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1. E. Stanley Jones tells about a missionary who was lost in an African Jungle – he was surrounded by nothing but thick brush. Finally he came to an opening and found a native hut. He asked him if he would get him back to the mission station.
As they hacked their way slowly through the thick brush, he asked the native, are
“You sure this is the right way? I don’t see any path!” He replied, “Bwana, in this
place I am the path!”
2. In the first century, God chose individuals, called apostles, to cut out a path for the church to follow. These foundational pioneers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gave us our Bible.
“19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” Eph. 2:19-20
3. The Apostle Paul’s Divine authority to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Trans: Gal. 1:1:1-5
Paul has established churches in Galatia by the presentation of the Gospel, not long afterwards false teaches came in and taught that the gospel was Jesus plus the keeping of the Law of Moses. Ac. 15:1
To lift themselves up, they had to tear Paul down, thus were seeking to discredit Paul’s apostleship – he was not one of the Twelve Apostles, thus a mere self-appointed apostle who lacked authority.
Three basic Problems with Paul:
(1) He was not a Good man.
“1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” Ac 8:1-3
“1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Ac. 9:1-2
Galatians 1:13 (NKJV)
“13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.” Gal. 1:13
We still have people today who think a man is not qualified to preach because of past sins – they are no longer worthy! Truth is no man is worthy to stand behind a pulpit by his own merit!
Paul knew that the secret was to forget what was behind and to reach forward to the prize of the high calling in Christ…Phil. 3:13-14
Forgetting the past and pressing on is a difficult thing to do. But as a minister you must do it. How? By concentrating and controlling your mind and by reaching forth to those things which are before you. Note the concentration and focus:
• BUT THIS ONE THING I DO.
“In one focused act, you must forget the past and reach forth to those things that are before you. This act involves two steps: both forgetting and reaching forth. The past cannot be forgotten without reaching forth to what lies ahead.
You must not sit around moaning and regretting the past. You must not wallow around in self-pity when you come short or fail. You must not allow the feelings of being unworthy to grip you. We are all unworthy, totally unworthy, and we cannot be more unworthy than to be totally unworthy.
This is not to excuse our failure and shortcoming… we are to confess and forsake sin and failure. This is what you—all ministers of God—must always do. Confess and repent and get up and begin to serve Christ with a renewed commitment.
You must not concentrate upon the past. The things of the past are to be forgotten. The things of the future are to be the focus of your mind. You are to zero in on the things at hand and on the things that lie ahead. If you do this, you will conquer and overcome in life, and you will complete and fulfill your ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ.” [What The Bible Says To The Minister: The Minister's Personal Handbook]
(2) He was not one of God’s original Twelve.
He did not know Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry, was not one of the Twelve that Jesus selected. He was not even endorsed by them!
“17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. Gal. 1:17-19
Do you lack human endorsement?
I really cannot give you the formula for success. But I can give you the formula for failure. It’s this: Try to please everyone.
Tozer, “I cannot believe in the spirituality of any Christian man who keeps an eye open for the approval of others, whoever they may be. The man after God's own heart must be dead to the opinion of his friends as well as his enemies.
He must be as willing to cross important persons as obscure ones. We will never be where we should be in our spiritual lives until we are so devoted to Christ that we ask no other approbation than His smile. When we are wholly lost in Him the frantic effort to please men will come to an end. The circle of persons we struggle to please will be narrowed to One. Then we will know true freedom, but not a moment before.”
(3) He had a different Gospel.
He did not believe in salvation by keeping the law or some ritual but by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. Gal.1:4-9; 2:16; 3:1f; 4:9-10; 5:6; 6:12-15
I hope you have a solid gospel!
Now Paul understood these Judiazers – after all he used to be one of them!
Galatians is a letter for recovering Pharisees. The Pharisees who lived during and after the time of Christ were very religious. They were regular in their worship, orthodox in their theology, and moral in their conduct. Yet something was missing. Although God was in their minds and in their actions, he was not in their hearts. Therefore, their religion was little more than hypocrisy.
The Pharisees were hypocrites because they thought that what God would do for them depended on what they did for God. So they read their Bibles, prayed, tithed, and kept the Sabbath as if their salvation depended on it. What they failed to understand is that God's grace cannot be earned; it only comes free.
There is a way out of Pharisaism. The way out is called the gospel. It is the good news that Jesus Christ has already done everything necessary for our salvation. If we trust in him, he will make us right with God by giving us the free gift of his grace. When we reject our own righteousness to receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we become former Pharisees.
“Most former Pharisees have a problem, however. It is hard for them to leave their legalism behind. Although initially they received God's grace for free, they keep trying to put a surcharge on it. They believe that God loves them, but secretly they suspect that his love is conditional, that it depends on how they are doing in the Christian life. They end up with a performance-based Christianity that denies the grace of God. To put this in theological terms, they want to base their justification on their sanctification.
This means that most former Pharisees—indeed, most Christians—are still in recovery. There is still something of the old legalist in us. Although we have been saved by grace, we do not always know how to live by grace. The gospel is something we received some time in the past, but not something we live and breathe. Galatians was written for people like us.” Reformed Expository Commentary - Reformed Expository Commentary – Galatians.
