Kaleo San Diego Church > Sermons

Galatians 1:15-24

David Fairchild
May 21, 2006
Series: Galatians

Galatians 1:15-24

Verses 15-16a- But when he who had set me apart before I was born (God’s purpose), and who called me by his grace (God’s power), 16a was pleased to reveal his Son to me (God’s pleasure), in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles (God’s plan)

Set apart to be sent in. Called by grace to call others to grace. Jesus revealed to us to reveal Jesus to others.

This is a strange play on words for Paul. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, and to be a Pharisee by definition, meant to be set apart (Pharisee literally means a “separated person”). As a Pharisee, it is no doubt that Paul was proud of his being separated from gentiles and lesser Jews. A Pharisee was one who saw themselves as separated from this world and therefore undefiled by it.

Consider Christ’s parable of the Pharisee and tax collector:

Luke 18:9-14 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

John 17:14-18 “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them (consecrate, set apart) in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

Paul has in mind the idea of being “set apart,” but now that it is by grace “before I was born” and it is enacted by the gospel power and call “who called me by his grace,” he sees this not as a separation to keep clear from the defiled gentiles, but it means that he was set apart in the sense of being chosen of God and set apart for the very purpose of engaging them with the gospel of grace.

Paul was once a Pharisee much like that of Christ’s description in Luke 18, but now Paul is an Apostle. The word literally means, “he that is sent.” He is an ambassador, a messenger, a herald to tell the news of God’s grace, God’s good news, found in the gospel he preached.

One of the ways in which we can tell whether or not we are more like a Pharisee than like an apostle, or we could say more like a moralist than a Christian, is whether or not we see ourselves as a sent people to the world rather than a religious group hiding from the world. Is your first inclination to look at those who are openly sinful—prostitutes, drug addicts, people with vulgar language, and say, “God, I thank you I am not like other men,” or do you see yourself as you really are, without the façade and false self-impression, as one who is self-righteous, selfish, hypocritical, and can do nothing but cry out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”?

This is, at the core level, the work of the gospel.

Deal with our racism and bigotry if we are not concerned and engaged with the lost.

If you are a Christian, you are like Paul in that you were set apart before birth, called by God’s grace, and shown the beauty of Christ as He was revealed to you. The result is not that you are now an Apostle, but the general movement of the gospel is the same—you were set apart to be sent in, called by grace to call others, and shown the beauty of Christ in revelation so that you can reveal Him to others. The gospel begins with God’s intentions, moves in and through you to others and back to God for His glory.

God’s power- Called by grace to call others to grace

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim (announce, publish) the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

God’s pleasure- It pleased God to reveal Jesus to Paul so that Paul can preach the revealed Christ to others

God’s purpose- So that the gospel of God would be preached

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Verses 16b-17- “I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.”

In Arabia, Paul upset King Aretas with his preaching. The governor was then given the orders to arrest and execute Paul.

In Damascus, he preached for three years under the persecution of the Jewish leaders. Some may have been previous friends of Paul’s when he was a Pharisee

He went to visit Peter (Cephas) for friendship—What eventually happened to Peter for his preaching?

He also saw James, Jesus’ brother—What eventually happened to James?

Verse 20-24- “(In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, ‘He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ 24 And they glorified God because of me.”

He left to Syria and Cilicia as he was being chased by Jews who were, “attempting to put him to death” (Acts 9:29).

Paul’s testimony caused the churches in Judea to glorify God because of the grace poured out upon Paul.

The best way to get the gospel out is to plant new churches.

“Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven” – Peter Wagner

Jesus’ call was essentially a call to plant new churches—disciple & baptize—to incorporate believers into a worshipping community

Paul was a church planter—He went to large cities and planted churches. Once he did this, he said his work was done and moved on

New churches best reach a) new generations b) new residents, c) new people groups—it also allows newer people to get into ministry

New churches best reach the unchurched—every major study proves it

New churches renew the whole body of Christ—breathes fresh life/ideas

New church planting is an exercise in Kingdom-mindedness since it forces us to not be territorial with our people or geography. This kills turf fights since we see the whole city in need of multiple churches