Persecutor to Preacher

Galatians 1:11-24

Galatians 1:11-2411 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin.

Galatians 1:11-2412 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:11-2413 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God's church and tried to destroy it.

Galatians 1:11-2414 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

Galatians 1:11-2415 But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased

Galatians 1:11-2416 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

Galatians 1:11-2417 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

Galatians 1:11-2418 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.

Galatians 1:11-2419 But I didn't see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.

Galatians 1:11-2420 I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

Galatians 1:11-2421 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Galatians 1:11-2422 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ.

Galatians 1:11-2423 They simply kept hearing: "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy."

Galatians 1:11-2424 And they glorified God because of me.

False Ideas Spreading:1. The False Gospel: People are saved

through Christ and law keeping.

Acts 15:4-54 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

Acts 15:4-55 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses."

False Ideas Spreading:1. The False Gospel: People are saved

through Christ and law keeping.2. The False Claim: Paul is

an illegitimate apostle.

Accusations Against Paul:• Paul is a people pleaser not an apostle.

Accusations Against Paul:• Paul came to Christ after Jesus already

lived, died, rose, and ascended to the Father. Therefore Paul is a want-to-be apostle.

Accusations Against Paul:• Paul got this gospel second hand from

the apostles and is trying to be an apostle but has messed up the message.

Paul’s ClaimThe Defense of Paul’s Claim

Paul’s Claim

Galatians 1:11-1211 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin.

• The gospel Paul preached was not made up by people

Paul’s Claim

• The gospel Paul preached was not made up by people

• The gospel Paul preached was not taught to him by people

Paul’s Claim

• The gospel Paul preached was not made up by people

• The gospel Paul preached was not taught to him by people

• The gospel Paul preached was revealed to him by Jesus.

Paul’s Claim

1. Kim Jong-Un could walk and talk at 3 weeks old.

Claims

1. Kim Jong-Un could walk and talk at 3 weeks old.

2. Kim Jong-Un could drive a car by the age of 3

Claims

1. Kim Jong-Un could walk and talk at 3 weeks old.

2. Kim Jong-Un could drive a car by the age of 3

3. North Korean scientist discovered a lair of unicorns in North Korea

Claims

4. Kim Jong-Un bowled a perfect game and shot a “world record” 34 across 18 holes. He had 11 hole in ones.

Claims

4. Kim Jong-Un bowled a perfect game and shot a “world record” 34 across 18 holes. He had 11 hole in ones.

5. In 2000, North Korean government invented and introduced the world to a revolutionary new type of food, called….

Claims

4. Kim Jong-Un bowled a perfect game and shot a “world record” 34 across 18 holes. He had 11 hole in ones.

5. In 2000, North Korean government invented and introduced the world to a revolutionary new type of food, called…. The Hamburger

Claims

6. Kim Jong-Un never needs to use the bathroom.

Claims

6. Kim Jong-Un never needs to use the bathroom.

7. Kim Jong-Un beat LeBron James in a game of one on one basketball 11-0

Claims

The Defense of Paul’s Claim

Galatians 1:13-1413 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God's church and tried to destroy it.

Galatians 1:13-1414 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

Fact #1: Paul was famous for his persecution of the church.

Acts 8:1-31 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.

Acts 8:1-32 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.

Acts 8:1-33 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

Acts 26:9-119 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Acts 26:9-1110 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.

Acts 26:9-1111 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

Why the rage?

Romans 10:1-31 Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation.

Romans 10:1-32 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Romans 10:1-33 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness.

Acts 9:3131 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Fact #2: Paul came to love the Gospel and preached it at great

cost to himself.

How does that happen?

Galatians 1:1515 But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased

Galatians 1:1616 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

Acts 9: 1-31 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest 2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Acts 93 As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

Galatians 1:1515 But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased

Galatians 1:1616 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

3 things to notice1. God is the X factor in Paul’s conversion

3 things to notice1. God is the X factor in Paul’s conversion2. God planned to save Paul

3 things to notice1. God is the X factor in Paul’s conversion2. God planned to save Paul3. God was pleased to save Paul

Galatians 1:1515 But when God, who from my mother's womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased

Galatians 1:15-2416 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2518 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2519 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2520 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish?

1 Corinthians 1:18-2521 For since, in God's wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2522 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom,

1 Corinthians 1:18-2523 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2524 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God,

1 Corinthians 1:18-2525 because God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.