From Terrorist to Evangelist

The Bible says that we have all been rescued. Our need to be transferred out of darkness into light, to be moved from death to life. All of us are beggars in need of Grace. Not matter how dull we might judge our own stories, we are desperate people in need of the Savour. This passage is a great display of God’s grace.

BUT, the bible says that we have all been rescued. We have all been transferred out of darkness into light and have passed from death to life. All of us are beggars in need of Grace. Not matter how dull we might judge our own stories, we are desperate people in need of the Savour. This passage is a great display of God’s grace.

Transition: Where does the gospel that Paul is talking about comes from?

Where does the Gospel come from? (Vs. 11-12)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Where does the Gospel come from?

Why did Paul make a distinction between the gospel he preached and man’s gospel? Describe these two gospels and their differences.

Galatians Paul: The Early Years

Now he says the same thing again: “the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel” (Gal. 1:11). Literally, Paul “gospeled” the gospel that comes from God.

Vs:11 - Same things as verse 1. Literally, Paul “gospeled” the gospel that comes from God. Creating a big gapping hole between what he is saying and what they are saying.

“Preached by me” Paul’s preaching was focuses on “Christ crucified.” Nothing could be added to what Christ had already done. Drawing lines still of the different gospel that was being told to the Galatians.

“Not man’s gospel” Denies that it could have come from anyone or anything else.

Vs. 12 Denies that it could have come from anyone or anything else. The Gospel is not mans good news about God it’s God’s good news for man.

The Gospel is not mans good news about God it’s God’s good news for man.

“Did not receive it from any man” Denies his gospel was something he received by people or taught. See that further in 16 to 24.

Why would he need to be? He had seen the risen Christ for himself, there was nothing he needed to double-check.

But than gives a positive. Unlike that other gospel message that these people are spreading, this gospel messages is from Jesus Christ. Look at verse 12.

Paul’s response

You got to think that we could not come up with the Gospel. If we were given the power to determine how one earned God’s favour and a place with him forever, we would make up a scoring system, something that emphasized our good we are. Why? Because the natural default mode of our hearts is trying to win brownie points with God by what we do. But grace offends our natural sensibilities. We don’t naturally trust grace. We want control. People could not make up the gospel; it came from God.

What does the Gospel do to our lives? (Vs. 13-24)

The gospel of grace is like water: people did not invent it, and people cannot live without it. We are spiritually thirsty creatures in need of the living water of the gospel. If you are a Christian, we need to keep drinking from this well of grace. Many Christians think they should move on from the gospel - as if there is something more important that Christ’s work. No, keep drinking more of grace keep working the gospel into your heart.

You will be prepared to tell unbelievers that what they desperately need is not good advice or moral improvement, but the good news from God about new life in Jesus.

What is the source of your beliefs? What is the source of our beliefs as a church? Think about a GPS. The other day, dropped Matt off. First hardware store. Costume shop. Second, tire shop. This GPS was my source for getting to the hardware store, but the system was faulty. Make sure you are trust in the right source: Jesus. Don’t trust in the treadmills of work-based righteousness. Instead, trust in the One who said, “Come to me…and I will give you rest.”

KNOLLWOOD: Let us be a church that is centred on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s trust THIS (HOLD BIBLE UP) alone as our source of beliefs. It comes out, our believes, in how we act. People walk through the door and can tell if something is off. It shows in how we sing. How we speak or treat or think about other people. In our desires to be in a community centred around the gospel. It should in how we handle what we’ve been entrusted with to pass it along to others.

Not only has he called us to himself, but he has called us into this family, it’s why membership is important. Church membership, done right, reminds us of what God has done in our lives. That not only has he called us to himself, but also to each other. Let us be a church that is trusting in the gospel as our source. Where do we get our beliefs from? It’s so important tthat we get our beliefs from the right source.

Transition: The gospel comes from God, but what does it do when it arrives? The answer is that it changes a person’s whole life.

Think about GPS trying to get

The gospel that God gives shows our need for God's grace, transforms our lives, and keeps us faithful to Christ.

What does the Gospel do to our lives? (Vs. 13-24)

What happened to Paul when he received Christ? How did his life change?

Paul was transformed by his encounter with Jesus. He was not just tweaked by it. Like Paul, we need more than a minor adjustment when we come to Christ; we need transformation. Only the gospel transforms people from the inside out.

Paul’s story of God working in his life is a good reminder for all of us about the difference Jesus Christ can make in a sinners life.

Look at what the gospel did to Paul.

