Book Of Galatians Chapter 1 Part 3 Paul's Conversion And Commission Were By Christ

Paul sought to please God and serve His Son each day.

Galatians 1:10  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. 

Paul speaks of how his encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus fundamentally changed his life forever.

While (Saul) Paul was a persecutor of Christians, he was the servant of men, and pleased all the religious Jews who opposed Christ's gospel. 

When he was born again and embraced Christ's doctrine, he became the servant of God, and pleased Him. 

Paul therefore indicates that he was a very different person as an apostle from what he had been while a Judaizer.

Paul received his gospel directly from Jesus Christ, not from other men.

Galatians 1:11-12  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. 

False teachers repeatedly attacked Paul's integrity in order to dismiss the gospel of Christ and replace it with their lies.

The apostle emphatically declared that Jesus Christ the Lord revealed this gospel to him. 

Paul called it the gospel he preached "the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1); "the gospel of God's Son" (Romans 1:9); the "gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16) and "my gospel" (Romans 2:16).

Paul never lost a sense of deep awe, profound gratitude and overwhelming joy that God would save a sinner like him.

Preaching the gospel of Christ meant everything to Paul. 

It was his reason for living and he poured all his energy into preaching it everywhere he traveled.

To "certify" means to make this truth known with thorough knowledge (See 1 Corinthians 15:1-3; Ephesians 3:3-8).

Paul made sure they understood that his gospel was not taught to him by a rabbi.

The word "revealed" is making it an open disclosure of truth from Jesus to Paul.

Why was this necessary? Because the other twelve apostles walked and talked and were instructed by Jesus for 3 1/2 years. 

Paul needed to be taught by the Lord so that he had the fullest understanding of the gospel Christ sent him to preach. 

He needed to hear what Jesus taught the other disciples so that his understanding was complete.

Christ is the source of Paul's gospel.

Christ is the power of Paul's gospel.

Christ is the sole focus of the gospel.

Paul's life before and after Christ demonstrates the power of the gospel.

Galatians 1:13-14  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 was not afraid to tell others what God did for him when he was born again. 

He reminded the Christians in Galatia that his "old man" life was marked by hatred toward Christ and His church.

"Conversation" refers to our manner of life, our conduct and behavior.

Notice also that Saul's hateful actions stemmed from the Jewish religion. 

The same Judaism that rejected and crucified our Lord led Saul to viciously persecute Christ's church.

Saul "profited" in the Jew's religion achieving the loftiest status that Judaism offered.

This is the idea of lengthening metal by hammering it to make it thinner or marking out a path forward. 

Saul made progress in Judaism but it was simply a deeper progression into error. 

Acts 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 

Saul gave approval for stoning the first martyr Stephen to death (Acts 8:1). 

He had men and women, husbands and wives arrested and put in prison for their faith in Christ. 

Homes were broken into and families dispersed. 

Acts 9:1-2  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2)  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

Saul was blinded by hatred of Christ and the gospel and sought to bring all Christians in Damascus to Jerusalem.

His intent was murderous in that he sought to make martyrs of them all.

1 Timothy 1:12-16  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13)  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14)  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16)  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

Paul reminded Timothy of his old life before Christ. 

He considered himself to be a blasphemer against the Son of God, one who wrongly persecuted innocent people for believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Saul's actions were harsh, driven by hatred of the gospel and he destroyed many lives when he persecuted Christ's church.

When Jesus stopped Saul in his tracks, his life radically changed. Saul, the Christ hater became a new man, Paul the lover of Christ and preacher of His gospel.

Thus, Paul was frank and honest in calling himself the chief of sinners and he boldly told others how Jesus saved him and put him into the ministry (See Acts 22:3-5).

God saved Paul by His marvelous grace and Jesus taught him His gospel.

Galatians 1:15-17  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. 

God called Saul by His marvelous grace. 

The one who was Satan's cruel instrument against Christ's church was born again and made an instrument of God against the kingdom of darkness.

The Father revealed His glorious Son in Paul and gave him a commission to preach the gospel that he used to hate (See Acts 9:15; 22:21; 26:17-18).

Paul immediately obeyed His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (See Acts 9:19-20; 26-30).

He did not consult with other apostles nor did he seek counsel from other men. It was a spiritual conversion by a spiritual gospel and the Lord Himself would teach Paul.

Instead, Paul traveled into Arabia and three years later he returned to Damascus. We know nothing about why Paul went to Arabia or how long he stayed. 

Since Jesus is the one who stopped Saul to convert and commission him, we must accept that Jesus also guided Paul in all  activities immediately after his conversion.

Three years later Paul did visit Peter in order to know the apostle on a personal level and to see where he was spiritually.

Galatians 1:18-19  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19)  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 

Three years time is the period when Jesus taught and instructed Paul like He did the other apostles.

Thus, the Lord led Paul to travel to Jerusalem to visit Peter. The word "see" means to become personally acquainted with someone.

While visiting Peter, Paul did not see any other apostles except James. 

Galatians 1:20  Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 

This Paul speaks in reference to having seen only Peter and James at Jerusalem. 

He sought to prove that he had not learned his Gospel from the assembly of the apostles at Jerusalem, nor did he receive his commission from them.

Paul was charged by false teachers that the Gospel he preached he received from men. This was their attempt to disqualify Paul and discredit him as an apostle. 

Paul solemnly appealed to God who is the searcher of hearts for the truth of what he said to the Galatians.

Jesus directed Paul's steps after his conversion to Christ. 

Galatians 1:21-24  Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22)  And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea 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. 

The course of Paul's travels after his conversion to Christ were this: 

He went from Damascus to Jerusalem, and from Jerusalem into Syria and Cilicia.

Acts 9:25-26 At Damascus the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket; 26) and when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples;

Afterwards, when the brethren knew of the conspiracy formed against him at Jerusalem, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, (See Acts 9:30).

Paul was unknown by the churches in Judaea. That is, they did not know him by sight, but only by reputation.

They knew that Paul was radically converted from a fierce opponent of the gospel into a love of Jesus Christ.

Hearing now that Paul preached that faith which before, he persecuted believers and they glorified God for the grace which had wrought Paul's conversion. 

Paul owed nothing to them. Rather, he owed everything to God and the Christians in Judaea acknowledged this. 

Paul received all from God, his salvation, his new life in Christ and his apostolic commission. 

Central to Paul's defense is that God receives all the glory. 

Let us learn to glorify God in all that we think, say and do.

Let us make the gospel of Christ our high priority in life, to tell others about Jesus.

Let us be Christian men, women and young people who are known for spiritual integrity and as those who walk in the light of the gospel.

Bob