Commission

Introduction

A. Paul has two problems that he has to deal with in his letter to the churches in Galatia. The first is making a case that he is an apostle and not a people pleaser. The second is that the gospel that he preached is the only gospel that points to Jesus alone. His preaching was a gospel of salvation based upon the work of Jesus and our acceptance of that salvation through faith. It was in essence a gospel of salvation by faith. You can understand how these are intertwined. Discredit Paul and his message is discredited. False teachers have come into this area and taught a false message and in order for the message to be received these false teachers have discredited Paul.

B. Ever had to prove yourself to someone? It takes a while before people get to know you and you to know others. When I was kid visiting relatives in Western Kentucky I would say “so and so is my grandfather or uncle.” That usually was sufficient in a rural area for people to relax just a bit. In bigger cities we often try to find a common connection with others. A conversation goes like this “Where are you from?” Nashville. “Do you know so and so?” Or “Where do you work?” FedEx. “Oh, do you know so and so?” While it is unusual for us to know the person that is suggested we do this in order to build some common ground.

C. But even that initial attempt to prove yourself has to be followed up by actions. I remember the response to my “so and so is my grandfather” being “there isn’t a finer man.” The meaning — if he is a good man then I might give you a chance. But the responsibility was mine to prove myself. How do you prove yourself? How do you convince another person or group of people that you are who you claim to be? Paul begins the process in the text we will share today. And his words remind us that how we live in this world reveals if our claims about faith are true.

History

A. Paul must defend himself; otherwise, the message he spoke will not be heard. So Paul begins at the beginning. His message didn’t come from anyone. Paul received it directly from Christ. In other words, Paul says that he wasn’t taught this gospel but that his message came directly from Christ’s call. Paul’s experience on the Damascus road convinced him that Jesus was the Messiah. He knew something about Jesus before Damascus but the call to apostleship took place in Damascus. This direct call from God changed Paul’s life forever. The false teachers saw Paul as an outsider. He wasn’t one of the original. Paul never claimed to be one of the originals. What he did claim was God’s direct intervention.

B. God had to do something for Paul. Paul reminds his readers of his zealousness in actions against this Jesus movement and his growth in the ways of his fathers in Judaism. Paul’s mind was set on destroying God’s church. And as determined as he was to destroy God’s church, he was equally determined to excel in his understanding and practice of Judaism. God’s appearance to Paul on the Damascus road changed his life forever. And his message came out of that divine experience.

C. Upon his conversion in Damascus, Paul left and went into Arabia to preach this gospel. He didn’t go back to Jerusalem for three years. This area of Arabia was an area well to the east of Jerusalem. It was a Gentile area and this is where Paul began his preaching about Jesus. And when his time in Arabia ended (about 2 years or so) he returned to Damascus and remained there for a time. Finally, after three years, Paul heads to Jerusalem and spends two weeks with Peter and a short visit with Jesus’ brother, James. What did they talk about?

D. Since both Peter and James are mentioned in 1 Cor. 15 as specific witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus and Paul is mentioned as the last to see the resurrected Christ, many guess that Paul got the first hand story about the resurrection. But the point is very clear. For three years, Paul was preaching and teaching about this resurrected Jesus because Jesus himself had appeared to Paul and called him to preach to the Gentiles. When he left Jerusalem he went to the Gentile areas of Syria and Cilicia and preached. He was so much in obscurity, that the churches in Judea only heard about what he was doing.

So what?

A. So why does this matter to us? Why does it matter to people in the 21st century what Paul’s history is and what his first few years of preaching were about and where he went and who he didn’t spend time with? Is this about Paul’s reputation? Not really. It is about truth. You see Paul is preaching a gospel of salvation through faith. His opponents are teaching a gospel of salvation through works. Discredit Paul and his message is invalid. Paul wants his readers to believe the truth. So what he did with his life; who he associated with and who he didn’t associate with matters. But what matters most is the intervention of God. His message comes from a divine intervention and that alone is enough to prove that his claims are accurate.

B. Is not the same true for us?

1.  It matters what we do with our lives; who we associate with and who we do not associate with.

2.  It matters that our lives reflect the accuracy of our claims.

3.  It matters that we live our lives in response to the gospel of grace exalting God and lifting him up.

4.  It matters that our lives bring honor to God. If there is an inconsistency in our claims and the way we live our lives then others may not hear our message. We are talking about eternity (verses 8 & 9).

5.  How you treat people tomorrow matters.

6.  How you speak to people tomorrow matters.

7.  Your attitude toward trials matters.

C. But there is one more important truth from this text. Paul was zealous, determined and dedicated to that which God wanted to change. Paul needed to change. He sought the imprisonment and death of those who followed Jesus. Paul changed. So can you. I don’t know what terrible and awful things you may have done. You may have done things that you are so embarrassed and ashamed about that you do not believe you can be forgiven. Look at Paul. His description leaves little doubt about how terrible and awful was his sin. But he changed and so can you. God wants to give you life. He will forgive. It begins with a divine intervention of Jesus on the cross. And it continues with you opening your heart as Paul did to the gospel of grace. Invitation.

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