The Facts of Apostolic Experience

We have seen in past studies the great concern of the Apostle Paul, that these churches of Galatia would not be deceived by the false gospel of the Judaizers. The false gospel which they preached was a gospel made up by legalistic men who were imposing their own additions upon the true gospel of faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. They were saying that circumcision and keeping of the Mosaic law, added to Christ’s finished work on the cross, were necessary to being saved. Not only were the churches in Galatia in danger of being carried away by this false doctrine, they were also in danger of not receiving the Apostle Paul’s words to them. They had been turned away from believing in Paul’s Apostolic authority. They had been told by the Judaizers that Paul’s authority to teach and to exercise authority in the churches had not been established by the church in Jerusalem, and the Apostles there. Paul’s answer to this in verses 10-12 has been to show that the gospel which he preached was not from men, but came to him by revelation of Jesus Christ. Christ had given Paul saving grace and the gospel; not the other Apostles. And so, we find in these verses that Paul felt it was necessary to remind them of certain facts of his Apostolic experience which they should take heed to; facts which would not only establish his Apostolic authority, but which would also confirm to these Galatian churches the truth of the gospel itself. Tonight we want to take a look 1st at the facts of his former conduct. (verses 13 and 14) 2nd – The facts of God’s call. (verses 15 and 16) And 3rd – The facts of Christ’s teaching him. (verses 17-24)