6. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
The word `gospel’ appears 13 times in Letter to Galatians. Paul writes to Christians in Galatia to defend the gospel, to stop them from missing the point or being sidetracked.
What is this gospel??? “The gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate. It is an announcement.” And what does it announce ??? Not what but WHO???
Gal 1 v. 1 Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-
Gospel is the message about Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. There can only be one gospel because there is only ONE Jesus – the Son of God who was raised from the dead!
Napoleon (cited by Vernon C. Grounds, The Reason for Our Hope) said: “I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires, and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity…. Everything in Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Between him and whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by Himself. His ideas and sentiments, the truth which he announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things…. The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above me — everything remains grand, of a grandeur which overpowers. His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man…. One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation or the example of His life…. I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Jesus Himself was unique. But so was His glorious resurrection. Dead people stay dead – thats the way it works! But God raised Christ from the dead to DEMONSTRATE his uniqueness.
Romans 1:1-4
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel brings us
Gal 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Euangelion (which we call gospel) is a Greek word, and signifies good, merry, glad, and joyful tydings, that makes a mans heart glad, and makes him sing, dance, and leap for joy. William Tyndale (C.16th)
The gospel brings us Peace – not just an absence of conflict but a deep inner wholeness and contentment
And it’s all by grace:- free gift of God
“Did you ever hear of the mother who visited Napoleon on behalf of her condemned son? The emperor told her the young man had committed the same offense twice, and justice demanded the death penalty. ‘But Sire,’ she pleaded, ‘I don’t ask for justice — only for mercy.’ ‘He doesn’t deserve it,’ said Napoleon. ‘No, he doesn’t,’ she admitted, ‘but it would not be MERCY if he deserved it.’
Grace and peace come from “the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins”
Oswald Chambers: We say that Jesus preached the gospel, but he did more. He came that there might be a gospel to preach.
The gospel is not only about who Jesus IS and what He has done for us – but HOW He has accomplished such a great salvation. – by His death on the cross.
Some people preach an anaemic Christianity. They leave out the cross – they ignore Christ’s blood poured out as a sacrifice for you and for me. But Christ’s CROSS is the centre of gospel! Christ gave himself for our sins.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Christ died, Paul insists, to rescue us from the present evil age. Whether people realise it or not we ALL need rescuing!!! And gospel is the the only lifeline we have!
How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation!!!! Africa in particular is at a time of decision. “A hundred million animists in Africa alone will decide in our lifetime whether to become Christian, muslim or agnostic.”
according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Gospel is God’s perfect masterplan of salvation – the will of the Father – so that all the glory and praise goes to Him! And gospel of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation.
6. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 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!
This gospel which Paul preached and Galatians had gladly received is ONLY way of salvation – for them OR for us! It is good news of Jesus Christ who is alive today, risen from dead, Jesus who died for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, to offer us grace and peace – if only we will accept it!!.
But where did Paul get this gospel to preach? Did he hear it from other Christians? Did he make it up? NO – Paul’s gospel came directly from his Damascus Road experience.
Paul insists
Gal:1 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.
The revelation from Jesus Christ = the Damascus Road experience.
Paul’s experience -> figure of speech “Damascus Road Experience” in all areas of life – especially when a politician wants to change his mind!!
Hallucinations. Epilepsy. And even lightning. That is the latest theory to explain the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Dr. John D. Bullock, from Dayton, Ohio, delivered a paper on his theory at the American Academy of Opthamology and Otolaryncology Convention held at Dallas recently.
Dr. Bullock’s main theory, which is one of many, contends “the light from heaven” was a bolt of lightning that struck the corner of Paul’s eyes causing scar tissue to obstruct his vision.
When someone told the famous London preacher Dr. Joseph Parker that Saul’s conversion was caused by epilepsy, the London preacher replied: “Fly abroad, thou mighty epilepsy!”
When we think about the Damascus road there are two truths we need to hold in tension:
Paul’s Damascus Road Experience was UNIQUE
1. Only person to be converted going along Damascus Road mid 30s AD by seeing vision of Risen Christ! HISTORICAL PECULIARITY
2. Only person who met ONLY the Risen Christ – 1 Cor 15:3-9
All the other apostles, all the other historically significant eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus had also been with Jesus during his earthly ministry.
3. Damascus Road not only changed Paul but gave him the gospel he preaches:-
Paul insists
Gal:1 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.
In the first part of Galatians 1 Paul has outlined “his” gospel. It is very important to recognise that the gospel Paul preached came directly from his vision of the Risen Christ on Damascus Road:-
Acts 26: 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. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’Paul’s gospel came from his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road.
This is IMPORTANT because of two objections we hear to the gospel today –
1 The Christian gospel, some say, especially Moslems, is not gospel Jesus preached but Paul’s gospel. But that objection is empty – because Paul’s gospel CAME FROM GOD
2 We only read in Bible ideas of early church – God didnt “write” the Bible
TRUE – but this bit – Paul’s gospel did come DIRECTLY from mouth of God – from his vision of Risen Christ. Indeed we don’t know how much of Paul’s other teaching also came from his experience of the Risen Christ, or from any of the other visions and revelations Paul experienced – I guess, quite a lot!
Paul’s experience was unique! So we shouldn’t impose that pattern of conversion on every new Christian!!
There are no 1st class and 2nd class conversions = Damascus Rd VS pilgrimage of faith. It is true that NOT ALL CHRISTIANS will have a dramatic conversion as Paul did!
2nd truth – in tension with 1st
Paul’s Damascus Road Experience was TYPICAL
– a type, a pattern, a paradigm = Damascus Road DOES show us the difference Jesus makes to a life
A long time ago Derek Tidball once told me about a Deacon in his church – awkward, meddling, disbelieving – went into hospital for a serious operation – came out most humble, believing, helpful, evangelical, charismatic ! I asked `Is that operation available on national health? cos half our diaconate are i urgent need of it! The Damascus Road operation.
Paul’s Damascus Road experience is indeed a pattern for the difference God makes through the transforming power of Christ.
BEFORE 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man
,
AFTER 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ 24 And they praised God because of me.Sinner to saint. Opponent of Christ turned into missionary! Because the Risen Christ gave Paul a job to do. He sent him on a mission!
Acts 26: 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. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Through his Damascus road experience Paul realised TWO vitally important truths.
1. That JESUS IS ALIVE AND therefore 2. that JESUS DIED FOR SINS
Paul had been wrestling with a problem. Jesus had been crucified. That meant that he was cursed by God and therefore Jesus could not have been the Messiah, NOT the CHRIST.
But solution to that mystery lay in the RESURRECTION Jesus is RISEN from the dead. Therefore Jesus IS LORD, therefore Jesus died for OUR SINS not His own, Jesus IS CHRIST!
This Double Whammy- the resurrection (implying that Jesus is Lord) and the cross (where Jesus died for our sins) transformed Paul’s life.
And the Realisation of the cross and the resurrection should turn OUR lives upside down as well.
Encounter with Risen Christ changed Paul – and will change our friends and neighbours, if they see Jesus alive in us – and if we explain to them resurrection and cross!
So Paul’s Damascus Road Experience was both UNIQUE and TYPICAL – typical because NOT all but MANY christians have had similar exncounters with Risen Christ, and lives changed in similar ways to Paul’s.
These countless Damascus Rd experiences of other Xns are evidence that helps us trust in the reality of Paul’s experience, and truth and certainty of gospel he proclaimed and we proclaim. THIS is the gospel entrusted to us – a gospel which can change lives as Paul’s was changed , even today. this is the gospel we believe! So let’s PROCLAIM it!!!!
