Gospel People Part 2: Gospel Certainty

Gospel People was a series I taught through the book of Galatians. The title came from the primary issue of the book: whether people define themselves by the Gospel or works they can accomplish. This writing series will outline the points I used in teaching the book of Galatians and will hopefully serve as a starting point for you in teaching it as well.

Nothing turns people off quicker than pushy sales techniques. We each have all sorts of negative associations with salesman and telemarketers and hope to never across that way to others. This is something of particular importance to Bible teachers. Many look at televangelists and others who preach the Gospel for selfish gain as the whole of Christianity. Paul works to make clear in this passage of Galatians that the Gospel is not a slick sales pitch but the truth revealed by God Himself.

Verses eleven and twelve begin the passage on a strong tone.

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

It's important to remember to emphasize the fact that the Gospel is not something Christians came together and invented. This can be easy to miss as the messages of God are nearly always delivered through human means. Just about every time the Lord has spoken to me, it's involved someone preaching a sermon, leading a worship song, or counseling me with wise words. Because God chooses to use human means, it becomes easy to attribute those works to the people we see carrying them out. This assumption is something you want to help your audience recognize and leave behind.

Paul continues this theme in verses thirteen and fourteen.

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 fathers.

Paul goes a step further here and makes sure to deliberately include himself in the category "people who did not invent the Gospel." As Bible teachers, people naturally make assumptions about our spirituality. Paul felt it was important to remind his listeners of the past he was delivered from, and we should value that as well. This is not to say that every message should be a list of your faults, but it is to remind you that your audience will make assumptions that you are more spiritual than you really are. Taking deliberate steps to remind your audience that you are not the source of God's work will help them see their ability to relate with God personally.

With man's inability in clear view, Paul shifts his focus onto God's ability in verses fifteen and sixteen.

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.

Here, Paul praises the incredible drawing power of God. Paul speaks of his call of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles as coming from God and being rooted in grace. It was not Paul's goodness or diligent study that afforded him the opportunities he received. Instead, it was God's grace toward Paul that enabled him to share the Gospel.

In verses sixteen through twenty, Paul explains what he did after God revealed his call to him.

I did not immediately consult with anyone; 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. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)

Paul brings this up for two reasons. The first is that it proves his Gospel did not come from human sources. When two people have the same exact story, it's most likely an invention. Paul, however, had no one to invent stories with. Instead, he remained on his own to seek God out for himself. Secondly, Paul is showing that his Gospel could have only come from God. Paul was living proof of God's ability to speak directly to people. All he had to say came from God, not his own imagination.

Verses twenty one through twenty four  bring the chapter to a powerful close.

Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

The end result of Paul's journey was life-changing power. People did not glorify God because of Paul's natural ability but specifically because his ability made no sense. For Bible teachers today, our hope should not be to teach impressive sermons but life-changing sermons. This is the power available through the glorious Gospel of Jesus.