September 18, 2011
Morning Service

Galatians 1

 

Intro:

 

We have just finished the last letter that the Apostle Paul wrote while in the Roman captivity.  We discovered that Paul had quite a bit of freedom while he was there.  There was 4 in total.  Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

 

When I look at Paul’s life, I can understand why Jesus chose him to be the Apostle to the gentiles, and to write 2/3 of the N.T.   Even before his conversion Paul was dedicated to the service of God.  So when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and realized he was struck blind by the same Jesus he had been persecuting, he knew he was in the presence of deity.  So after Ananias had laid hands, and prayed for him, he received his sight, and was baptized, then he begins his walk of obedience to the Lord.  This letter to the Galatians will give us great insight on what happened to Paul after his conversion. 

 

Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians around 53 – 56 AD.  Paul had visited this area, which is in modern day Turkey, and where the 7 churches of Revelations are located, on his first, and second missionary journeys.

This letter will give us great insight on the Apostle’s authority, and also being saved by faith, and not by works.  By works I mean keeping the Jewish laws that were given through Moses.

 

Let’s begin:

 

SALUTATION

Gal 1:1-24 KJVR  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

• Paul explains his calling.  He wasn’t ordained in some theological seminary, but had a calling, and ordination by God Almighty.
• This was before Christian denominations.  He didn’t have to ponder on which college to attend, and what particular doctrine to learn.  God is going to teach him what He wants him to teach, and what He wants us to carry on teaching that we might have the unity that is taught the Apostle by God.
• We are so blessed to believe that he Bible is the inspired Word of God.  Because everyone doesn’t believe it.  It reveals to us from the beginning to the end on what is going to happen in this life, and the one to come.  And God is using the Apostle Paul to teach us.

(2)  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

• All the brethren, and since we don’t know for sure where this letter was written from, we don’t know who is with him at this time.  This is a common thing he does on mentioning those who are with him.
• To the churches of Galatia, plural.  Some years later God reveals to John a message for these churches, read about it in Revelations.

 

Then Paul’s wonderful greetings:

(3)  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 

(4)  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:  (5)  To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

• It is the will of God that we be delivered from this present evil world.  He means from it’s ways.  The world’s ways are not God’s ways.  And by following the teachings of Jesus Christ we will be delivered from this present evil world.

SITUATION: THE DEPARTURE FROM GRACE

(6)  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 

• The perversion of the gospel didn’t stop just because the Apostle wrote this letter.  However, he does enlighten us to the problem, and we can watch for it, and stay on the right course.
• Paul’s gospel is one of grace, love, forgiveness, and not of works of the law.

 

 

 

 

(8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

• This is a very serious statement by the Apostle.  He is speaking the will of God.  God wants unity in His church.  Time and again we are instructed to teach the Word, not man’s ideas of what it means.  God will give us the same understanding of the Word if we will just let Him teach us.
• So upon reading this you would think that everyone who preaches would try to stay with the written Word.

GOSPEL OF GRACE IS GIVEN BY DIVINE REVELATION

(10)  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.  (11)  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  (12)  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

• Do I want to please man or God?  You better have the right answer to this one!
• You talk about higher learning, well this is the ultimate, straight from the Master Himself.
• Now, what God wants us to know has been revealed, and there will be no new revelations.  It is a matter now of studying what has been revealed, and it is up to us who minister the gospel, to point you to the revealed Word, who is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
• Jesus will teach you, if you will only ask Him for help as you study His Word.

(13)  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:  (14)  And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 

• Conversation, or manner of life.  Paul was a very zealous Pharisee in the religion of Judaism.

(15)  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,  (16)  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:  (17)  Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 

• Paul’s conversion is recorded by Luke in Acts chapter 9.  This describes his calling, and instructions.
• He didn’t go directly to the Apostles before him.  They would have tried to tell him what he should preach, but not so.
• But he goes into Arabia.  No doubt to seek the will of God in his life, and there God reveals to him what He wants him to preach.  No time is given here to how long he stayed in Arabia, but he returns to Damascus of Syria.

(18)  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 

• How would you have liked to sit in on that meeting?  15 days they talked about the way God was dealing with their lives.  Peter telling Paul of his first sermon, and the beginning of the church.  The healings that have been taking place.

(19)  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 

• We find that James is the leader of the church at Jerusalem when Paul goes there in Acts 15.

(20)  Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.  (21)  Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;  (22)  And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ:  (23)  But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.  (24)  And they glorified God in me.

• Truly, people who know the works of God, and His power to deliver one from false teachings, or this present evil world, will glorify God when they see it happen in someone’s life.  When a life is changed God should receive the glory. 
• The same God that called Saul the Pharisee, and changed him into Paul the Apostle, is the same God that will change your life to become a servant of His, if only you ask Him for deliverance from this present evil world.

NOW DON’T THINK FOR ONE MOMENT THAT I’M TAKING UP A BUS LOAD THIS MORNING TO HEAVEN, BUT I AM ENCOURAGING YOU TO MAKE A RESERVATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO HEAVEN. 

 

ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR, AND YOU WILL BE PREPARED WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

 

LORD JESUS PUT IT IN OUR HEARTS TO SEEK AFTER YOU FOR A CLOSER WALK, AND IF ONE IS HERE THIS MORNING THAT HASN’T ACCEPTED YOUR GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE, MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU.