No Other Gospel (Part 2)
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Paul’s calling by God
Paul’s calling by God
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 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.
Paul supports his assertion in his teaching of the gospel in two ways in verses 10-14
First, asserts that if he was “still trying to please man” as he had done in his former life in Judaism then desires of ambition or flattery could distort the gospel
“If I were still trying to please man” In John Calvin’s commentary he states “Those who hunt after the applause of men, cannot serve Christ” by which he means that unregenerate men despise the gospel and find it an offense. So we see that Paul renounces the esteem of man in order to fully devote himself to the service of Christ, unlike in his former years in as he rose in prominence in Judaic circles of his day by doing things in which were pleasing to his fellow man.
We will all find ourselves in situations were it is tempting to forsake Christ for the sake of pleasing our peers
Second, is that the gospel he preaches is not of man, but of God as we see in Verses 11-12
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.
Paul is asserting that the gospel he received is the Gospel of Christ
Lets make a note that the charges being brought against Paul were that he did not have apostolic authority because the gospel that he taught was defective, which in turn would mean that if Paul is correct in his argumentation, that God himself was an incompetent and inferior teacher as the false teachers boasted in being instructed by the highest teachers
I want us to take a look into acts 9 where we see the conversion and calling of Paul, we won’t dive deep into that discussion today as it would take a while to get through it, however this give us some context as to what Paul is talking about going forward
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. 23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
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.
Paul gives us a narrative of his own life as part of his argument. During his life in Judaism he held such abhorrence for the gospel that he desired to destroy the faith
What makes Paul’s conversion to faith in Christ to be more miraculous is that he was so tied the traditions and laws of his “fathers” or those whom came before him, of which I must note that these “traditions” include the additions of man
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;
In verse 15 we see another instance of God’s providence and sovereignty in that he set Paul apart for His divine purpose prior to Paul even being born
We see the same language being use of believers and our being set apart for salvation before birth/foundation of the world in places such as
29 because those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined, these he also called, and those whom he called, these he also justified, and those whom he justified, these he also glorified.
but also for good works
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
to be Holy and blameless
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
to be adopted
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
to obtain an inheritance in our adoption
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
and this is all according to the purpose of God’s will for His glory
We see another case of God choosing prior to the birth of the individual for an office such as in
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
We also see that this calling is by the free gift of God. Grace is an unmerited gift. No one can earn grace, if grace is owed it is not grace, but justice
Give example of grace vs justice