God's power

Good morning friends,
Paul here continues his argument that his presentation of the gospel comes from God, not from people. He makes two distinct arguments along those lines: the first is that he serves God, not people, so his words are not shaped to please people but to be true before God. The second is that his message came from God directly, so when he came to Christ he didn't need to go to the church first for instruction. The reason he makes these arguments is to underscore that God has made this incredible change in his life from being a persecutor of the church to being an apostle. God did this by grace, not by a work of the law. In the same way God seeks to transform the members of the Galatian church not through following the Law of Moses (human effort) but by a gift of God's grace. God can transform our lives as well if we can give up some of our precious control.

God bless,
Sam


Galatians 1:10-24
10Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; 12for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

13You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

15But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus. 18Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; 19but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. 20In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; 23they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.