The True Gospel Came Not from Man but from God Galatians 1:11-24
Truth Taught- The Gospel Paul preached did not originate with man but has divine origin.
The Glorious Gospel Paul Preached:
Romans 8:1–4 (ESV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The message of Christ is that now, in Christ, there is no condemnation. Jesus Christ has set of free from the condemnation of the Law. God has done it. In Christ we are saved and God maintains His holiness. Jesus lived the Law of God for us and God is also free to forgive us while still maintaining His glory and holiness. Praise be to God for His glorious Gospel of Grace…
The opponents of Paul in the Churches in the region of Galatia were what we will call from now on, Judaizers. They were Judaizing the Christians. They were calling the Christians in Galatia to believe the Gospel and add Jewish tradition to it. Believe it and also include works. For them, the formula went like this: the Gospel + Works = Salvation
In order to gain followers after their twisted version of the Gospel they had to convince those in the Churches that Paul was not really an Apostle which would then limit his authority and with limited authority what he said held no more power than what they were saying. They told the Churches that Paul was just out to make a showing for himself that what he preached originated either with him or he received his message second hand, from man. They were also out to convince the Churches that he was just a people pleaser and was out for his own gain. Paul wanted to be rich and famous and really didn’t care for them but he was only out for himself.
Please Stand for the Reading of God’s Word
Galatians 1:11–24 (ESV)
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. 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. 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, 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.
1. Christ’s Gospel is What Paul Preached (1:11-12)
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.
I would have you know- Very forceful language. Paul is calling the Galatians to take notice and to fully understand something. Listen Up!
We are going to see his wonderful argument and proof that what he’s teaching is directly from Jesus Christ and not from man.
Here is Paul’s thesis statement or his declaration. We will see how he proves it to them and to us.
The consequence of his apostleship is that if Paul is an apostle, what he writes is God’s absolute Word. It is authoritative and binding on mankind. The Galatians are called to obey it since it is God’s Word and so are we.
Let’s examine his claim…
His claim is, the Gospel he preached is not his Gospel or not man’s Gospel. He tells us it was not according to (KATA) man nor was it (PARA) from man. He did not receive this message from the other apostles nor did he receive it from Ananias who baptized Paul. He did not make it up, invent it. His message has nothing to do with man. It has not been touched by man’s hands or formulated by man’s wisdom.
So if he wasn’t taught it by man and if he didn’t fabricate it himself then where did the Gospel that he preaches come from?
but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
When did Paul receive this revelation?
2 Corinthians 12:1–4 (ESV)
12 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
He was given direct revelation by Jesus. He did not receive his knowledge from any man but from Jesus Christ directly. This fact is what Paul claims and is proof of his apostleship. Jesus called him to be His apostle; His authorized messenger.
The apostles not only accepted the Old Testament and Jesus’ Words as divinely authoritative, they also taught that their teaching and writing possessed the same level of authority. Being led by the Holy Spirit, they believed and taught that they were speaking for Jesus Christ. They were His authorized spokesmen.
Paul understood that he was called to be God’s official spokesman. He also understood that what he wrote down was not of human origin but of divine origin written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:37 (ESV)
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Paul understood that his writings were divinely inspired and carried God’s authority. What Paul said, God says.
It was not only Paul who understood that his writings were considered God’s Word, the other Apostles also recognized and fully accepted Paul’s apostleship.
2 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV)
15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
What Paul wrote has as much authority as if God, Himself wrote it down. His writings have as much authority as the very Words of Jesus written in red in some of our Bibles. This is the point he’s making with the Galatians and it’s good for us to understand as well.
Paul proves that the true Gospel does not have an earthly origin…not of man by showing his pre-conversion life, his conversion, and his post-conversion life.
2. Proof That the Gospel Was Not from Man and Only from God: Paul’s Pre-Conversion Life (1:13-14)
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.
Let’s look at how Paul’s argument goes. First, he wants to show us what a man-centered religion looks like and how what Paul was doing before he was saved is the exact opposite of what he is claiming now in his epistle. Something had to happen and that something could not have earthly origin.
He was zeal on steroids. His former life in Judaism was shown as he mercilessly persecuted the Church. He was violent and tried to destroy it. He was seeking to stomp out Christianity. He hated it and he hated Jesus. He was Christ’s enemy. He was the great persecutor of the Church. The original language is the imperfect tense, meaning that he didn’t just persecute the Church once but it was his way of life. He lived and breathed hatred toward Christ and His followers.
His first point is that if the message of truth that he preached originated with man, he would have continued that path he had been on. Something happened that was of divine origin…
In verse 14, Paul explains another reason his Gospel was not of man. He tells us that he was on his way to fame and fortune. Literally, a Hebrew of Hebrews and leader in Jerusalem Judaism. The leadership in Jerusalem was very wealthy. They had their hands in everything and they got rich quick. Why would Saul, Paul now give this up? Something happened to him and it was not from this world.
He was converted and the persecutor of the Church became the Apostolic preacher to the Church. The zealous young up and coming Pharisee who hated Christ became a missionary for Christ
3. Proof That the Gospel Was Not from Man and Only from God: Paul’s Conversion (1:15-16a)
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,
Paul’s conversion came about by God’s predestinating grace. Paul was elect and called by God. In other words, his conversion was not his idea. His salvation did not originate with man, himself but was clearly an act of God even at that moment against Paul’s will. He was on his way to arrest Christians not become one! He was not on his way to Damascus contemplating becoming a Christian. He didn’t make a decision for Christ.
He was converted and the persecutor of the Church became the Apostolic preacher to the Church. The zealous young up and coming Pharisee who hated Christ became a missionary for Christ
Acts 9:1–15 (ESV)
9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
4. Proof That the Gospel Was Not from Man and Only from God: Paul’s Post-Conversion Life (1:16b-24)
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.
Paul’s time in Arabia, before his official ministry began is a time when not a lot is really known. Many if not most commentators believe he was there with Christ being taught by the Lord. He was communing with God in the barren wilderness. He was fasting and praying and he was given visions and being taught.
The point is, Paul was not taught the Gospel by any man or men but received it directly from the Lord.
Conclusion
As we read the Bible, we are reading God’s Word. It’s God’s letter to us. It’s the Divine Father writing to His saved children. No matter the human author, the Divine Author is God.
I pray we submit to the Holy Scriptures as we seek to love and fear God, as His people. I pray that we would view the Bible as the Thessalonians did…
When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Benediction-
Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV)
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Resources Used:
Galatians by Peter Barnes
Blue Letter Bible- Galatians
Galatians by John Brown