The gospel that God gives shows our need for God's grace, transforms our lives, and keeps us faithful to Christ.

The Gospel shows our need for grace. (vs. 13-14)

Look at this:

English Standard Version Chapter 1

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Paul, just like you and me, are in need of Grace.

Persecuted believers:

The gospel that God gives shows our need for God's grace,

Acts 8:1 ESV

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Acts 8:3 ESV

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Acts 26:10 ESV

And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

Extremely zealous: He was the guy who went above and beyond. Paul was saw himself as a modern day hero of the faith.

Paul is a classic example of a person who was sincere in his misdirected beliefs before becoming a Christian. Sincerity cannot bring you to salvation if you do not sincerely believe in the truth. You can be sincerely wrong. You can be consumed with religion and miss Jesus. Paul was in a desperate situation we would perhaps look at him and say, “He is beyond the hope of the gospel.

The New American Commentary: Galatians (2) Paul’s Life before Christ (1:13–14)

Paul’s main point in vv. 13–14 was to show that there was nothing in his religious background and preconversion life that could have in any way prepared him for a positive response to the gospel

Do you see your need?

Do you marvel at the face that God saved you? Do you believe He can save the worst of sinners?

Behold Paul, a terrorist, turned into Christ’s evangelist. What amazing grace!

The gospel that God gives shows our need his grace, but doesn’t leave it there. The Gospel transforms our lives.

The Gospel transforms our lives. (15-16a)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles

Read this over. Let it sit there. Work the truths of these verses into your heart. Think about all the work of God in the conversion and commission of Paul.

Galatians 1:15 ESV

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

But when he who had set me apart from before I was born

Glorious word “but”. Look at what Paul’s life was before God called him. Now, look. God interrupted his live by his grace.

Conversion is the act in which our stories receive the holy conjunction “but”. The transformation of our lives involves God’s intervention.

We use “but alot

Application: He not only calls us to himself, but into a family. It’s why we have church membership. When God saved us, he not only calls us to himself, but into a family, were we are encouraged, matured, held accountable, and strengthened in the faith.

“he who had set me apart before I was born...”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

God chose him before he was even born to do exactly what he was doing, preaching the gospel. God was planning this before time existed. Think about the amazing face that God called Paul before he was born, yet Paul spent years rebelling against God and persecuting the church. Before Paul knew God as Lord and Saviour, God was patient with him.

Are you grateful that our God is patient with us too?

“...and who called me by his grace...”

God called Paul powerfully and effectively, just as he called us to himself.

God calls you by his grace and in that call your life is transformed.

Ever try to call your kids to dinner? Calling and getting them to move are different things.

God’s call is very different. When God says, “Let there be light,” there is light. When Jesus calls the storm and waves to be silent and still, The storm stops. When Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, it wasn’t like Lazarus had to think about it. He got up and walked out of the tomb.

God calls you by his grace and in that call your life is transformed.

Galatians What the Gospel Does

When Paul met Christ on the Damascus road, he was changed from the inside out. His knowledge of Christ was not just historical and factual; it was also spiritual and personal.

When people heard about the total change that had taken place in Paul’s life, all they could do was give God the glory: “And they glorified God because of me” (Gal. 1:24)

Galatians What the Gospel Does

More literally, Paul said that God’s Son was revealed “in him” (Gal. 1:16). Grammatically it is possible for this phrase to mean that Jesus was revealed “to” him or “through” him. But more likely it refers to the fact that Jesus Christ actually entered Paul’s heart. As he went on to write in the next chapter, “Christ … lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). When Paul met Christ on the Damascus road, he was changed from the inside out. His knowledge of Christ was not just historical and factual; it was also spiritual and personal.

When people heard about the total change that had taken place in Paul’s life, all they could do was give God the glory: “And they glorified God because of me” (Gal. 1:24). They knew that only the direct intervention of God can change a sinner’s heart, and when God does intervene, to him alone goes all the glory.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1

The emphasis is again on God’s initiative: Paul was not called because of anything he himself accomplished

“You contributed nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” - Jonathan Edwards

When someone asks you, “How did you become a Christian.” You can only say, “It was by grace. Pure grace.” Paul wasn’t searching for God; he was actually an enemy of God. The Bible is very clear on this:

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Bible is full of stories of people who received God’s grace and blessing, not because of their goodness, but because of His grace. This church is full of the same stories.

There’s a story by Mark Dever who had a relative who said that the church was a “pit of vipers.”

