Galatians 1:11-24
Today's Passage: Galatians 1:11-24
Before jumping into our passage today, we must remind ourselves of where we left off in Galatians 1:10, “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.” Paul boldly declared he seeks to please an audience of One. Today’s passage illustrates why that is.
First, Paul didn’t receive the gospel that was invented or even shared by man. Instead, his dramatic conversion recorded in Acts 9 recalls how Christ overwhelmed Paul’s senses. Christ revealed Himself to the persecutor seeking to “destroy it.”
Second, Paul had been “advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age…”, and yet, when it was all said and done, Paul determined that the trade had been worth it. He had status, prestige, and on a course to the peak echelons of society. After Christ invaded his life, he lived under near constant threat of death. He suffered numerous beatings, even being left for dead. He suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. Yet, in Philippians 3, written from prison toward the end of his life, Paul counts everything before Christ as filthy rubbish.
Third, God used Paul in mighty ways. As Christianity spread, God used Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Gentile inclusion into God’s plan and program is a massive scandal of the New Testament—which is the impetus of the book of Galatians. Gentiles were coming to Christ in droves. Paul’s ministry is primarily characterized by riots and revivals. Galatians gives insight into why that is; namely, that Gentiles need not convert to Judaism to become Christian. For the Jews rooted in Law and tradition, this was a bitter pill indeed. Many came behind Paul and the other missionaries to say that Christ alone is not enough. Salvation requires obedience to the Law. Paul gave no quarter to such false teaching. This is why he works so hard in our passage to establish his bona fides that the Gospel he preached is “not man's gospel…[but] received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” This Gospel that he spread throughout the region caught fire in part because, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” That kind of life-change had an impact.
Paul obviously provides us with a great example of what it means to live sold out for Christ. However, he doesn’t write these words to proclaim how great he is. He’s writing because people are bringing confusion to the Gospel that radically changed his life. It’s the Gospel that we must compare ourselves to, not Paul. In the Gospel, I am hopeless and helpless apart from the saving work of Christ Jesus. He is worth my surrender. He is worth giving up our comfort. He is worth sharing with those who do not know him. Only he, and nothing else, gives hope for eternity. In Christ, I need not fear, nor seek to please any other human being (although admittedly easier said than done). He is our audience of One.
Written By: Tyler Short
Before jumping into our passage today, we must remind ourselves of where we left off in Galatians 1:10, “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.” Paul boldly declared he seeks to please an audience of One. Today’s passage illustrates why that is.
First, Paul didn’t receive the gospel that was invented or even shared by man. Instead, his dramatic conversion recorded in Acts 9 recalls how Christ overwhelmed Paul’s senses. Christ revealed Himself to the persecutor seeking to “destroy it.”
Second, Paul had been “advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age…”, and yet, when it was all said and done, Paul determined that the trade had been worth it. He had status, prestige, and on a course to the peak echelons of society. After Christ invaded his life, he lived under near constant threat of death. He suffered numerous beatings, even being left for dead. He suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. Yet, in Philippians 3, written from prison toward the end of his life, Paul counts everything before Christ as filthy rubbish.
Third, God used Paul in mighty ways. As Christianity spread, God used Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Gentile inclusion into God’s plan and program is a massive scandal of the New Testament—which is the impetus of the book of Galatians. Gentiles were coming to Christ in droves. Paul’s ministry is primarily characterized by riots and revivals. Galatians gives insight into why that is; namely, that Gentiles need not convert to Judaism to become Christian. For the Jews rooted in Law and tradition, this was a bitter pill indeed. Many came behind Paul and the other missionaries to say that Christ alone is not enough. Salvation requires obedience to the Law. Paul gave no quarter to such false teaching. This is why he works so hard in our passage to establish his bona fides that the Gospel he preached is “not man's gospel…[but] received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” This Gospel that he spread throughout the region caught fire in part because, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” That kind of life-change had an impact.
Paul obviously provides us with a great example of what it means to live sold out for Christ. However, he doesn’t write these words to proclaim how great he is. He’s writing because people are bringing confusion to the Gospel that radically changed his life. It’s the Gospel that we must compare ourselves to, not Paul. In the Gospel, I am hopeless and helpless apart from the saving work of Christ Jesus. He is worth my surrender. He is worth giving up our comfort. He is worth sharing with those who do not know him. Only he, and nothing else, gives hope for eternity. In Christ, I need not fear, nor seek to please any other human being (although admittedly easier said than done). He is our audience of One.
Written By: Tyler Short
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