The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 1:10-24 - Message 3 – Paul Resorts To Personal Testimony Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 1:10-24 - MESSAGE 3 – PAUL RESORTS TO PERSONAL TESTIMONY

We are going to continue our meditation in this first chapter of Galatians. Last time we looked at reason why Galatians was written, looked at the people, and looked at the importance of the purity of the gospel. The gospel of grace – without works or adherence to the Law of any kind – is the free gospel of forgiveness of sins, and the acceptance of men and women in God’s presence because of the sacrificial work of Christ.

[A]. DO YOU PREACH TO PLEASE MEN AND COMPROMISE YOUR CALLING?

{{Galatians 1:10 “Am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God, or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”}}

The words in this statement are simple enough. They draw a contrast. Paul confirms that his mission is not to please men, but to be faithful to the message of Christ. His calling into service on the Damascus Road was direct and definite. There was no mistaking his calling and he would not deviate from it. No doubt they accused him of a cult following. To please men is not to be a bondslave of the Lord.

Man-pleasers or God-pleasers? How many stand in pupilts and don’t preach Christ, or faithfully uphold the true gospel because it might cause some to depart, or some might be offended, or the finances might be down, or popularity might suffer or people higher up might disapprove. Paul said “Woe unto me if I do not preach the gospel of Christ.” Many preachers say, “Woe unto me if I offend anyone in what I say.” We live in an age of compromise and political correctness. All around us the gospel is distorted because certain parts of it have been hacked away.

What do you think of accountability, you people who are ministers and pastors in churches? The Lord will hold us accountable for the messages we teach and preach. Have you been compromising the true message of the gospel? Are you lazy in its preparation? Do you stand in muddy waters and give a gospel less than the true gospel? If you at any time have lessened the message you preach because of possible reaction, then you have compromised the gospel of Christ.

Paul makes it clear – he who pleases men is NOT a servant of the Lord. Do not alter the message of the cross – {{Romans 9:32-33 “Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 1Corinthians 1:23 “but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness.”}}

Those who try to make people accept some code of behaviour, or to keep some aspect of the Mosaic Law, or add anything to the gospel of grace, have compromised the true gospel and will be held guilty by God.

[B]. THE GOSPEL PAUL PREACHES IS FROM GOD NOT MAN

{{Galatians 1:11 “I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man,”}}

The word here for “have you to know” is said to be one of special emphasis so that what follows is very important. Paul clearly states that his gospel does not come from man. When Paul has to return to the first principles he laid down earlier among the Galatians, then it shows how much they had slipped. Be very careful of some tantalising speaker with honey lips, not sent by God, but by the evil one.

This verse is an emphasis of what he had been saying in verse 10.

[C]. GOD CHOSE PAUL TO REVEAL THE GOSPEL

{{Galatians 1:12 “for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”}}

It is almost as if Paul is on the defensive here which is a shameful reflection on the Galatians. The gospel Paul preached is from direct revelation of God. Revelation is an unveiling. He was not passing anything on he had learnt from man. This is direct intervention of God alone and God was going to use Paul to declare most of the major doctrines of the Christian faith. These false teachers were denying his apostleship and Paul had to recount the gospel again to them.

In God’s will and purpose Peter introduced the gospel, used the keys of the kingdom, and maintained the flock, but it was Paul whom God used to develop the doctrinal basis on which our faith rests. This is crucial to belief. Some sort of faith without the doctrinal foundation is as bad as smoke blown around in the wind. It is transient and has no foundation. Too much of the “experience gospel” that proliferates today is flimsy and lacks doctrinal stability.