Chapter 8
PAUL'S FAITHFULNESS
(Galatians 2:11-14)
Before we begin this study let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty God,
We come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Holy Father we ask You to please bless this time as we study Your Word. Help us to remain focused upon You and Your Ways. Please cause us to truly see and understand what You are trying to teach us. In Jesus Name we ask.
Amen
RECAP
In our previous two studies we found that,
PAUL WAS CALLED BY GOD TO BE AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST
To see this let us read from,
Galatians 1:1
"[1] Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, …"
To expand upon this let us read what God said to Ananias when He sent him to pray for Paul. This conversation is recorded for us in,
Acts 9:10-16
"[10] In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. [11] The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. [12] In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." [13] "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. [14] And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." [15] But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. [16] I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.""
Let us notice the following verse,
15 … Jesus told Ananias that Paul was His chosen instrument. In other words, Jesus told Ananias that He is sending Paul to preach and teach His Gospel.
As part of this anointing we also discovered that the Gospel Paul preached was given to him directly from Jesus Christ. We found this recorded for us in,
Galatians 1:11-12
"[11] I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. [12] I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."
To validate the truth of the above facts, in our last study we found that,
GOD CONFIRMED HIS CALL UPON PAUL
In this study we saw that God used many ways to confirm His call for Paul to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. For this review let us just read about the fact that John, Peter and James recognized God's Grace upon Paul. To do this we will read the following excerpt from what Paul wrote concerning his and Barnabas’ meeting with them,
Galatians 2:6-9
"[6] As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my message. [7] On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. [8] For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. [9] James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews."
INTRODUCTION
Lord willing in this study we will find that Paul was faithful to God's call upon his life. Consequently, because of his faithfulness we can trust Paul's writings as coming from the Lord. To see this we will,
1. Review again that Jesus revealed to Paul what he should preach and teach.
2. Paul only sought God’s glory and honor not mans or his own.
3. Find that Paul risked his own life to share the Gospel.
4. Discover that Paul truly loved and cared about the people Jesus sent him to.
With the above outline in mind we begin by refreshing our memory that,
JESUS TOLD PAUL WHAT TO TEACH
Even though we covered this point at the start of this study, it is so important that it deserves another review. This time let us read an excerpt from what the Apostle Paul said to King Agrippa as he told him about the first encounter he had with Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:12-16
""[12] On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. [13] About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. [14] We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' [15] "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. [16] 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you."
Let us notice the following verses,
12 … Paul was on his way to persecute the Christians living in Damascus.
14 … Paul heard Jesus talk to him. Let us note that at this time Jesus had already been crucified, died, buried, raised from the dead and ascended back into Heaven.
15 … Those who persecute the true born again believers in Jesus Christ are also persecuting Jesus.
16a … The Apostle Paul saw and heard from the resurrected Christ.
16b … Paul was to be a witness of what he had seen of Jesus Christ and what Jesus would show him.
Paul’s encounter of seeing the resurrected Jesus Christ fulfilled one of the requirements needed for him to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. This requirement was instituted when Jesus’ original eleven apostles were deciding who should replace Judas Iscariot’s vacated apostolic position. To read the portion of their discussion that applies to this study we go to,
Acts 1:21-22
[21] “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [22] beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Consequently, it was at this time that Paul was appointed by Jesus Christ and God the Father to be one of Jesus’ Apostles. In fulfilling this call, Paul was faithful to only preach and teach what Jesus told him and what Jesus showed him. In other words,
PAUL ONLY SOUGHT GOD'S GLORY, NOT MAN'S OR HIS OWN
As we read the New Testament we discover that this topic is really a twofold issue:
The first issue for the members of the body of Jesus Christ is for them to only glorify God and not themselves.
The second issue is for them is to seek the praise that comes from God and not from men.
With this brief introduction, let’s begin by exploring the issue which is,
WE ARE TO GLORIFY GOD NOT OURSELVES
To see this we begin by reading what Jesus once said during one of the Feasts of Tabernacles. To do this we go to,
John 7:14-18
"[14] Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. [15] The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" [16] Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. [17] If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. [18] He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."
