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The Amish Voice 3
Gentiles and Jews differed radically.
Yet both Paul and Peter were still
ministers of the same Lord.
c. There is also a recognition that all
Christians are to fellowship and share
with one another, and they are to
cooperate. Paul just could not see
how two different groups of Chris-
tians could be in the same place and
refuse to eat with one another be-
cause of some theological difference
(Galatians 2:11f). This was the very
point that brought about the crises.
And Paul came down hard upon it—
fighting tooth and nail for a gospel of
grace and a life to match that grace.
5. Galatians has been called "The Magna
Charta of the Church." God has used its
message to stir world revivals in former
generations. The great spiritual awaken-
ing of Martin Luther and of the Refor-
mation was stirred as Luther studied its
message. John Wesley received peace of
heart—peace for which he had so long
searched—when he heard a sermon
preached from Galatians.
The message of Galatians will pierce the
heart of any generation and stir it to action—
if that generation will just hear and heed its
message.
———————–——————
Study 1: GOD'S MINISTER AND HIS
AUTHORITY
Text: Galatians 1:1-5
Aim:
To claim your God-given authority
with a life of conviction.
Memory Verse:
"Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).
——————————————
INTRODUCTION:
Have you ever felt intimidated by someone
who had more "credentials" to serve than
you did? They had all the "right" papers,
went to all of the "right" schools, and had
been approved by all the "right" agen-
cies? Have you ever felt that you just did not
measure up? If you have had these kinds of
feelings, you are not alone.
But rest assured, the foundation of Christian
service does not rest upon such man-made
things as human credentials, schools, and
papers of commendation. As helpful as the-
se things may be, they are not the foundation
of our service to Christ. The foundation for
service is Christ and the great work He has
called us to do: that of bearing witness to His
death, to the glorious truth that we can be
delivered from this present evil world. Men
only confirmed the great work and will of
God that already works in us.
Now note:
Paul's greeting to the Galatians is different
from his greetings to other churches. He was
writing under heavy stress and strain. False
teachers and critics had arisen in the church
who were criticizing and attacking him.
They were questioning his call to the minis-
try and his authority as God's messenger.
Some were even questioning the very gospel
itself. Therefore, the usual affection ex-
pressed toward churches and individuals is
missing. From the very first sentence his
writing is abrupt. He assails the Galatian
churches with words straight to the point: he
is a true minister of God, a true apostle and
messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.
OUTLINE:
1. He is commissioned by God alone
(v.1).
2. He is recognized as God's man by
Christian believers (v.2).
3. He wishes the very best for other be-
lievers (v.3).
4. He proclaims the work of Christ (v.4-
5).
1. HE IS COMMISSIONED BY GOD
ALONE (v. 1).
There were those in the church who ques-
tioned Paul's call and ministry, questioned if
he had really been called by God to be a
minister. They were set on destroying Paul's
ministry. Why?
Because he had lived such a terrible
life before his conversion: he had
been the savage persecutor of believ-
ers (cp. Galatians 1:13).
Because he was not one of the select
officials of the church; that is, he had
not been taught by the Lord Himself
when the Lord was on earth. This was
one of the basic qualifications for be-
ing recognized as an apostle (cp. Ga-
latians 1:17-18).
Because he had not been appointed by
the official or mother church, that is,
the home church of the apostles, the
church in Jerusalem (cp. Galatians
1:17-18).
Because he by-passed the religious
forms and rituals of the official church
(cp. Galatians 4:9-10; Galatians 5:6;
Galatians 6:12-15).
Because he preached a different mes-
sage than the official church: that a
person is not saved by ritual and
works, but by the love and grace of
God demonstrated in the death of Je-
sus Christ (Galatians 1:4-9; Galatians
2:16; Galatians 3:1f, esp. Galatians
3:10-11).
Paul answered his critics in no uncertain
terms: he was an apostle. The word apostle
means a person called and sent forth on a
very special commission. The apostle is
like...
an
ambassador
who is sent forth to
represent the Person who called and
appointed him.
a very special
messenger
who is
called and sent forth to proclaim the
message of the Sender.
a very special
minister
who is called
and sent forth to serve as the Leader
wills.
a very special
servant
who is called
and sent forth to do the bidding of the
Master.
Note that Paul was not arguing with his crit-
ics: he was declaring that God had called and
appointed him to the ministry. He was mak-
ing his call a part of his personal testimony
(Acts 9:1f; Acts 22:7f; Acts 26:16f; 1 Cor.
9:1).
1. His call and ministry were "not of men,
neither by man."
"Not of men": men were not the
source of his call and ministry. His
call had not come
from man
.
"Neither by man": no man had quali-
fied or made him fit for the ministry.
He was not made a minister
by man
.
2. His call and ministry were by Jesus Christ
and God the Father.
Note that Jesus Christ is placed side
by side with God the Father. This is a
crucial fact, for it means that Paul's
call and ministry came from the high-
est source possible: from both God the
Father and God the Son.
Note also that Jesus Christ is said to be
raised from the dead. Therefore, Paul's call
and ministry came from the Risen and Liv-
ing Lord Himself. He was called to
serve
the
Living Lord, the very same Lord served by