Chico Alliance Church
“Saved By Grace”
Out of a devotion to the basics of “teaching, fellowship breaking of bread, prayers” comes relevant ministry and connection that develops and demonstrates dynamic relationship with God, selfless love for each other and effective impact in our world. Early in the history of the church we not only have examples of passion and devotion to the basics but it did not take long for the enemy to disrupt and disturb the church by distorting the “good news”, the Gospel message.
Paul’s letter to the churches in Southern Galatia were being disturbed by false teachers called Judaizers very soon after they had embraced and experienced the wonderful message of freedom through Christ. These guys were terrifying the churches by casting doubt on their newly taught relationship with God through Christ. These were churches established by Paul himself through the preaching of the Gospel.
These Judaizers disturbed these young believers by:
1 – questioning Paul’s authority
2 – advocating circumcision as a requirement for salvation
3 – requiring them to keep the laws and customs of Judaism for salvation
It is my hope that by reinforcing the vital truths concerning grace, not only for salvation but also our daily walk, we will experience the joy of our salvation that God intended to continually motivate us into deeper relationship with Him.
From: Paul
To: the churches of Galatia
Blessing:
Directed to the Galatian believers
Directed to God
I. Correct Divine Credentials 1:6-2:21
A. Paul expressed amazement at such a quick departure from the gospel of grace vs 6-7
B. Paul condemned anyone distorting the gospel of grace vs 8-9
C. Paul affirmed his personal commitment to the gospel of grace vs 10
D. Paul confirmed the divine origin of the gospel of Grace 1:11-2:21
1. Paul’s Adamant assertion “Gospel received from Christ 11-12
For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:11-12
I want you to really know and understand a simple, but vital fact. This Gospel which I preached. “The good news having been good newsed by me” This message does not originate from human thinking or development. This is an important fact even today for there are those who would have you believed that religion is an evolutionary thing. Paul adamantly asserts that the truth of the gospel preached by him to the Galatians did not originate from any human source. In fact he goes on to assert that what he taught was not even passed on to him from any particular person. He did not receive it (aorist passive) from any human. Nor did anyone sit down and teach (aorist passive) him these things.
Paul was an educated man but he offers this disclaimer concerning his teaching of the Gospel. These were truth revealed to him by Christ Himself.
The word used here is “apocalypse”. The Greek word for to cover or hide attached with a negative. Revelation, uncovering, unveiling, appearance, manifestation.
Christ could be the object.
The gospel could be the object.
In other places Paul claims to have experienced a personal audience with the resurrected Christ.
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 1 Cor. 15:7-8 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 1 Cor. 9:1 For I received (same verb as our text) from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 1 Cor. 11:23
Paul boldly asserts that the truth taught by him did not come from any human source nor did he learn it in the School of Gamaliel or from the other apostles. Paul clearly claims to have received the Gospel from Christ Himself. Paul’s credentials are based on his relationship with Christ. He does not appeal to earthly credentials but to divine connection. In order to demonstrate the fact that his teaching was not influenced by any human source,
2. Paul’s life Before Christ 13-14
For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure, and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. Galatians 1:13-14
Here Paul draws attention to his former life.
Used to persecute the church of God beyond measure.
Tried to destroy the church of God.
Acts 8:3 Acts 9:1-2 Acts 26:4-11
He definitely proved to be more zealous than anyone in his defense of Judaism.
Paul speaks of his former life in his other letters as well.
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Cor. 15:9
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor… 1 Tim. 1:12-13 “foremost of sinners”
Paul describes his former life as a legalist, a lawyer. Philip. 3:4-6
Paul was not proud of his former life. The fact that he had killed Christians affected him deeply. He continually remembered his former life of hurt to God’s church and so to God Himself. How do you handle strong feelings of failure and deep guilt? How does one deal with those unhappy trips through the hall of shame we all experience? How did Paul handle those memories? Paul viewed his shameful past through the grid of God’s amazing grace.
3. Paul’s Initial experience with Christ 15-17
But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, Galatians 1:15-16
So many time we encounter that one little word in Scripture that introduces a miraculous change. “but” Other letter of Paul describe the salvation experience in terms of “we”.
Most telling are the ones where Paul describes his own.
Notice our present passage! God set apart from mother’s womb God called through grace!
Grace is the cord that ties Paul’s whole life together. Grace is what enables Paul to move in the present in spite of his appalling past.
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Cor. 15:9-10 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. 1:13-14 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
1 Tim. 1:15-16 God has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. 2 Tim. 1:9-12
Notice the obvious shift in emphasis when Paul talks about his former life and life with Christ. The shift from “I” to “God”. When we realize the full impact of God’s amazing grace there is little room for “I”. Man continually must take credit for his great faith or desire for God. The truth is that our salvation is by grace lest any man should boast. Be careful that you continually keep the emphasis on God’s initiative and work on behalf of the rebellious sinner on the basis of His mercy and grace. No matter your past, no matter your present, God’s grace is more than abundant. That tug you feel deep inside is God’s call. There is no sin to great that God’s grace doesn’t reach. If you have responded to God’s call are you desirous that His grace to you was not in vain. Do you realize that before you were born God desired relationship with you and loved you? God delights to reveal His son in you. Will you cooperate?
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Cor. 4:6-11
When you understand God’s glorious love and amazing grace, there is a peace and humility that becomes the fertile ground that bears much fruit. Paul recounts his conversion to emphasize the supernatural nature of his gospel. The point of the verse here is that he did not immediately consult flesh and blood or meet with the apostles but went away to Arabia and Damascus. According to Acts, Paul did not waste any time sharing what he did know about the gospel of grace. Acts 9:20-22
4. Paul’s Discipleship and Training
a. Three years in Arabia & Damascus 1:17
What happened in those three years? Paul does not say. My guess is that Christ taught him during that time as he had his disciples. God is concerned that we become grounded in our relationship with Him.
b. Trip to Jerusalem (15 days) 1:18-20
c. Fourteen years in Syria and Cilicia 1:21-24
d. Return to Jerusalem 2:1-10
Finally after a great deal of time Paul receives “the right hand of fellowship from the “official” leaders of the early church. Paul’s point in all this is to demonstrate that the Gospel taught by him was not anything taught by men but directly from Christ and was the same as the Gospel taught by the other apostles who were directly taught by Christ. Since the truth taught by Paul was from Christ, any other deviation or variation was not to be considered the gospel at all.
APPLICATION
The obvious application here concerns the divine nature of Paul’s gospel and the confidence that we can have that it is the revelation of Christ. I want to reinforce this morning that every call of God is based on his amazing grace. That grace transcends any failure, or sin in our past, present or future. Any other approach to God but through grace exposes an attitude of pride. God resists the proud but gives abundant grace to the humble. Not until we realize our desperate condition before God will we appreciate the power of his grace. None righteous no not one. Dead in trespasses and sins. Alienated from God. Children of wrath. Only through grace was there any hope!
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. God delights in you! God wants to reveal his Son IN you to a dark world. God sent His Son to draw men to Him. Won’t you draw near to him today. Won’t you accept his marvelous grace today!