Let us notice the following verses,
15 … Knowing that Jesus did not belong to the elders, scribes or priests of the Jewish faith, they knew He was not formally schooled in the Law. Consequently, they were shocked to hear His display of knowledge and wisdom.
16 … Jesus responded to the Jewish people by telling them that His teaching was not His but that of the Father.
18 … This is the key verse for this portion of our study. Therefore, let us read it again.
John 7:18
"[18] He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."
As we study the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul we find that the principle Jesus taught in the above verse was also fulfilled in Paul’s preaching and teaching. To see this let us read an excerpt from his first letter to the church in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
"[1] When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. [2] For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [3] I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. [4] My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, [5] so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."
Let us notice the following verses,
1-2 … Paul did not preach or teach any theological mysteries, deductions or thoughts. Paul only presented the testimony of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, Paul's teaching was not his it was only what Jesus gave him. In other words, as Jesus said earlier, the person who does this does not seek his own glory but the gives all the glory, praise and honor to the person who sent him.
4-5 … Paul did not rely upon his wisdom or persuasive power. Paul relied upon God the Holy Spirit to teach and bring the people to a true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
In addition to the fact that Paul, in his teaching and preaching, he only gave all the glory and honor to God,
PAUL ONLY SOUGHT PRAISE FROM GOD NOT MAN
As we did previously, let us begin by reading a teaching on this subject from our Lord Jesus Christ. It is recorded for us in,
John 5:41-44
""[41] I do not accept praise from men, [42] but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. [43] I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. [44] How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ?"
Let us notice the following verses,
41 … Jesus did not come to receive praise and honor from men. Instead, He came to save them!
43 … In other words, we tend to accept the so called learned, influential or popular people and their philosophies and thoughts rather than Jesus Christ and the simplicity of His Gospel.
44 … One of the reasons people do not believe in Jesus Christ and His Word is because they do not seek the praise and glory that comes from God. Instead, the unbelieving world seeks after the acceptance, praise, glory and approval that come from man.
As a true born again believer in Jesus Christ we find that Paul did not pursue the glory that comes from man or man's institutions. In other words, Paul only sought after the glory, praise and approval that come from God. To see this let us read what Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia for deserting Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Galatians 1:9-10
"[9] As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! [10] Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
We also find that Paul stood up to the Apostle Peter when Peter slipped a bit and did not behave in a manner keeping with the true Gospel. This episode is recorded for us in,
Galatians 2:11-14
"[11] When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. [12] Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. [13] The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. [14] When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"
Let us notice the following verses,
11-12 … When God revealed to Peter, a Jew or Israelite, that he should not consider any person unclean (Acts 10:28), Peter realized that Jesus also came to save the Gentiles. God also sent Peter to the household of Cornelius, a Gentile family, to present to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter obeyed and Cornelius along with his household received saving faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:23-48). From this time forward the Apostle Peter ate and fellowshipped with the Gentile believers. However, in this verse we discover that when some Jewish converts arrived from Jerusalem, Peter began to backslide into the Jewish thought that a Jew must not associate with an unclean person, who at this time in human history was a Gentile.
14 … The Apostle Paul corrected Peter for not behaving in line with what God had already told Him and what he had witnessed in the household of Cornelius. Specifically, Jesus Christ came to save both the Jew and Gentile. Therefore Paul asked Peter; “Why are you forcing the Gentiles to follow Jewish customs (such as separation)?”
In reflecting upon the above, one comes to the realization that Paul was not seeking the praise or commendation that could come from the prominent Apostle Peter. Instead, this event reveals to us that Paul was only interested in insuring that the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached and followed. Hence, He was only interested in receiving the glory and praise that comes from God.