To this he replied, “Do you think those outside the church are better?”

She said, “No”

He said, “Well, I don’t disagree with you. WE are. And we’ve got room for one more, any time you want to slither on in.” We the church are the company of redeemed sinners, people who have been saved by grace. Another reason why church membership is important, it’s the body of believers affirming that they see the work of God in your life. You’ve been called not only to himself, but into a family, into a local body of believers.

Application: He not only calls us to himself, but into a family, into a local church body. This is called church membership. When God saved us, he not only calls us to himself, but into a family, were we are encouraged, matured, held accountable, and strengthened in the faith.

Galatians God’s Life-Changing Gospel

The gospel will do the same thing in our lives that it did in Paul’s life. Not exactly the same thing, of course, because there was only one Paul. But it is the same gospel. Perhaps we have never persecuted anyone, or kidnapped people, or voted for their execution. But we are still sinners who need the gospel. We are evil by nature, and thus we need the gospel to take us from where we are to where we ought to be.

As we see people transformed by the gospel, it brings glory to God, because who else can bring what was dead to life again?

The gospel that God gives shows our need for God's grace, transforms our lives.

Transition: As lives that have been transformed, they are kept with Jesus.

The Gospel keeps us faithful to Jesus. (16)

English Standard Version Chapter 1

I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Galatians 1:16 ESV

was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

The gospel that God gives shows our need for God's grace, transforms our lives, and keeps us faithful to Christ.

“Was pleased to reveal his son to (in) me”: As a Christian, you can now say that Christ now lives in us. You have a new identity and a new source of power. Once you become a Christian, you do not then try to live in your own power. You live the same way you enter. Every true Christian has Christ dwelling on the inside. So as the gospel keeps you faithful because Christ is in you. Because you are living by the Spirit.

The gospel teaches that those who are born again will continue trusting in Christ forever. God, by His own power through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, keeps or preserves the believer forever. This wonderful truth is seen in , where we see that believers are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession, to the praise of His glory.” When we are born again, we receive the promised indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that is God’s guarantee that He who began a good work in us will complete it (). In order for us to lose our salvation after receiving the promised Holy Spirit, God would have to break His promise or renege on His “guarantee,” which He cannot do. Therefore, the believer is eternally secure because God is eternally faithful.

“…in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles...”

What does Paul say his purpose in being called was?

Paul wasn’t saved for his own benefit.

The Gospel keeps us faithful to make Jesus known. Paul’s purpose for his calling was “so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles.” Pauls conversion comes with a commission, and so does ours.

Peter writes:

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

These places of worship are not built that you may sit here comfortably, and hear something that shall make you pass away your Sundays with pleasure. A church in London which does not exist to do good in the slums, and dens, and kennels of the city, is a church that has no reason to justify its longer existing. A church that does not exist to reclaim heathenism, to fight with evil, to destroy error, to put down falsehood, a church that does not exist to take the side of the poor, to denounce injustice and to hold up righteousness, is a church that has no right to be. Not for thyself, O Church, doest thou exist, any more than Christ existed for himself. His glory was that he laid aside his glory...To rescue souls form hell and lead to God, to hope, to heaven, this is [the church’s] heavenly occupation. O that the church would always feel this!

Charles Spurgeon, The First Cry from the Cross

The gospel that God gives shows our need for God's grace, transforms our lives, and keeps us faithful to Christ.

This passage causes us to stand amazed at God’s transforming grace. Paul summaries God’s work to the Corinthians by says, “Everything is from God” (). Look at Paul’s life. Marvel at God’s grace. Reflect on what God has called you from and to. Rest in his finished work. Make him known.

God loves to save bad people. No one is beyond the reach of his amazing grace! This is a message that only comes from God. It is good news from God. Rejoice in the gospel. In Christ, you find what your heart has always longed to find. No other love is this great. no other hope is this secure. No other forgiveness is this complete. No other jot is this deep. Not other freedom is this liberating. No other peace is this sweet. All of it is found in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Do yo know this Savour, the fountain of saving grace? Come and drink!

I’ll be sitting right there. If you want to talk more about who Jesus is, I would love to talk with you.

Response and Reflection

From where did the gospel come? How do most religions typically propose a person can find salvation or fulfillment? How is the true gospel different?

Describe Paul’s conversation. What amazes you about it?

Does Paul attribute his conversation to his own efforts or to God’s grace? Explain

Paul’s conversation story is traumatic and dramatic, but how is it similar to the conversion experience of all Christians?