Galatians 1:1-17
One of the last books I preached on before I left the church was the book of Galatians. I plan on posting my notes from those sermons over the next few weeks. Hope you enjoy. Remember this is only my notes.
I started with the first 17 verses:
1 Paul, an apostle, not from men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God, the Father, who raised him from the dead,
Paul starts with his credentials–his credentials sets him apart from your commentaries, or what your preacher says, or what old grand dad said was right.
Paul does not claim anything from himself—he starts right off making it clear that who he is and what he does is a result of who Jesus is and what he has done.
And I should say right here that in a nut shell it is the same with each of us. Who we are and what we can accomplish on this earth is a direct result of Who Jesus is and what he has already done.
"And God will reveal this great truth to all of us.
Matt 16:15-18 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
I am tired of the lies that are being taught by so many that your well being with God is dependent on what you do, rather then what he has done.
My belief is not in doctrine, it is not in tradition, it is not in what I might do to be right with God, or even in my own belief…..NO, MY BELIEF IS IN GOD AND GOD ALONE. AND THAT IS HOW PAUL REPRESENTS HIMSELF.
"2 and all the brothers with me, to the congregations of Galatia:3 grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. "
He TELLS them about grace and peace but makes it clear it is from God & Jesus.
BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT GOD DOES IS GRACE AND PEACE–THIS IS HIS GOAL FOR ALL AND WHO IS STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST IT?
Rom 5:20 The law entered with the result that wrongdoing increased. But where sin increased, grace has increased even more.
It makes it much easier for us to tell about grace and peace to others when we understand where it originates from and how much power it has. We are channels of God’s greatest truths, and we don’t have a right to pick and choose who gets those blessings or to limit God’s grace.
Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
What does it mean to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked? The best example is when Jesus was at the cross and he uttered to God "Forgive them for they know not what they do?" So, being kind includes forgiveness????? YOU BET YA!!!!!!
*********IS HE GOING TO TEACH US ONE THING AND THEN DO ANOTHER? NOT A CHANCE.***************************************
Let us offer grace and peace to all because as we do that it reminds us that we are children of God and great is our reward. WHEN YOU TREAT OTHERS AS GOD DOES THERE IS A TESTIMONY IN YOUR OWN HEART THAT TELLS YOU WHO YOU ARE.
4 He gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present wicked world, according to the will of God, our Father, 5 to whom is the glory forever and forever. Amen!
He gave himself—-Here is why we have grace! Grace is a product of what HE DID, NOT WHAT WE DO. WHAT HE DID REDEEMED US. WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT HE DID WE ARE DELIVERED, RESCUED, SAVED, FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD. NOT EVERYONE IS SAVED BUT EVERYONE IS REDEEMED.
Who gave himself for us? Who will deliver us out of this present wicked world? Who’s will causes it to happen? And Who deserves all the Glory?
And what is the Present evil world?—-you will see as we study that is the world of religious law and regulations.
And by the way how can you have Forever and forever? This is due to a poor English translation of the Greek word "aion" which literally means (ages, age abiding, age during.)
Young’s Literal Translation Gal 1:5 to whom [is] the glory to the ages of the ages. Amen.
"6 I wonder that ye are so quickly removed from Him who did call you in the grace of Christ to another good news;7 that is not another, except there be certain who are troubling you, and wishing to pervert the good news of the Christ;"
Here we see the real reason for Paul writing this letter—the gospel that they had received was being polluted or perverted, and Paul was quite concerned that their peace was being threatened.
It reminds me of my brothers trying to tell me I was adopted. Even though it was not true, if I would have believed it my peace of mind would have been shattered.
You see, the gospel is not about doing right or doing wrong. The gospel is about what Jesus did right for our wrongs.
"8 but even if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news to you different from what we did proclaim to you — anathema let him be!9 as we have said before, and now say again, If any one to you may proclaim good news different from what ye did receive — anathema let him be."
Paul’s point is clear—NO ONE—no matter what their credentials has the right to try and change the good news. Anyone who does this has placed himself under a curse. Now just what curse could he be talking about? Let’s jump ahead just for a moment to chapter 3
Gal 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse , for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
Folks, I come to you sharing good news. Now I ask you, has the news you have heard all your lives from so many pulpits really been good news? Or has it been a mixture of good news along with law keeping that you knew in your heart you were not living up to?
"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."
One of the greatest problems in the church today is the full time preacher. This is relatively a new concept since about the 1880’s. Until then It was a rare thing for a preacher to be located in one place full time.
Verses 10-11 make it clear that Paul was not concerned with pleasing men. Thank God Jesus felt the same way. But what about our churches today that most preachers are not concerned with pleasing men? Have you ever wondered how this concept of Hell became so popular? Did the early church believe it? Did Paul? If he did he never mentioned it.
Paul clearly states that the gospel is NOT AFTER MAN. JUST LIKE BEING BORN AGAIN IS NOT FROM MAN.
"John 3:7-8
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."" "
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus did not send Paul to the other apostles to be taught the Gospel? AS WE PROCEED I THINK IT WILL BECOME CLEAR AS TO WHY.
The Gospel was REVEALED to Paul, not taught. And I think it is still something that is revealed even today and not taught.
"Heb 8:10-13
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. HERE IS THE GOSPEL.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."
THE TESTIMONY FROM GOD IS IN YOUR HEART—-HE IS SAYING TO YOU "I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO YOUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, AND YOUR SINS AND INIQUITIES I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.
DO YOU HAVE THE POWER TO OVER RIDE GOD’S WILL? DO YOU HAVE THE POWER TO OVER RIDE WHAT CHRIST DID?
"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."
Paul here speaks of his past as a TOP NOTCH JEW. And yet we know that none of his glorious past was worth anything ..HE TALKS CLEARLY ABOUT HIS PAST IN THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
"Phil 3:4-9
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung , that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Paul also speaks of profit in performance based religion. The profit comes from the ability to burden people with a list of requirements that they must keep in order to be OK with God. And you will always see money connected to the powerful preachers of our day. After Paul had the gospel revealed to him he no longer sought the type of profit that so many preachers cherish today. He no longer cherished the traditions of religion. His heart was solely focused on sharing freely the goodnews that Christ gave himself for ALL and that he loved ALL.
"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."
We know the LAW reveals sin in us…..But what does grace reveal in US? God’s SON. EVEN FROM MY MOTHER’S WOMB. Has Christ always been there?
And why does he feel it so important to say he did not confer with flesh and blood or go to Jerusalem to the apostles? Could it be that they were part of the reason that Christ called Paul to start with? Why didn’t Jesus send Paul to the Pillars to be taught the Gospel?
Instead Paul goes to the desert (Arabia) to collect his thoughts and to see God more clearly. Might I suggest that we too might do well to not be so quick to seek out what others think but instead find our own alone time with God.
Cliff God’s love and grace truly spoke to my heart and mind today in what article you wrote.God put upon my heart and mind today that His love is always there it follows it just always there.
I know that we have heard this many times but until we truly come to realizes this I am still fearful.I believe that is why Paul had to be lead away from the church like so many here at Bold Grace.
I believe that God has brought us all here to see the true love and grace of God so that we can see the living word of God in our hearts and minds.
Love Dan
Dan….you always lift up my heart.
I like what you’re saying here, Cliff. I need to read it again though, to let it sink in. Lots to consider!