Galatians, Sermon 3 - The Life God Changed 1:10-24

Now only a gospel revealed by God could transform Paul from a violent enemy of the church into a faithful servant of Christ. And that transformation proves the gospel of grace true. I want you to imagine think about, there are some people out there in the world, maybe you even know some, that if they changed overnight, it'd make headlines. Not because the change is impossible, but because it's so unthinkable. Imagine a figure whose entire identity is based on being against something, and now they're for it [00:00:20] (51 seconds)  #FromEnemyToServant

Paul's authority rests on revelation, not on education. His gospel was not modified for acceptance, but it was delivered to him. And he's gonna go on and talk about this on even more, but this is a pivotal important point for us to remember. Paul is making clear to the Galatian church that and to us that this message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, is divine in origin. It's not some cleverly thought up marketing scheme, and it shows. [00:07:53] (39 seconds)  #RevelationNotEducation

Just like we never move on from needing the grace of Jesus. We keep drinking more and more of grace. Keep working the gospel into our heart. And we'll be more prepared to tell unbelievers that what they desperately need is the good is not good advice or moral improvement, but good news from God about the new life in Jesus. [00:13:22] (28 seconds)  #DrinkGraceDaily

He knew that the Christians claimed that Jesus had died and been resurrected. He knew they were claiming the Mosaic Law could be, had been fulfilled and could be set aside in our daily lives. He knew that the basic he knew the basic tenets of Christianity, and yet, he hated it. What happened? A revelation of Jesus Christ. We like to think I may be getting ahead of myself, but that's okay. We like to think that our church life, our Christian life is like a machine. You put the right inputs in and you get the right outputs out. If I learn enough Bible knowledge, I'll be good. If I teach my kids enough, they'll be Christians. Paul knew it, or at least he had a pretty good grasp of the general idea. He hated it. What happened? A revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ met him on the road and knocked him off his horse and revealed himself to Paul, to Saul at the time. And that is that's part of this divine origin of the gospel is we each have to meet Jesus Christ. [00:15:03] (88 seconds)

We like to think I may be getting ahead of myself, but that's okay. We like to think that our church life, our Christian life is like a machine. You put the right inputs in and you get the right outputs out. If I learn enough Bible knowledge, I'll be good. If I teach my kids enough, they'll be Christians. Paul knew it, or at least he had a pretty good grasp of the general idea. He hated it. What happened? A revelation of Jesus Christ. [00:15:34] (34 seconds)  #FaithNotFormula

``He says, God had set me apart from a mother's womb, and he called me through his grace. This but signals a significant message. It's like in Ephesians two where he says, you are all apart from Christ like you are all children of wrath, but God. It's like the other team scores a touchdown, but there was a flag on the play. I got in a car wreck, but no one was hurt. I got hit in the face with the ball, but nothing's broken. You have cancer, but it can be treated. This but, that's the kind of but we see here. But God. [00:21:33] (62 seconds)  #ButGod

Now, I have five kids. I often call them. In fact, I, last night, was, wandering around my house calling for my oldest. I could not find him anywhere. My calling was ineffective. Turned out he was in bed. He the lock in was tiring. So but, he wasn't in trouble. It's all good. He was in bed. But I didn't know where he was. I was calling. No one showed up. My calling was ineffective. God's call is not like that. [00:24:36] (36 seconds)  #GodsCallWorks

He could just save he could have saved Paul and taken him up to heaven and plopped him down beside him. He could do that with us. He could save us and take us out, put us in heaven, plop him down next to himself, and we could be instantly in paradise and everything be great. He doesn't do that. He does he doesn't do that because he wants his people to proclaim Christ to the other people around them. [00:30:02] (30 seconds)  #SavedToSend

And that's how we kinda start that's how we started this message is looking at Paul starts this section by saying, I'm not trying to please men. I'm trying to please God. And he ends up saying, God got glory, and so I'm happy. Paul's life now points away from himself and towards the God who saves enemies and makes them servants. [00:39:12] (25 seconds)  #PleasingGodNotPeople