A sermon preached on 8th May 2022 by Pastor Enoch Awuku Anti
Galatians 1:13-16
These verses are like a brief autobiography from Paul about his past and his conversion. It is a testimony of his Christian experience, if you like. That is how he became a Christian. Paul is the most influential Christian leader apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, Jesus is our Saviour and the one we all follow. Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Indeed, he is a remarkable example for Christian ministry and living. But wait, the Paul of great exploits we know was once an enemy of the church. In this sermon, we will have a quick study about the life of Paul and what lessons we can learn from it. For a title, I will call this sermon Paul: A Rebel Saved By Grace. I will treat this by simply looking at The Rebellion of Paul and The Redemption of Paul.
The Rebellion of Paul/Saul
Just like everyone who becomes a Christian, Paul had a past before he met Christ. And his past was not a pleasant one. If you want to paint a picture of Paul’s past, consider the most gruesome and repugnant terrorist of our times. Maybe Osama Bin Laden. Yes, Paul will fit that category. Before he became a believer, he was a terrorist. A religious zealot (Galatians 1: 13-14;23)
For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
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 father
They only were hearing it said,
“For you have heard of my former life….” Paul’s past was well known. The Galatians have heard of it. And the Jewish Christians also(Galatians 1:22-23). Paul himself doesn’t shy away from recounting his past. What he does in these verses, he does in other parts of Scripture (Acts 26:4-16, 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, Philippians 2:4-7, 1 Timothy 1:12-15).
The text further tells us the specifics of Paul’s past: 13“For you have heard of my former life in Judaism…14 And I was advancing in Judaism” Paul was a religious man. He was advancing in Judaism. Question? What is Judaism? It is the religion of the Jews which served God according to the Old Covenant, which was what those preaching another gospel were advocating for. They were advancing a work’s righteousness. And Paul calls this a different gospel (v.6). In verses 8 and 9 also, he spoke of that which is contrary to the gospel.
Paul in verses 13-14 argues that he himself was stepped in Judaism. In verse 14, he says “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people” Paul let the Galatians know how religious and committed he was in Judaism. Maybe while attending to the study of the law, his contemporaries were engaged in other matters which had nothing to do with God.
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers being zealous for God as all of you are this day (Acts 22:3)
One of the moving testimonies about his past is in Philippians 2:5-6. He says.
Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Paul followed the law strictly. He was a highly religious man, yet an enemy of God’s church. At the second line of v.13, Paul says “I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.” What we read here are no small words. Paul was an enemy of Christianity who thought he was doing God’s service, rather he was an enemy of God. When Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he uttered these profound words: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4).
As Saul was persecuting the church, he was persecuting Christ. For being an enemy of the church, Paul was an enemy of Christ. You cannot hate the church and claim you love Christ. Your hatred for the church is a hatred for Christ and you are an enemy of Christ. What do we learn from Paul’s past?
Religion and good works can’t save anyone. Paul couldn’t gain salvation by his works. Neither can anyone. No works is sufficient for salvation. We may be the most religious of persons and yet not have a saving relationship with God. The only way by which sinners will be saved is by the grace and mercies of God. This is the message of Galatians. It is a letter saturated by justification by grace through faith.
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ…because by works of the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:15-16).
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for The righteous shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11)
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law, you have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).
The Christian message is through and through salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as revealed in Scripture alone to the glory of God! The just shall live by faith. Amen!
The Redemption of Paul
Let’s observe that between verses 13-16, there is a contrasting word “But” which separates Paul’s past of rebellion from his redemption.
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 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.
But contrasts human effort with God’s work. God intervened in Paul’s life else he was heading straight to damnation with all his religion and zeal. Speaking of the work of God, Paul speaks of what God did before he Paul was born: This speaks of the doctrine of election: “But when he who had set me apart before I was born.” Before he was born, God had set Paul apart for himself. To save him and to make him a preacher. In Acts 9, Jesus speaks of Paul as a chosen instrument. Remember what God told Jeremiah? Before you were a clot of blood in your mother’s womb, I knew you and set you apart to be a prophet. Dear friends, God has his people who will be saved and he will bring all of them to repentance. This must encourage us for evangelism. Let’s be confident that those God will call will come. And from 15 he speaks of what God did in his life. This is no the first place Paul gives this narration about his past and the work of God in him.
Again, we see another important element of Paul’s redemption. He was called by grace:
“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace.” (v.15). Paul was called by grace. Not because of any good work he did. God showed him mercy. Humanly speaking, Paul doesn’t deserve to be saved. Such a wicked persecutor of the church? He himself testified of this that he was not worthy to be called an apostle. But God showed him mercy. What we see here about Paul is the true experience of every one that has come to faith in Christ. We have been called by grace. Paul was called by grace. Every sinner will be called by grace. Apart from the grace of God, revealed in Christ, no one gets saved. Again, Paul speaks of the fact that God was pleased to reveal his Son to him. Here is another way by which God saves. God always takes the initiative to reach out to sinners. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Nobody in their natural state seeks God. But when God will save a sinner, he opens their heart to the truth of the gospel. If you have not come to a saving faith in Christ, I plead with you to turn to Christ now. You don’t have to do anything. You just have to trust in Christ for your salvation. Turn to him now, I plead with you, turn to him.
Now the reason Paul did all this is to point out to the Galatians the origin and authority of his message. He was not bringing to them a man made gospel (v.11). His authority as an apostle was also not man made (v.1). Paul shares his testimony to point to the futility of adherence to the law for salvation.
Finally, we see the end of Paul’s redemption: The glory of God! (vv.23-24). His salvation brought glory to God. And that’s the end of all things, that God will be glorified in our salvation.
Facebook Comments