In addition to being faithful in bearing witness to God, and seeking after His glory, we find that Paul was also faithful to God's commission for him to seek after the lost. To expand upon this we find that,
PAUL RISKED HIS OWN LIFE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL
To see this let us read where Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church with respect to the sufferings he endured for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:21 - 31
"[21] … What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. [22] Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. [23] Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. [24] Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, [26] I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. [27] I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. [28] Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. [29] Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? [30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. [31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."
In other words,
PAUL LOVED AND CARED FOR THE PEOPLE JESUS SENT HIM TO
This is revealed to us in the following excerpt from his second letter to the churches in Corinth. The Scripture of interest is where Paul explained to them he always had their best interests at heart.
2 Corinthians 12:11-19
"[11] I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. [12] The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance. [13] How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! [14] Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. [15] So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? [16] Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! [17] Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? [18] I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course? [19] Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening."
Let us notice the following verses,
11 … In reviewing other Bible translations such as “The Amplified Bible” the term “super apostles” was a sarcastic way to identify them as false apostles.
12 … To confirm Paul’s apostleship God, through Paul, performed signs, wonders and miracles
13-14 … Paul never asked for financial compensation. His only motive was to help them come to and stay in the saving knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ.
15 … Out of love and concern for their eternal salvation, Paul was willing to do whatever it would take to bring and keep them in the saving faith of Jesus Christ. His will was to do this without asking or expecting anything in return for his efforts.
16 … Paul did not demand or ask for anything from them. The trick was, He just loved and was concerned for their eternal salvation. Paul relied upon the truth that: “It is the goodness of God that leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4).
17-18 … Not one the disciples Paul sent to help them ever tried to exploit them. In other words, they were not seeking financial gain. Instead, as it was with Paul, their only interest and motive was always for their eternal benefit.
To expand upon this a bit more let us read how Paul set aside all his rights of an apostle to freely preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:3-18
"[3] This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. [4] Don't we have the right to food and drink? [5] Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas ? [6] Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? [7] Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? [8] Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? [9] For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? [10] Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. [11] If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? [12] If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. [13] Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? [14] In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. [15] But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. [16] Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! [17] If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. [18] What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."
Let us notice the following verses,
6-11 … In these verses the Apostle Paul is teaching us that those who preach and teach spiritual things have the right to expect material help for their efforts.
12(a) … Paul pointed out that when you go to a school or seminar in the secular field you pay for it. Using this as an example, Paul stated that, in like manner, you should financially help those who preach and teach spiritual things.
12(b) … So as to not hinder the Gospel, Paul and Barnabas preached and taught using their own resources. They did not want their listeners to think their only interest was their money. In addition, they also did not want to hinder anyone who was financially stressed from hearing the Gospel.
13-14 … Again, Paul told the church that he, as an apostle, would be well within his rights to ask for or expect material or financial support for the spiritual work he did.
15a … Paul did not exercise his right as an apostle.
15b … Paul did not write this instruction hoping they would financially compensate him for his efforts.
16-17 … Paul had a burning desire to preach and teach the Gospel. In other words, for Paul, the preaching and teaching of the Gospel was neither a business nor a means of financial support. To Paul, preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ was a call or commission not a profession.
18 … Paul’s reward was not for any material benefit he would receive for preaching or teaching God’s Word. No! Paul’s reward was to be able to freely give it and not exercise his right to ask for a fee for his services.
With this background, let us now continue our reading from,
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
"[19] Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. [20] To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. [21] To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. [23] I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
In other words, Paul really loved and cared about the people God sent him to. His one and only desire was for them to be saved and become a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wanted to be sure that nothing, absolutely nothing that he did could possibly hinder anyone from coming to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Consequently, in presenting the Gospel he tried to understand, relate to and be sensitive to those he spoke or wrote to.
So what is the point of this study? What is the message for us? The point of what we have been studying is that,
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD'S CALL
This is beautifully summarized for us in,
1 Thessalonians 2:1-13
"[1] You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. [2] We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. [3] For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. [4] On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. [5] You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. [6] We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, [7] but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. [8] We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. [9] Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. [10] You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. [11] For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, [12] encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. [13] And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."
Amen and Amen