THE AUTHORITATIVE REVELATION OF THE SAVING GOSPEL
TEACHER: PASTOR W. F. KUMUYI
TEXT: GALATIANS 1:10-16.
Listen to the audio here.
The saving gospel, the work of Christ which He did for you, for me, and for the whole world, what it implies, what it created and generated in our lives is authoritative. The apostle certifies that the gospel he preached, which saved us is the true gospel. There is authority and power behind the gospel.
A. PLEASING THE SUPREME GOD AS SAINTS IN CHRIST. Galatians 1:10.
Paul reveals to us his own goal, dedication and pursuit in life which is to please God.
1. THE DEMAND TO PLEASE GOD ABOVE MEN.
Galatians 1:10; Matthew 17:5; Acts 3:22-23,26; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
What a revelation! To be a servant of God, a preacher of the Supreme God, and of the saving gospel, we must concentrate on pleasing God rather than pleasing men. If our goal, dedication and commitment is to please men, or women above God, then we are not His servants. The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Sanctifier, perfect Example pleased God the Father all the time. He didn’t please Mary, His disciples, Himself, the Pharisees or the Sadducees. In big and small things, when He was physically strong, tired and worn out, when He was hungry, He pleased God only. That was why on different occasions, the Father testified of Him as His only begotten Son, and He commanded the people to hear Him.
As Jesus pleased the Father, so we must also please Him because He has laid down the good example for us to follow. Whoever refuses to hear Him, no matter the status and position, he or she shall God destroy from among the people.
Another way to please God is to hear the gospel and believe and accept it. What we will preach and proclaim must be what we have received. We look at, hear from and receive from Him.
2. THE DEVOTION OF PLEASING GOD RATHER THAN MEN
Acts 4:12,18-20; 5:28-32; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6; Ephesians 6:6-8.
When we are saved, and born again, our hearts are tuned away from pleasing the world to pleasing the One who died for us. Our focus, attention, mind and affection are shifted to our Saviour. There are men who would also demand that we please, obey and bow to them, but because of our dedication and devotion to the Lord, pleasing Him becomes our priority.
Christ is the One to pleased because He is our Lord and Master, He was the One who died for us, there is no salvation in any other. He did what no one else could do. Hence, He is the One we must listen to, not those who did not do anything for us. Obeying God rather than men was the devotion of the Apostles, it must be our consecration too.
They were beaten, persecuted, and a lot of things were done against them, yet, they continued preaching. They suffered, had pains, were pressured from every side, yet they kept on preaching. Even Peter who denied the Lord was at the front position of this standing strong. He was already filled and empowered by the Spirit of God, that was why he was able to stand firm.
How about we who are not hindered from or persecuted for preaching the gospel today? When we are saved, we love God and wish to obey Him at all fronts. We will not put human consideration first but pleasing God should be paramount on our minds. We are His witnesses and preaching the gospel must take the first place in our hearts.
When you please men and seek glory and praise from them, you are displeasing God. May God grant us the grace to spend all our lives to please Him only.
3. THE DAMNATION FOR NOT PLEASING GOD BUT MEN.
Romans 8:5-8; 1 Corinthians 10:5-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16; Hebrews 11:6.
Anytime we please men over God, we reduce Him to nothing, whereas, He is the Creator and Maker of all things, the One who will finally judge the whole world. Some men who live among men, the only authority they recognize is that of men who can only kill their bodies, while they ignore the Almighty who can kill both body and spirit. Their only consideration is that if they don’t please the men, they will not get what they want from them. So, we can conclude that those who are of the flesh cannot please God.
Enoch in his own time pleased God above all even though he was all alone then. One with God is a majority. At the end, he was taken away and did not see death because He had the testimony that He pleased God. When people push and pressurize you to please them, you must withstand every pressure and stand firm.
Even though you cannot see God physically, He sees all you do. He sees every action, intention, deed, words, thoughts, etc. So whatever happens or does not happen, you must keep your integrity before God in holiness and righteousness everyday of your life. Remember that He is a Rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. This is what to do to escape the damnation of the sinners and backsliders.
B. PREACHING THE SAVING GOSPEL AS SERVANTS OF CHRIST. Galatians 1:11-12.
Apostle Paul did not receive the gospel he preached from man but from God, by the revelation of Jesus Christ. So, when we disobey the word he preached, we disobey God, not Paul. When we shred and trample upon the message, we do all to the message of God.
1. REVELATION OF THE GOSPEL, THE TRUTH FROM CHRIST
Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:3-8; Romans 1:16,25-27; 1:16-17.
