Men's Group Study Guide
NIV Notes by Kelly Link
Introduction
Last week we learned the one and only true Gospel saves a person by grace. And just like in Paul's day we can count on there being perversions of the Gospel today. This week we will learn from Paul how he used his credentials to persuade the Galatians to listen to him rather than the Judaizers who were bringing confusion into the Galatian Churches.
The truths in this week's study are paramount to bringing others to salvation in Jesus Christ by bringing credibility to the carrier of the Gospel of grace in Jesus Christ. As you read the study notes, prayerfully consider the credentials Paul gives the Galatians and apply them to your own life. Ask yourself, "Why should people listen to me?"
STUDY NOTES: verses 10-24
v.10 Am I Now Trying to Win the Approval of Men, or of God? Or Am I Trying to Please Men? - Opponents of Paul thought he was tying to ingratiate himself to others because the religion he taught was far too simple. These questions Paul asks in his letter address his opponents accusations that he is a man pleaser. (Proverbs 29: 25), (1 Peter 3: 13-15)
If I Were Still Trying to Please Men, I Would Not Be a Servant of Christ. - Paul states a truth here that deals with a very important mindset. The Greek word for servant here is 'doulos'. It means to be devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interest. Paul's body and life bore the marks of living all out for God. 'Trying to please men' for Paul meant to deny Jesus Christ and His Lordship over his life. Paul was devoted to the cause of Jesus Christ; even unto death. (1 Thessalonians 2: 1-4)
v.11 I Want You to Know, Brothers, - Paul is addressing believers not unbelievers.
v. 11-12 That the Gospel I Preached is not Something That Man Made Up. I Did Not Receive It from Any Man, Nor Was I Taught It; Rather, I Received It by Revelation from Jesus Christ - Paul's Gospel was not made up by man. The originator of the Gospel was God Himself and Paul received it by personal revelation from Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:3), (Ephesians 3:3)
v.13-14 For You Have Heard of My Previous Way of Life in Judaism, How Intensely I Persecuted the Church of God and Tried to Destroy It. I Was Advancing in Judaism Beyond Many Jews of My Own Age And Was Extremely Zealous for the Traditions of My Fathers. - Paul describes his life in Judaism. By doing this, Paul wanted to show the Galatians that he had changed and that this change came about by his meeting with Jesus Christ. As a follower of Judaism, Paul had reason to commend himself. He had been a fanatic for the law and was the church's biggest persecutor. However, Paul wanted the Galatians to listen to the man who was saved and commended by the grace of God not by himself. (2Corinthians 10:18)
v.15 But When God, Who Set Me Apart From Birth, And Called Me by His Grace, Was Pleased - Paul recognized that God had set him apart from his mother's womb to do His bidding. God had a plan for Paul's life even though he didn't deserve it. And Paul recognized he didn't deserve it. That's why Paul says, "and called me by His grace". The word grace in Greek is 'charis' which means 'unmerited favor'. This meant that even while Paul was the churches biggest persecutor God was working behind the scenes to bring Paul to Himself and for His own pleasure. God delights when men take a hold of His grace because God loves us and knows transformation and blessing are soon to follow. (1Corinthians 15:10), (Jeremiah 1:5), (Isaiah 49:1)
v. 16 To Reveal His Son in Me So That I Might Preach Him Among the Gentiles, - It's Christ IN you that sets Christianity apart from all other religions in the world. Paul was now born of the Spirit of God and God wanted to reveal His Son through Paul and his preaching. God saved Paul for the purpose of bringing Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. (1Corinthians 2:11), (Colossians 1:27)
I Did Not Consult Any Man, - Paul's preaching and travels were not motivated or initiated by the leadership in the church. Paul's work was the result of hearing God, believing Him, and acting upon what he heard. (James 2:26)
v. 17 Nor Did I Go Up to Jerusalem to See Those Who Were Apostles Before I Was, But I Went Immediately Into Arabia and Later Returned to Damascus. - Paul received his gospel and marching orders directly from God. The apostles who were before him hadn't even known of Paul at this time. Paul was trying to show the authenticity of his gospel by confirming the source of his gospel as God Himself. (Acts 9: 20)
v.18 Then After Three Years, I went Up to Jerusalem to Get Acquainted With Peter and Stayed With Him Fifteen Days. - This was Paul's first visit to Jerusalem as a Christian, as recorded in (Acts 9:26-30). Even though Paul received the Gospel directly from Jesus Christ and his marching orders, Paul still recognized the authority of the church leaders of the day. He wasn't a loose canon. This is why Paul went up to Jerusalem after three years. He sought out approval and confirmation of the truth he was preaching from Peter and James. Both recognized God's grace in Paul's life. (1Thessalonians 5:12-13)
v.19 I Saw None of the Other Apostles-Only James, the Lord's Brother. - James was considered the top leader in the Christian church at the time.
v. 20 I Assure You Before God That What I Am Writing You is No Lie. - This statement is not to be taken lightly because swearing before God meant a lot more back then then it does today.
v.21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. - Paul went to Syria and Cilicia because he was persecuted in Jerusalem. (Acts 9:29-30)
v.22-23 I Was Personally Unknown to the Churches of Judea That Are in Christ. They Only Heard the Report: "The Man Who Formally Persecuted Us is Now Preaching the Faith He Once Tried to Destroy." - God sent Paul to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles not the Jews. Although he did talk and debate with Grecian Jews while in Jerusalem, Paul was personally unknown by the Christian churches in Judea. The main reason Paul was never really accepted in the Judean Church was because believers feared him because he used to persecute followers of Jesus severely. (Acts 9:26)
v. 24 And They Praised God Because of Me. - The churches in Judea praised God because the Lord had made Saul who was once the churches biggest enemy and now made him one of the faiths biggest heroes.
TRUTH APPLIED:
Q. 1 Having the 'fear of man' rather than the 'fear of God' brings humiliation, devastation, and disqualification. Please discuss how the 'fear of man' brings about these three consequences and back up your findings with illustrations from the Bible.
Q. 2 When a man meets Jesus Christ and repents, God gives him a new nature. Please share a testimony or two explaining how God changed you like He changed Paul- from the inside, out.
Q. 3 Grace means 'unmerited favor'. How can you recognize a person who has accepted and lives on God's grace? Can your family, friends, or co-workers tell you live by grace and not by works?
Q. 4 Why do you think Paul, without consulting the leaders at Jerusalem, took it upon himself to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles before he was approved by them? When God asks you to do something, do you look for the approval of men before you head out or are you obedient to God and look for His approval?
Q. 5 Paul lays out his credentials to the Galatians. What are they? (1:12), (1:13,14), (1:15,16), (1:18,19) Why are credentials important for accomplishing what God has given you to do?
Q. 6 Do people give praise to God because of what they see in your life? Please take some time to reflect on this question and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what others see about you.
CONCLUSION:
As we have seen in Paul's life, it is very important how others see us. Credibility played a huge role in Paul's ministry to the Galatians. Without it, the Galatians might have turned to Judaism rather than the Christianity we know today which is by 'grace through faith'. There is no rest in works. Do others listen to you? Please take some time to pray for one another for a heart that craves holiness and the presence of God.
In Him,
Kelly Link