THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

JANUARY 2ND, 2005

GALATIANS 1:1-5

PAUL’S GREAT INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

 

Introduction:     The book of Galatians has been called “The Christian Declaration of Independence.

 

1.         Galatians is the only book by Paul written to a group of churches.

2.         Those churches were Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 11-16)

3.         Caesar Augustus said of the Galatians: “They are fickle in their resolves, fond of change, and not tot be trusted.”

4.         In this book, Paul goes on the war-path: He defends Salvation by Grace alone, and he defines Christian Liberty .

-          The word “liberty” is used 11 times in this book.

 

5.         Galatians is believed to be Paul’s first book.

 

 

I.                   Saul becomes Paul.   (1)

 

A.         Before Paul became a Christian, his name was Saul of Tarsus.

 

1.         Saul was a persecutor of the church (Acts 7:58, 8:1-3 and 9:1).

2.         When the Lord confronted Paul for the first time, He called him Saul   (Acts 9:4).

3.         After Paul was converted to Christ, he continued to be called Saul for 9 years ( Acts 9:17-26, 11:25-30 and 13:1-2).

 

B.         Saul changed his name to Paul in Acts 13:7-13.

-          It is believed that he named himself after his first convert, Sergius Paulus.

 

C.         The name Paul means “little” or “small.”

 

1.         Paul; saw himself as a small person being used by a great God.

2.         Til the end of his life, however, he viewed himself as the greatest of sinners   (I Timothy 1:15).

 

D.         So, Paul wants the churches of Galatia to be reminded of his personal testimony first thing.

 

II.     Paul, an Apostle…..     (1)

 

A.         What is an Apostle?

 

1.         Apostles were believers who had physically seen the resurrected Christ, and had been commanded by Him to lay down the doctrines of the church  (Ephesians 2:20).

         

2         Apostles were able to perform great miracles to authenticate their ministries   (Mark 16:17-20 and Hebrews 2:3-4).

 

3.         Paul claimed that his authority was his apostleship (II Corinthians 12:12).

 

B.         What is the difference between an Apostle and other offices in t he church?

 

1.         Pastors lead the congregations according to the doctrines laid down by the Apostles, but pastors do not lay down the doctrines themselves.

2.         Teachers teach the doctrines laid down by the Apostles, but teachers do not lay down the doctrines themselves.

3.         Evangelists and missionaries proclaim the doctrines laid down by the Apostles, but evangelists and missionaries do not lay down the doctrines themselves.

 

     C.     Are there any Apostles on Earth today?   NO!!

 

III.     Paul, an Apostle, (NOT OF MEN)…..   (1).

 

     A.     Paul’s apostleship did not originate with men   (Acts 13:2-3).

 

1.         The word “Apostle” means “to send away with a commission to do something.”

2.         It was the Holy Spirit that sent Paul, and it was the Lord Jesus who saved Paul, and called him to be an Apostle.

 

B.       The other Apostles recognized Paul’s apostleship as being genuine.

 

1.         They did not make him an Apostle; they simply recognized his calling.

2.         The fact that the other Apostles recognized Paul’s Apostleship is further proof of his credibility.

 

 

Conclusion:     The history of the New Testament Church follows a pattern: God calls men; men hear the call; the Holy Spirit sends men to places of His own choosing, and men do what they do in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Since it all BEGINS with God, and it all is directed and empowered by God’s Spirit – all the glory goes to God.

 

 

NEXT SUNDAY:   We continue in Galatians 1:1-5