Gospel Transformation
galatians 1:10-24
Main Idea: The gospel completely transforms us so that we now live for God’s glory and approval alone.
I. The Necessity of Grace (1:11-14)
His gospel, which was being called in question by the Judaizers and deserted by the Galatians, was neither an invention (as if his own brain had fabricated it), nor a tradition (as if the church had handed it down to him), but a revelation (for God had made it known to him)... The magnitude of his claim is remarkable. He is affirming that his message is not his message but God’s message, that his gospel is not his gospel but God’s gospel, that his words are not his words but God’s words.
~ John Stott, The Message of Galatians
In order to back up this claim, Paul reminds the Galatians of his unlikely conversion story. His former life looked like a fanatical commitment to:
Persecuting the church of God “violently” trying to “destroy” it (cf. Acts 8:1-3, 22:4-5, 26:9-11)
Advancing quickly in Judaism as a Pharisee, “zealous” for the tradition of his fathers (cf. Phil. 3:3-6; Acts 22:3, 26:5)
II. The Experience of the Gospel (1:15-16a)
As Paul recounts his incredible conversion experience (cf. Acts 9:1-6), he emphasizes the Lord’s work of:
Setting him apart before he was born (Jer. 1:5; Isa. 49:1; Lk. 1:13-17; Eph. 1:3ff)
Calling him by his grace (2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Thess. 5:23-24)
Revealing Christ to him externally (Acts 9:4-5) and internally (2 Cor. 4:6)
In the story of freedom, God is always the subject; humans, always the object. If we’re to live free, it will be because of God’s actions, not because of our own will or disposition or politics or intelligence…. Something is done to us or for us before we do anything. We are acted on before we act. Life isn’t naturally produced by us; it’s supernaturally provided for us.
~ Eugene Peterson, Traveling Light: Galatians and the Free Life in Christ
Christianity is not something you take up. Christianity is something that takes you up. Christianity is not so much something you decide on. Christianity is something that happens to you.
~ Tim Keller, “Why They Glorified God”
1 Timothy 1:15–16: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
III. The Approval of God (1:16b-24, 10)
The next season of Paul’s life confirmed God’s divine calling and commissioning “in order that he might preach [Christ] among the Gentiles.” This is seen as Paul traveled to:
Arabia for 3 years (Acts 9:23-25; 2 Cor. 11:32-33)
Jerusalem for 15 days, meeting with Peter & James (Acts 9:26)
Syria and Cilicia, remaining “unknown” to the churches in Judea (Acts 9:30)
Paul is contending that his gospel ministry was independent from but not in contradiction to the Jerusalem Apostles. Jesus was building his church and communicating his gospel of grace through both Paul and the other Apostles.
Paul’s testimony and our testimony ought to produce the same response:
Within us: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (1:10)
In others: “They glorified God because of me.” (1:24)
The primary reality of which we have to take account in seeking for a Christian impact on public life is the Christian congregation. How is it possible that the gospel should be credible that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? . . . The only answer, the only hermeneutic of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it.
~ Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society
