Galatians 1:22-24 – The Gospel Shows Jesus’ Purpose
Jesus’ plan and power are shown clearly in the conversion of the Apostle Paul. But what was the ultimate purpose in all this? And what is the final thread of evidence that Paul’s gospel isn’t man-made?
We’re shown the answer by the Christians in the churches of Judea. They’d never met Paul. All they heard about him was that he was preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And ‘They glorified God because of me’. Ultimately the reason why God saved Paul wasn’t for Paul’s sake or even for the sake of the Gentiles – but for the same reason that God does anything – for his own glory.
This is the final nail in the coffin for the idea that Paul – or anyone in the early church – made up the gospel. It’s the final proof that it’s not man’s gospel. Never mind trying to explain the sudden transformation of anti-Christian Gentile hating Paul into a Christian and a missionary to the Gentiles – Who would make up a religion that says we’re all dead in sin? And that there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it? Who would make up a religion where man gets no glory, but God gets all the glory from beginning to end?
Every other religion leaves plenty of room for human effort – and human self-congratulation. If you’re saved by Jesus + circumcision, and someone else down the road who only trusted in Jesus isn’t saved – then Jesus doesn’t get the glory – you do. But the God of the Bible does everything he does for his own glory. No one would make up a religion where they get absolutely no glory. So in a world that’s so obsessed with glorifying people – we need to fight our natural tendency to try and take some of God’s glory for ourselves.
What an amazing purpose to live and die for! God has created us to live for something bigger than ourselves, bigger than anything humanity can offer. Only in him will we be fully satisfied. The final proof that the gospel is true is that it’s not about us.
Questions
- What was the purpose of Paul’s conversion?
- What does every other religion have in it?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would glorify God in everything we do?
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.