Galatians: Stand Fast in Liberty - Part 16

"Paul's Certifications (Pt. 2): Paul's Past Time Conversation"
Galatians 1:13-14
In this message, we consider the first point of certification that Paul sets forth in support of his claim that the gospel which he preaches was not received of man, nor taught to him by men. For this Paul points back to his past time conversation in the Jews' religion. Through a look at his former religious life it can be demonstrated that he clearly did not receive his gospel from Peter and the little flock, for his former conversation was in persecuting and wasting them in a manner that Paul himself says was "without measure." He was their enemy, seeking to destroy them; not their follower seeking to be taught by them. Likewise, his former conversation did not teach him the grace of Christ. He had been an astute Jew, profiting greatly with the religious accolades of religion; a Pharisee of the Pharisees, and one held in reputation with the fiercest enemies of the name of Jesus. Paul certainly was not taught his gospel by either authority in Jerusalem. Rather, it was by revelation of Jesus Christ just as Paul had claimed. This lesson explores these concepts with a variety of crossreferences and seeks to follow Paul's arguments as he contends for the truth of the gospel of Christ and the message of grace committed to his trust.