In this video, we dive into Galatians 1:11-14 and explore the powerful transformation of Saul, a former persecutor of the church, into Paul, one of Christianity’s greatest advocates. We discuss the significance of Paul’s testimony: his life before Christ, his encounter with Jesus, and how he became a vessel for the gospel of grace. This message highlights the reality that you can be sincere, religious, and even zealous, yet still be lost without the true revelation of Christ. Discover the power of grace and the radical change that comes when the gospel is revealed to us through Jesus Christ.
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Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was
preached by me is not according to man.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted
the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my
own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Every Christian has a testimony and there are three parts to every testimony:
1) My life before Jesus Christ.
2) How and when I met Christ.
3) How my life has changed since I met Christ.
He went from being Saul one of Christianity greatest opponents to Paul one of
Christianity greatest proponents.
Galatians 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was
preached by me is not according to man.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1) BEFORE CONVERSION: LIFE BEFORE CHRIST.
Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, …”
Galatians 1:13 (NLT) You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion–
Galatians 1:13 (VOICE) Surely you are familiar with my personal history, with my
dedication to the teachings and traditions of Judaism…..
1) YOU CAN BE RELIGIOUS AND LOST!
Acts 26:4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning
among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
Acts 26:5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that
according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Philippians 3:5 (NLT) I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded
citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there
ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest
obedience to the Jewish law.
among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
2) YOU CAN BE SINCERE AND BE WRONG!
Acts 26:7 (GW) Our twelve tribes expect this promise to be kept as they worship
with intense devotion day and night.
“It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you’re sincere.”
3) YOU CAN VOTE AGAINST THE LORD AND NOT KNOW IT.
Acts 26:10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison,
having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death,
I cast my vote against them.
Did his religion make Paul better or worse?
4) YOU CAN THINK YOU’RE SERVING GOD WHEN YOU’RE SERVING SATAN.
Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted
the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons
both men and women.
Acts 26:11 (ERV) I visited all the synagogues and punished them, trying to make
them curse Jesus. My anger against these people was so strong that I went to
other cities to find them and punish them.
John 16:2 (WE) The people will put you out of the meeting place. Yes, the time is
coming when someone will kill you and think he is working for God.
A Muslim mother said, “Because I love my son, I encouraged him to die a martyr’s
death for the sake of Allah. Jihad is a religious obligation encumbered upon us
and we must carry it out. I sacificed Mohammed [her son’s name] as a part of my obligation. I asked Allah to give me ten Israelis for Mohammed, and Allah granted
my request,and Mohammad made his dream come true, killing ten Israeli settlers
and soldiers. Our God honored him even more in that there were many Israelis
wounded.”
The greatest persecutor of the church has always been an ungodly government
5) YOU CAN CHOOSE TRADITION OVER TRUTH.
Galatians 1:14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my
own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Jesus said this to the religious Pharisees of His day about their traditions:
Mark 7:13 (NOG) Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of
God’s word. And you do many other things like that.”
Mark 7:13 (NLT) And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own
tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”
The Word of God not only has to be read, it has to be interpreted.
Acts 8:30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said,
Do you understand what you are reading?
Acts 8:31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip
to come up and sit with him.
Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you,
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Revelation to Paul meant not just knowledge about God but the act of God revealing
Himself to Paul.
1 Timothy 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent
man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1 Timothy 1:13 (ICB) In the past I spoke against Christ and persecuted him and did
all kinds of things to hurt him. But God showed mercy to me because I did not know
what I was doing. I did those things when I did not believe.
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