This gospel of grace is hard on the lost and the saved!
This was true in the life of Martin Luther (1483-1546), the father of the Reformation. Luther had tried everything he knew to be a good Christian. He wrote, "I was a good monk and kept my order so strictly that I could claim that if ever a monk were able to reach heaven by monkish discipline I should have found my way there. All my fellows in the house, who knew me, would bear me out in this. For if it had continued much longer I would, what with vigils, prayers, readings and other such works, have done myself to death."
Yet as hard as Luther worked, his conscience was still troubled by the thought that he was not good enough for God. He didn't understand the gospel of grace. His breakthrough came when he discovered that Christianity was not about what he had to do for God; it was about what God had done for him in Jesus Christ.
Luther's famous lectures on Galatians, he began by saying: "I do not seek [my own] active righteousness. I ought to have and perform it; but I declare that even if I did have it and perform it, I cannot trust in it or stand up before the judgment of God on the basis of it. Thus I... embrace only... the righteousness of Christ... which we do not perform but receive, which we do not have but accept, when God the Father grants it to us through Jesus Christ."
The great Puritan preacher John Bunyan (1628-1688). In his spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Bunyan describes how a battered old copy of Luther's commentary came into his possession. He was surprised how old the book was, but he was even more surprised when he read it. He wrote, "I found my condition in his experience, so largely and profoundly handled, as if his book had been written out of my heart... I do prefer this book of Mr. Luther upon the Galatians, (excepting the Holy Bible) before all the books that ever I have seen."
Why does this epistle have such a liberating influence? Because the church is always full of recovering Pharisees who need to receive the gospel again, as if for the very first time.
I. FIRST, WE SEE PAUL’S AUTHORITY.
A. Proclaimed.
“Paul, an apostle” – The word apostle was a common ordinary term in Paul’s day
that meant “a messenger, one sent forth.” But it became a technical term used for the Twelve Apostles chosen by Christ to be His special messengers.
“1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” Mt. 10:1-4
“14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Rev. 21:14
Paul was not one of the Twelve, but He was an Apostle on the same level with the Twelve. He as unique as they are!
“11 I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” 2 Cor. 12:11-12
Bottom-line Paul was doing what God had called him to do! So is every preacher who has been called by God! 2 Cor. 3:6; 5:18,20/ Eph. 3:7/ I Tim. 1:12/ 2 Tim.1:10-11
Why is Paul’s authority such a big deal?
“The great New Testament scholar J. B. Lightfoot (1828-1889) began his commentary on Galatians by saying, "The two threads which run through this epistle—the defence of the Apostle's own authority, and the maintenance of the doctrine of grace—are knotted together in the opening salutation." Paul was not defending himself as much as he was defending the independence of his apostleship in order to defend the gospel. When it came to the good news about salvation by grace through faith, he refused to budge so much as a single micron.”
B. Proven.
1. Source was not merely human
a. Not “from men” – απο denotes ultimate authority, and men is plural meaning
“a body of men.” He is saying that the ultimate source of his apostleship did not originate from a group of men, from a denomination, some body of church officials, not even from the Twelve Apostles!
b. Not “through a man” – δια the preposition speaks of intermediate agency and man is singular. It was not through a particular man – not through Ananias or Barnabas or any other person.
Man would never have chosen Paul or the Twelve for that matter!
TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafters Carpenter Shop
Nazareth 25922
FROM: Jordan Management
Consultants
Jerusalem 26544
Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the résumés of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have not taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.
The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.
As part of our service and for your guidance, we make some general comments, much as an auditor will include some general statements. This is given as a result of staff consultation and comes without any additional fee.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have team concept. We recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper.
Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership.
The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty.
Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.
We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.
James, the son of Alpheaus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your comptroller and right-hand man. All the other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely Yours,
Jordan Management Committee
How about Paul?
A certain church found itself suddenly without a pastor, and a search committee was formed. In due course it received a letter from a man applying for the vacant position. The committee chairman read:
“I am considered to be a good preacher, and I have been a leader in most of the places I have served. I have also done some writing on the side.
“I am over 50 years old, and while my health is not the best, I still manage to get enough work done to please any parish.
“As for references, I am somewhat handicapped. I have never preached anywhere for more than three years. And most of the churches I have preached in have been small, even though they were located in rather large cities. I had to leave some places because my ministry caused riots and disturbances. Even where I stayed, I did not get along too well with other religious leaders, which may influence the kind of references these places will supply. I have also been threatened and physically attacked. I have even gone to jail several times for my preaching.
“I am not particularly good at keeping records. I have to admit I don’t even remember all those whom I’ve baptized. However, if you can use me, I should be pleased to be considered. I feel sure I can bring vitality to your church.”
When the chairman finished reading the letter, the committee members were aghast. How could anyone think that a church like theirs would consider a man who was nothing but a troublemaking, absentminded, ex-jailbird? What was his name? “Well,” said the chairman, “the letter is signed Paul.”
