
But the doubt in this whole matter lies in the reality that Jesus is the Son of God who was raised from the dead.
Furthermore, the doubt only increases when people begin to wonder how one be certain that the gospel as recounted by the apostles is true.
There are plenty of religions out there, all of which claim to be true. And logic would inform us that the universal claim of them all being true is impossible. So, how can we know that the Christian faith isn’t a fabrication of human invention? How can we be sure that we have the true faith? How can we be certain that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?
This is what Paul is addressing in today’s text… and his answer isn’t one that you might expect.
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.
1. Paul was a firsthand witness of the risen Jesus.
1. Paul was a firsthand witness of the risen Jesus.
Understand what this means: Have you ever played a game of telephone?…
Go back to the movie misquoted: The reason we get these famous quotes are misquoted, is owing to the fact that like a game of telephone, the words have been lost and changed over time… but after being repeatedly misquoted, we have come to believe them to be true.
But what would happen if I gave you the original source? If I asked you what Darth Vader said to Luke about being his father, and then I showed you the clip… what are the chances of you misquoting it? Really small!
This similar thing happens in my family all the time:
I will tell my dad some news (say I were to tell them that my daughter started crawling)… and then he tells my mom that same news… and then she will share it with my grandparents - and next thing you know, my grandparents think my daughter is able able to do a backflip (Okay that’s extreme)
But this is how rummers start!
But Paul’s gospel is not a gospel that has been changed overtime as it goes through the game of telephone. Paul’s gospel was delivered to him directly from God. He is a firsthand witness of the risen Jesus - and that’s a huge deal!
This is why we don’t just trust what pastors and parents say… even the most well meaning of them can get the facts wrong… so we go back to the Scriptures time and time again to make sure we understand what Paul said about the gospel - because he recieved it directly from the risen Jesus!
Now, just because Paul claims to have seen the risen Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean it is true… If I told you that I saw flying monkeys on my way to work - I would be a liar. And so some question the trustworthiness of Paul’s claim of having seen the risen Jesus.
What are we to do with this? Is Paul’s gospel a like that he made up? No! Listen to how he continues.
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.
2. Paul was the least likely Christian convert.
2. Paul was the least likely Christian convert.
1. Paul was a seeped in Judaism
Jews believe in the one true God - but they are not keen on any other gods
2. As a Jew, he hated the church because he believed it opposed his Jewish faith
They professed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Jewish faith
3. Paul was an exceptional Jew - Pharisee - he kept the law well
Phil 3 - Paul says he was blameless in his keeping the law
He worked to obtain a righteousness under the law - which is the furthest thing from the gospel
His right standing before the Lord was due to his good works
4. The Jewish faith was the faith of his family
Paul’s whole life was built upon the Jewish faith.
If anyone wants to say that Paul made up the Christian faith… they speculate is made in absolute ignorance. Paul was the last person in the world who would have wanted to make up the Christian Faith, because Christianity contradicted all that he worked hard to obtain in Judaism.
Before Paul was Christian, he hated the church.
But before Paul hated the Church, God chose Paul to be his apostle.
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.
Why did Paul, the zealous Jew who hated the church, become the apostle who loved and died for the church? How is this possible?
Is it possible, in the way that I once disliked coffee and I now have a craving for it? - Hardly at all…
First of all, it took me years to develop a taste for coffee… Paul’s conversion was dramatic and sudden.
But more than this… I just didn’t really care for coffee… but I didn’t hate it… I didn’t make it my goal to irradiate coffee from my parent’s house and from my hometown, and the surrounding cities… I just didn’t care for the taste of coffee.
But Paul’s hatred for the church caused him to ravage the church so much so that he would travel great a great distance for multiple days just to arrest Christians
So how did Paul become a convert? V 15… God Chose him before he was born, he called Paul by his grace.
This one verse contains some of the sweetest doctrines…
One - God’s unconditional election
Spurgeon -
I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love. So I am forced to accept that great Biblical doctrine.
Two - God’s irresistible grace
Paul hated Jesus - he haded the message of grace as he kicked against the goads. But his hatred for God could not keep him from savoring and delighting in the sweetness of God’s grace.
Paul’s conversion was not due to the persuasive nature of man… in fact, no one can be persuaded into genuine faith. God must draw sinful men unto himself. God must open our ears upon hearing the word so that we would believe in him!
If we think Paul was persuaded by the other apostles - keep listening:
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.
Paul’s gospel was given to him from God, and not from any other apostles… He hadn’t even seen the apostles face to face… He didn’t believe because of a faithful man preaching to him… he believed because the Word of God came directly to him through his vision of Jesus.
But some might say - Paul’s gospel was fabricated - and so was his testimony…
Paul’s testimony became well known throughout all the churches in the known world
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.”
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
3. Paul’s conversion was widely known.
3. Paul’s conversion was widely known.
Paul’s testimony was so radical - that the news of his faith spread like wildfire.
Paul’s gospel is the gospel from man
He herd the news directly from Christ
The gospel penetrated his heart
The gospel transformed Paul’s life
So how does this help us today, 2,000 years later?
We see that God can save the worst of sinners
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
If you think your sin is too bad for God to forgive… look at the mercy that God extended to Paul, and know that he will forgive you too.
We see our testimony in Pauls
Other’s might not see our sin as being too bad… but Paul’s testimony is just like all of our testimonies.
Just as Paul was an enemy of Christ
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
And in the same way Paul was redeemed, so too
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Gives us confidence in the gospel
The gospel that Paul preached… the gospel that we have contained in the Bible… it is true
For those who have faith in Jesus, we can know that we have been forgiven.
May Paul’s testimony have the same effect on us tonight as it had on the saints in Paul’s own day.
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.
Let’s pray.
