Anchor My Faith

Title: Paul’s Conversion

^1:11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. ¹² For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; ¹⁷ 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. (Galatians 1:11 – 17 ESV)

In the previous lesson Paul made it clear that there was only one true gospel and those in Galatia were not embracing it. With this lesson we begin a new section in which Paul speaks of being called by God.

The true gospel that Paul is proclaiming is not man’s gospel; it is not of human origin. Paul explains that he did not receive it or learn it from any human source, instead he received it by revelation of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and during the time spent in Arabia. Paul, who was then Saul, was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, had letters to the synagogues in Damascus containing instructions to identify those who were believers so they could be brought back to Jerusalem and imprisoned. As Paul approached Damascus a bright light suddenly shown from heaven, and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” God chose Paul to be a chosen instrument of the Lord Jesus Christ to take the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (See Acts 9:1 – 19a; 22:3 – 21; 26:12 – 23). The good news is about being saved by grace through faith and not by our works. Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8 – 9).

Paul then reminds them of his former life in Judaism, how he was advancing in Judaism beyond many of his age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of his fathers. This led him to persecute the church of God violently to destroy it. In 1 Corinthians 15:9 Paul points out that he was unworthy to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church. In 1 Timothy 1:13, he describes himself as formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, an insolent opponent of the church, who received mercy because he acted ignorantly in unbelief.

Before Paul was even born, God had set him apart to be called by his grace by revealing his Son to him on the way to Damascus. Paul was chosen to preach Jesus Christ among the Gentiles, but before he did, God sent him to Arabia to prepare him and then brought him back to Damascus where he stayed for several years.

God is sovereign and determines the course of history as he chooses those who will be his and assigns them work to do. Saul, who persecuted the church, was chosen by God to build the church among the Gentiles. God chose me, an arrogant proud teen, and changed my life to serve him in several ministries. I never dreamed I would teach Bible in China for several years and now write Bible lessons of the books of the New Testament. The gospel of Jesus Christ is life changing and is the one Paul wants the Galatians to embrace.