Pastor Kirk McCormick: Galatians 1:11-24

Paul’s Calling

Galatians 1:11-24

“Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is God.”

- Pastor Tim Keller

I. Paul’s Calling is to Preach the Gospel – Galatians 1:11-12

** Denial of 3 Possible Sources of the Gospel
Comes not from “man”
o Point: Paul didn’t invent this Gospel - Not according to “man”
o Point: Paul received this Gospel from Jesus himself - Not taught by “man”
o Point: The Gospel is not something humans are doing...it’s of God.

Point: Paul’s source is God himself...through revelation

Either on the road to Damascus – see Acts 26:12-18
Or during his time to Arabia – See Galatians 1:17-18
William Barclay – “God sends every individual into the world with a part to play in his purpose.

II. Paul’s Calling and his “Credentials” – Galatians 1:13-14

Oswald Chambers - “The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him. The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him.”
** Before Jesus, Paul confused his Calling with his Credentials.
• Paul’s Jewish credentials are impeccable (see also Acts 22:2-5; Philippians 3:3-6)

o Persecutor of the church - See Acts 22:4-5
o Climbing the ranks of the Pharisees more quickly than his peers – see: Acts 22:3 o “Zealous” = radical in fulfilling and enforcing the Law

Point: Paul’s had been a fanatic in defending the Law.

III. Paul’s Calling began a New Obedience – Galatians (1:15-17)

Truth: A Calling from Jesus always begins with an Encounter with Jesus. Note:

God knew his plan for Paul and set him apart “from birth”...

...this “pre-natal calling” confirms what the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:13-16 –

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

IV. Paul’s Calling Transforms his Reputation – Galatians 1:18-24

The Result (see: vs. 23-24): “They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.”
Point: All of the evildoers could not change what God was doing.
Application: What can you learn about your calling?
** Martin Luther on a Christian’s Calling
“The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays – not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”