2. Source was the God/Man.
“through Jesus Christ…who raised Him from the dead” – again δια speaking of intermediate agency. The source of Paul’s apostleship, and thus his gospel was Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a stupendous divine miracle. The body of Jesus of Nazareth was taken down from a Roman cross and placed in a Jewish tomb, where it remained until the third day. Then, by his infinite power, God raised Jesus from the dead. Not only did he bring him back to life, but he also gave him a glorious and immortal body with supernatural powers.
Paul never would have believed this unless he had seen it with his own eyes. But we do not have to take just Paul's word for it – we have the fact that the tomb was Deserted; the grave clothes Discovered; the Documents that declare it; the Disciples radical transformation…
On May 27, 2004 nurse Mary Zollinger was on duty at Madison Memorial Hospital in Boise, Idaho, when the emergency medical personnel brought in little Logan Pinto's body. The two-year-old had fallen into a canal and remained submerged for nearly 30 minutes before rescuers found him. Efforts to revive him failed, and Logan was pronounced dead. The grieving parents wept and said their goodbyes, and Zollinger began preparing the body for the funeral home.
Then the nurse saw Logan's chest move slightly. The child was still alive. Logan was airlifted to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. That evening the two-year-old was breathing on his own, and his color had returned.
Rexburg police Captain Randy Lewis, the police chief from Logan's hometown of Rexford, Idaho, was shocked. He said, "I'm just amazed and overwhelmed with what took place. They aggressively worked on him for quite a bit of time, and of course it's a bad situation when you have to let the parents know that their son has passed away."
But despair turned to joy when emergency workers learned the boy was alive.
Captain Lewis continued: "It's called divine intervention, I think. I was dumbfounded. I couldn't believe it hardly, especially after leaving there and seeing what had transpired. I don't know how to explain it. It's joyous..."
Paul preached a Christ who was dead and buried for 3 days – the He shocked the world by raising in a glorified body! It was amazing and Paul was overwhelmed by what he saw, it was something that could not be explained or explained away – the most joyous thing that has ever happened in the history of mankind!
“who raised Him from the dead” – it was the risen Lord who commissioned Paul.
The significance of a messenger depended not on his own status, but on the status of the one who sent him. Paul claims the highest status of all, for he was sent "by Jesus Christ and God the Father."
He says to the Galatians: “My call may seem inferior to you. But those who have come to you are either called of men or by man. My call is the highest possible, for it is by Jesus Christ, and God the Father.”
“and God the Father” – put Jesus on par with God the Father.
This is an unusual expression in the Greek text, for both Jesus Christ and God are governed by the same preposition (dia, “through” or “by”).
Moreover, Jesus Christ is placed first, followed by God the Father, which is a reversal of the usual sequence.
In this expression Paul was making two points at once: he was claiming that there is no distinction between the calling of Jesus Christ and the calling of God, and, further, he was asserting the essential and eternal unity between the Father and the Son.
Jesus is God!
At Tra-fal-gar Square in the city of London stands a statue of Lord Nelson. Resting on the top of a tall pillar, it is too high for passerby to distinguish his features. Because of that, about forty years ago, a new statue—an exact replica of the original—was erected at eye level so that everyone could see him.
That is what Jesus did for our perception of God. God transcends our ability to see. He is so much above us, the eyes of our understanding cannot discern His divine features. Until Jesus came, that is. When Jesus came, He was an exact representation of God set down in our midst, “the image of the invisible God.” To know God, we must look only at Jesus.
“who raised Him from the dead” – it was the risen Lord who commissioned Paul.
The significance of a messenger depended not on his own status, but on the status of the one who sent him. Paul claims the highest status of all, for he was sent "by Jesus Christ and God the Father."
He says to the Galatians: “My call may seem inferior to you. But those who have come to you are either called of men or by man. My call is the highest possible, for it is by Jesus Christ, and God the Father.”
Con:
1. He had divine authority from Jesus to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. I spent over 4 years in military service. I was once station at Offet Airforce Base, in Nebraska. The is Headquarter Sac and it was loaded with high ranking officers.
My job was to schedule pilots on airplanes and make sure they met their various flying requirements. One of the things I enjoyed most was carrying out orders from the Coronal – He would instruct me a mere air man to tell another air man to do something.
I would go and tell the airman to do so and so and he would blow it off – “I don’t have to listen to you! Your have no more rank then I do!” Then I would smile and say, “Col. Wesdorf told me to tell ya!” Everything changed.
Then I always got a thrill when the Col told me to call Lt. Britt and tell him that he need to take a certain flight. The Lt. would say, “I can’t make it, better get someone else.” And I would smile [over the phone] and say, “Sir I am only carrying out orders given to me by Col. Wesdorf!” And all of a sudden the Lt. could take the flight.
I don’t now if Paul relished his position or not, but the Judaizers were telling the churches at Galatia that Paul was nobody and they didn’t have to listen to him – and Paul was saying, “Excuse me but I got my orders from God Himself!”
Johnny Palmer Jr.
www.strugglingthruscriptures.ning.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/strugglingthruscriptures
