Galatians 1:12-24, Called By God

Have you ever had to make a bold, a strong, or a difficult statement? Many time we have a tendency to make known our authority to make that statement before we even make it. I have been appointed the foreman on this job. I’m the one who takes the heat if things don’t go right around here. Paul has made a bold statement already and he gets even bolder here in Galatians so he seems to be qualifying his authority.

There are three things that stand out in these verses. Paul is called by God to preach the Gospel to the Gentles.

Paul is called by God. He is saying, I want to make known to you with certainty, I want to make it clear that the gospel I preach is not man made. It is good news from God and not bad news from man. He adds, I had a direct revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus. We have a tendency to listen a whole lot more to men than we do to God. It needs to be the opposite way around. We need, must listen to God.

Paul is called by God to preach the gospel. Paul became a different man. He went from persecutor to preacher almost immediately. He hated the Gospel, the good news that men were announcing about Jesus. He was a murderer for the sake of Judaism. God set Paul apart, called him even from birth, to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Paul is called by God to preach the gospel to the Gentles. Paul says in verses 15, 16 “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,” Paul was saved to serve. He was called to preach Him. Paul was not called to preach a message to the Gentiles he was called to preach a man, a Savior, Jesus Christ.

We have been called by God…to go. We have been promised the power to carry out the call.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.
Matthew 28:19,20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20. and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."