Re: The Supernatural Gospel - (Gal 1:11-24)

This year, our church them is “Alive in Christ (Gal 2:19-20).” The question naturally arises, how are we made alive in Christ? The answer is this: the Gospel. The Gospel is what saves us and the Gospel is what transforms our lives. This is the message we are called to share with everyone God places in our lives.

In Galatians 1:11-24, we find Paul writing to believers in Galatia of how he came to know the message of the Gospel and how his life was transformed. As we look at Paul’s testimony, we can gain a greater appreciation for the Gospel, as well as courage to boldly proclaim it.

I. Trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (11-12)

False teachers accused Paul of making up his gospel teachings or receiving them second-hand from the Jesus’ disciples. Paul declares that he didn’t make it up and he didn’t get it from someone else, he got it directly from Jesus, who appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). This Gospel that Paul preached, was, in Paul’s time, and continues to be, in our time, completely counter-cultural. The world would like to believe that it is good and we can somehow earn God’s favor and be saved. The Gospel teaches that all are dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2) and deserve the full wrath of God and we are only saved by the grace of God and the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Martin Luther writes, “The Gospel is true because it deprives men of all glory, wisdom, and righteousness and turns over all honor to the Creator alone.

As we understand this, there are three lessons we can learn. 1) Don’t mess with the gospel: Don’t change it, don’t compromise, don’t try to make it more appealing to the world. This is not your message to change and Paul gives a very clear warningto any who would try (Gal 1:8-9). 2) Boldly proclaim the Gospel! Don’t be ashamed, you are God’s messenger of salvation to a lost and dying world. 3) Don’t be discouraged. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim, not make them believe, because we can’t make anyone believe, that is God’s work to change their heart. Fortunately, we see the grace of God to do so in the next section.

II. Rest in the Gospel of Grace (13-16a)

In 13-14, Paul describes his former life and his zeal for Judaism. Paul, known as Saul at the time, can be best described as a modern day extremist or terrorist. Paul persecuted Christians and sought to destroy the Church of God. But God intervened in his good pleasure and grace and revealed Jesus Christ to Paul (15-16).

Do you have a Saul in your life? Someone you think will never become a Christian? Someone who either doesn’t care, doesn’t believe, or is even angry at God? Don’t give up. Keep praying, loving, and evangelizing to them. Paul’s conversion reminds us of God’s power to turn around the most unlikely people and use them to do the most unbelievable things for the glory of God.

This passage also reminds of to be humble. We have nothing to be proud of with regards to ourselves. There was nothing special about me to cause God to save me. Jonathan Edwards explains, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”

III. Live in Light of the Gospel that Transforms Us (16b-24)

In this last section, we see that God did not just save Paul for Paul’s own benefit, to enjoy life knowing that he had a ticket to heaven when he died. God saved Paul, so that he could preach the gospel to the Gentiles. As Christians, we too have been saved for a purpose. Not just to enjoy life and attain the American dream, serving when it’s convenient, exceling in our academics or career, accumulating nice stuff. We were saved to be a light to the world. You are not at school just for education, at work just to earn a paycheck, in your neighborhood just for a place to live. Those people are more than your classmates, co-workers, and neighbors, they are sinners in need of a Savior, and you have the Good News of Jesus Christ.

As Paul lived in light of the Gospel, the change in his life caused many to glorify God (1:24). May God transform our lives through the Gospel and grant us courage to boldly proclaim the Good News to His greater glory