PAUL'S COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL
Galatians 1:15-23
Introduction: Most children grow up with a desire to be like someone they admire or to
pursue a profession they are impressed with. Many young boys grew up wanting to be a
policeman, a fireman, or someone they thought had an adventurous profession or lifestyle.
Most of them never come to the fulfillment of their dreams or desires. In fact, most people on this earth do not reach the place where they meet the expectations God has for their lives. One reason is that many people do not want their children growing up with a desire to pursue a foreign field or, at least, not to become missionaries. Many parents aspire for their child to be successful in a secular field. That does not exclude Christian parents who would encourage their child who wanted to become a preacher, missionary, or in some type of Christian occupation.
Most Christians never find the purpose in life that God has for them. Most Christians
see life as one where they find a decent job and raise their family, and that is the satisfying/fulfilling aspect of life. Our text takes a different view of what our life's purpose is
all about. The apostle Paul found out what was important in life and what made life fulfilling. He had been on a different track with his life before he met the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. He gives some insight into this matter in the first chapter of Galatians. In fact, the first chapter is an autobiographical sketch of his life. God redirected his life in that moment when he was confronted with the truth about Jesus Christ. This section we are considering gives us a glimpse into what was taking place in Paul's life. This is a template of what should happen to every person on this earth.
We have been looking at this first chapter, and three things have surfaced that were on the apostle's heart. First was another world in Galatians 1:1-5. Second was another gospel, Galatians 1:6-14. Third, we want to look at another life in Galatians 1:15-23. Paul takes us into his life and shows how God changed his direction. What about you? Do you realize that God has a different life for you?
- THE PROBLEM OF ANOTHER GOSPEL, Galatians 1:6-14.
- Preaching Another Gospel, Galatians 1:6-9. When Paul used the word "marvel," he was expressing something disturbing. Our culture might use a synonym that could help us understand the emotion Paul experienced, and that is "astonished," which expresses the depth of Paul's response to the news that they had gone to "another gospel." Then Paul suggests his further astonishment that they had "removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ. . ." (vs. 6). He states that "another gospel" is not "another" (suggesting being valid}, but there were "some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ" (vs. 7). This other "gospel" is a perversion and not the gospel Paul delivered to them. Then Paul brings up a point in verse 8 that many Christians seldom consider: that there are those who have developed perversions of the gospel of Christ, suggesting that an "angel" came to them and gave them "special revelation," which was the origin of a false cult. Some examples: Mormonism came about when Joseph Smith met with an "angel Moroni" in a cave and saw some silver plates that contained what is now the Book of Mormon, a complete perversion of the truth of Jesus Christ. Islam came about when Muhammad, an Arab "military, political leader" who decided he was also a religious leader after he supposedly met with an "angel" (in a cave), whom he called Gabriel, who gave him the "Quran," which is the document that Islam is based upon. So many Christians do not know the Bible to the point that they can discern false doctrine, and especially "another gospel." Paul repeats the word "accursed' in verses 8 and 9. Paul wanted the people he had given the gospel to stay on track with what God had provided for them, so that no false cult or other "religious" movement would try to claim validity or claim to be from God. To Paul this was extremely serious to the point of being "accursed." Many people are so naive about God's word that they do not know there are people who would corrupt the "gospel of Christ" and the "word of God" (2 Cor. 2:17).
B. Pleasing Men or God, Galatians 1:10-14. Paul states a thought that many do not try to follow. That is the responsibility of a believer and their responsibility to "please God" (Rom. 8:8; 1 Thess. 4:1) and not man! Those who seek to please men are not a "servant of Christ" (vs. 10). Then he makes an important point in Galatians 1:11 (KJV), But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. That is the major contrast between the "gospel of Christ" and the message of cults. We believe our KJV Bible came from God, not from any source forbidden by God. What Paul received was "revelation" ·from God (Gal. 1:12). The next two verses, Galatians 1:13-14, give Paul's former commitment to the "Jews religion"
- THE PURPOSE OF PAUL'S LIFE, Galatians 1:15-16. Many Calvinists try to make this one of the major points of their deviant theology. They use this verse, Galatians 1:15, as proof that God elected Paul and that we can be part of that election. The word "elect" does not occur in this verse or near it. Note with me that Paul says he was "separated from my mother's womb." It has nothing to do with any eternal decree or even eternity. Isaiah says a similar thing about his calling to ministry. Isaiah 49:5 (KJV) And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. Isaiah says that his purpose was to "bring Jacob to him” [back to God]. Paul is simply saying that God had separated him from his mother's womb to have a different life than the one he had chosen. God wanted to do something special with Paul, and then Paul would convey that to others. He is simply stating the theology that had been given to him and had applied to his life. That was to "reveal his Son in me" (Galatians 1:16). Did you know that is exactly what God wants to do with believers in the 21st Century? God's plan has not changed. He simply started with the apostle Paul so that it might be conveyed to a world that needed a "new life." Did you ever wonder why Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to "be born again" (John 3:7). Just what does that entail? Have you ever asked yourself that? What does the concept of the "new birth" have to do with me today? It is the very thing that God wants to initiate in your life that you might fulfill His purpose for you. God wants to "reveal his Son" in you and me. That means there have to be some changes in our lives. There needs to be some renovations to our lives. You see, God wants to do a major remodeling of your life so it can reflect His ideas, His purpose, His plan for you. Will you look again with me at some verses that speak to this purpose? Romans 8:29 (KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. You see, Paul is saying in Galatians 1 the same thing he said in Romans 8:29. Look at Galatians 4:19 (KJV) My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (KJV) 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. We seldom realize that God's purpose for us today is to REVEAL HIS SON IN US. That is God's will, His purpose for your life.