The power to convert, transform, change, receive a new life, mind, personality, the power of God through grace and godliness have been hidden from all ages but now revealed to Paul and the holy prophets by the Spirit. The mystery is that the Gentiles should be partakers of grace of God which originally belonged to the Jews.
This was not Paul’s natural ability but the working of His power in him. Paul is gone, but it is now our time to prove ourselves. All the grace that Paul received which helped him to stand is also available for you today. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, we must also never be ashamed of it.
2. REDEMPTION BY GOD, TAUGHT THROUGH CHRIST
Romans 3:24-26; Ephesians 1:7-9; Hebrews 9:12-15; 1 Peter 1:18-19
What can wash take the stain of sin away?
The blood of Jesus still washes whiter and brighter than snow.
3. RECIPIENTS OF GRACE, TRANSFORMED BY CHRIST
Romans 6:1-15; Galatians 2:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1,17-18; Hebrews 12:14-15.
The recipients of the grace of God are so transformed by Christ, henceforth they will no longer be subject to sin. No part of their lives will be subjected to sin, and they will no longer be slaves to sin.
We are the recipients of the grace of God and our lives are transformed and changed by grace, and we must live the new life to the fullest.
C. PERSONIFYING THE SAME GRACE, SEPARATED UNTO CHRIST. Galatians 1:13-16
Paul persecuted and wasted the church of God, he abandoned his tent-making business and put himself fully to that forceful, and violent lifestyle.
But when the grace of God came upon him, he was saved, and transformed to the point that he started spending his life and time to preach and defend the gospel he once worked against. Immediately he got the commission to preach, he conferred not with flesh and blood. He received it from God and ran with it.
There are those who are not men enough to stand up for the defence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul did not look at what the Pharisees and Sadducees would say, or what his heart and flesh was telling him but he forged ahead to the glory of God. I pray that God will grant to you that spontaneity, consecration and readiness to please God.
1. INSENSITIVE RELIGIOUS, GRACELESS CHARACTER IN SIN
Galatians 1:13-14; Acts 22:4-5; 26:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:13-15
Paul had religion without grace and character. He caused pain and sorrow to the people of God. Any religion that makes one to be like that is graceless and has no profit. Such ones are bent on tradition and not on the saving grace of the Lord. They make people’s lives miserable to the point that such people prefer to die than live.
If Paul had not repented, he would have perished. May we not be part of such religious people who injure others and make their lives miserable all in the name of religion. Paul received mercy and forgiveness because he was ignorant. May you also receive mercy and forgiveness for all your wrongdoings in ignorance in Jesus name.
2. INDISPENSABLE REPENTANCE FOR GLORIOUS CONVERSION BY THE SAVIOUR
Galatians 1:15-16; Acts 9:3-6,9,15-20; 17:30-31; 20:20-21.
Paul had to repent when the light of the gospel shone upon him. This was the turning point in his life. This repentance made it possible for him to begin a new life. All men are called to repentance today even though God winks at the time of ignorance.
Paul kept back nothing which was profitable to the sinner. Salvation, faith in Christ is profitable for the sinner. Repentance is profitable for everyone asking for grace and power to begin the new life. The word of God is profitable to us all in all things. Paul preached in the public and in private. Everyone who have been deep and entrenched in religion must repent towards God and have faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL TO SERVICE
Galatians 1:15-16; Acts 26:15-20; 9:17-22; 16:9-10
When Paul was called to salvation, holiness of life and service is all by grace. In preaching of the gospel, he did not consult anyone, be just followed the Lord without any rivalry. His obedience was prompt, explicit, the change and transformation in his life was thorough and clear for all to see.
On the way to Damascus, the Lord spoke to Paul and he immediately knew that the voice was from heaven and called Him Lord. Christ spoke to him, strengthening him for the assignment ahead of him: to open the eyes of the Gentiles and turn them from the power of Satan unto God.
Paul did not adjust or moderate the message. He passed it on as he was commissioned. Even when he saw the vision of a man of Macedonia calling him to come and help them, the prompt and prompt and unwavering obedience he started with at salvation had not left him, he immediately endeavoured to go there to preach the gospel, assuredly perceiving that God was calling him to go.
We have heard the word of God tonight about how Paul received the gospel, not minding what man and the flesh would do. He has also revealed to us the power of the saving gospel and the righteousness that come with it, and how we should take hold of the word of God, the gospel of Christ and take it to the world. The same grace which was available for him is also available for you today. Minimize what man can do and rather magnify what God can do and go ahead to preach the world.
