An Apostle's Credentials

An Apostle’s Credentials Lesson 6

Galatians 1:10-24

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?

Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men,

I would not be a servant of Christ.

Gal 1:10

Introduction

To discredit a message, discredit the messenger- thus, the accusations:

Paul was not an original apostle and his credentials were suspect

He got his information second hand and appointed himself an apostle to gather a following

He set aside the Mosaic laws to make the gospel easier for both Jews and Gentiles to accept

He had no right to speak for God as he persistently claimed to do

Paul often had to defend his credentials, not for his own benefit, but because the gospel itself was at stake.

2 Cor 12:11-12

11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.

12 The things that mark an apostle — signs, wonders and miracles — were done among you with great perseverance.

I. Paul’s Gospel - Devine, Therefore Distinct

A. Where did this Gospel come from? 1:10-17

1. Questionable Motives? 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

a. who was he persuading?

b. who was he pleasing

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

1 Thess 2:3-4

3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

2. Criticized Claims 1:11-12

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

a. a denial of human origin

b. a declaration of divine instruction (unlike Paul’s detractors)

Matt 15:6 ….you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

3. Confrontive Conversion 1:13-16b

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,

a. If only ‘religion’ counted

1. destroyer of the heresies

Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-2

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Acts 22:4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,

Acts 26:10-11

10 …On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them

2. defender of the (Jewish) faith

Phil 3:4-6

4 …If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;

6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

b. When only ‘regeneration’ will do

1. set apart But when God, who set me apart from birth

Jer 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Isa 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.

Eph 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

2. saved and called me by his grace

Eph 2:5 (God) made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.

3. sanctified was pleased to reveal his Son in me

Rom 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son

4. sent so that I might preach him among the Gentiles

Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

4. Confessions from a deer stand 1:16c-17

I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

a. resolve I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was

b. reload but I went immediately into Arabia

c. return and later returned to Damascus

B. If a Leopard changes his spots, will he still eat you? 1:18-24

1. reconciliation with Jews 1:18-20

18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days.

19 I saw none of the other apostles — only James, the Lord's brother.

20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

2. reconciliation with Gentiles 1:21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia.

Matt 5:23-24

23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

II. Paul’s Impact - How the church reacts to the power of the true gospel

A. The Jewish churches’ wonder at such transformation 1:22-23

22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."

B. The Jewish churches’ willingness to praise God as the cause 1:24 And they praised God because of me.

TNBS Questions Lesson 6

Preparation for week 7

Read Galatians 2:1-10; Acts 11:19-30; 14:24 – 15:35

1. There is some debate over the timing of the trip to Jerusalem Paul describes in Gal 2:1-10. Do you think this trip is one that is recorded in Acts? If so, which one and why do you think so? If not, where does this trip fit?

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2. Regardless of when it occurred, how did the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 give credence to Paul’s Apostolic claims?

3. The word “revelation” in verse 2 is the same word used in 1:12. Why does Paul make a point of that?

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4. In what way could Paul’s meeting in Jerusalem have shown him to be “running in vain”?

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Read Genesis 17:9-14

5. What was the point of circumcision for the Jews?

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Read Philippians 3:1-14

6. How does this passage reinforce what Paul has been saying from Gal 1:10 – 2:10

7. a. How did the Apostles in Jerusalem react toward Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles?

b. What did this do for Paul personally?

c. How should it impact those to whom Paul preached?

8. As a true Christian you are in a definite minority among the world’s religions. Imagine your character and motives being attacked for promoting a suspect faith. How would you answer your detractors?

9. In what area do you go out of your way to please people?

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10. How would that change if your sole motive was pleasing God?

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