III. THE PROCESS OF ANOTHER LIFE, Galatians 1:17-19. Now Paul begins the biographical section of this passage. He explains the process he followed to align his life with God's will. He is describing a journey of his life that took him from Damascus to Arabia, back to Damascus, and then to Jerusalem. He is describing how his life developed so he could learn what God had for him.
A. IV. The Facial Encounter. It started with encountering the living Christ. This took place in Acts 9:3-7. He came to the place where he had to decide about the one he was persecuting, Jesus Christ, or his life as a Jewish leader. He had to decide about his life and its direction. He met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. Have you ever done this? You say, "Well, preacher, does Jesus have to appear to me in the same manner he did to Paul?" No, that is not the point. God was making a dramatic dispensational change, and he did something very dramatic to get Paul on track with what God was doing. We have a process that is based on the same truth Paul received. Note the statement in Galatians 1:16: I conferred not withflesh and blood. Paul says he did not go to the priest in the Temple to find out what he needed to do, nor did he consult the Twelve Apostles. That is what is implied in the statement "Neither went I up to Jerusalem..." (Galatians 1:17). In other words, he did not confer with any human but with the truth from God. Have you ever considered the verse Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God? We do not need to follow the same process Paul experienced; we need to consider what was going on with Paul and then ensure the same procedure is followed. Paul encountered the truth. That is what his explanation implies about going to Arabia before going to Jerusalem. What is significant about Arabia? If you know anything about this geographical location, you will know that some very important things took place there. Here is a clue. Look at Galatians 4:25 (KJV) For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Now note that there is an important place in Arabia, Mt. Sinai. Do you remember what took place on Mt. Sanai. Moses received the revelation of the Law of God there. We know that Elijah went to Arabia, and tradition has it that when Jesus Christ was tempted, He was in the wilderness of Arabia. Some important things happened there, and we know from Moses that the words of God were received there. Paul went to Arabia for one thing: to receive the revelation given to him about the church. Please do not overlook the phrase in Galatians 1:16 (KJV) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. Did it ever occur to you what that phrase implies? There is an important matter to consider here. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:50 (KJV) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Did you ever think that the condition you are in right now will not get you to heaven? A change must take place. Jesus said something very important about this matter in Luke 24:39 (KJV) Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Jesus said he had "flesh and bones" and there is an interesting ingredient missing. This event is after the resurrection. Jesus does not have "blood" but "flesh and bone." Something happened to Him between the crucifixion, where His blood was poured out, and the resurrection, where He had only "flesh and bone." This is a metaphor for the change that must take place in our lives. There must be a transformation, a change that you might "reveal his Son in" you. There must be a face-to-face encounter with the living Lord Jesus Christ, and you do that only in the Bible. That is why we talk about a:
B. The Factual Encounter. This is the meaning of Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. You will never have any faith until you accept the Bible as the word of God and that it holds the truth that can transform your life. Paul went to Arabia and received the truth and the revelation of the truth from God. We must follow the same process as Paul and allow the truth to permeate our lives, bringing about change. That will never happen until you see the Bible as the very truth from God, and that it holds the information that will change your life. Jeremiah 13:10 (KJV) This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. Jeremiah 18:2 (KJV) Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. If you refuse to hear the words of God, you will be in the same condition as Israel described above. You will walk after other gods and serve them as well as worship them. There must be a factual encounter.
IV. THE PRODUCT OF ANOTHER LIFE, Galatians 1:20-24. This section contains a wealth of information, and we do not have time in this sermon to examine it all. Paul has described how his process led him to the only place he could find the truth: what God had said. He could not find that from the apostles in Jerusalem. He did spend some time with Peter (15 days), but other than that, he received no information from any human. His source of information came directly from God. That process had a significant impact on him, and he saw his life begin to yield a different ingredient. He now had a burden to tell others what he had been taught. He encountered some opposition from those who knew him in his former life. He went to the "regions of Syria and Cilicia" (Galatians 1:21). That would likely indicate his trip to Antioch with Barnabas. He went to Judaea, where Jerusalem is, and says he was known there only by reputation. They knew his old life, but there was a major difference in his goal in life. He, at one time, tried to eradicate the world of those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now he wanted to tell others what had happened to him. His testimony was now an explanation of his encounter with the living God. So, do you have a testimony of a change in your life? If not, why not? You see, Paul is simply saying that the product of a changed life is when a person comes to the realization that they now have something to share with others. If we were as aggressive with the gospel as drug dealers were with selling their deadly wares, we might begin to see a change in our lives and the lives of others.
Conclusion: What kind of change has taken place in your life? Is there a difference in your behavior after conversion? Do you have an interest in the word of God? Do you have an interest in seeing others come to Christ as you did? If not, why not? A new life is the promise of the New Testament. Romans 6:4 (KJV) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Ephesians 4:24 (KJV) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Colossians 3:10 (KJV) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.