10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me. (Galatians 1:10–24)

Last week, we examined Paul's testimony and saw the evidence for why Paul's gospel was legitimate. The second question we will explore today from this passage is: What did Paul's gospel produce in Paul? Are there things that happened to Paul that we could hope would happen to us?

1. Release from People-Pleasing

First, notice how the gospel released Paul from people-pleasing. He started by announcing he was not seeking the approval of man and was no longer trying to please man because he was serving Christ (10).

It was the gospel that set Paul free of the fear of man. The book Dune portrays fear as the mind-killer, a little death that brings total obliteration.[1] And the fear of man is just that—a cancer—and if permitted to live, will end in your total demise. The gospel can free you from chasing people's approval, mainly because its message says you have the approval of the one who made you. In Christ, you are righteous and completely accepted by God, just as much as he accepts his only begotten Son—and that acceptance will lead you to love and obey God.

When you receive and realize the gospel of grace, you are set free from trying to please people, so you turn your attention to living life for the God who loves you. And your life begins to bless others anyway.

2. A Better Zeal

A second way the gospel impacted Paul was that it gave him a better thing for which to be zealous (14). Before Christ rescued him, Paul threw his time, energy, mind, talent, and money into religious training and leadership. He advanced beyond others his age; his passion was evident (14). He likely considered himself a new Elijah—a fiery prophet of old who would expunge the land of false gods. But when Jesus came into his life, Paul's energies were pointed in a new and good direction.

Zeal is not enough. Little children are often zealous about the reality of Santa Claus. Adults are often zealous to become something, to have something, or to feel something. But the zeal to be, have, or feel is always a terrible foundation on which to build your life.

The gospel is a call to be extreme—die to self, lay down your life, become a servant, and love as Christ loved. These and other New Testament exhortations describe zeal in the right direction, zeal for the only thing that will not come up short.

3. A Strong Sense of God's Calling

Third, it gave him a strong sense of God's calling. Once Jesus delivered him from his blindness and transferred him from the kingdom of darkness to light, Paul became aware that God had set him apart before he was born and called him by his grace (15, cf. Acts 26:18). And with that calling came God's purpose for Paul, that he would preach Jesus among the Gentiles (16). In short, the gospel gave Paul meaning and purpose in life.

4. A Hunger for Growth

Fourth, the gospel gave Paul a hunger for growth—he wanted to learn all about Jesus and walk with him! For the first three years of his Christian life, he went to Arabia and Damascus to learn from the Lord (17-18). Then, after his trip to Jerusalem, he went far away to the regions of Syria and Cilicia for almost a decade (21-22). All that time allowed Paul to grow into the mighty and dynamic apostle we all know and love.

Paul studied, learned, prayed, practiced, served, and grew for years before his first missionary journey with Barnabas and his contribution of at least thirteen letters to the New Testament.

Theologian J.I. Packer said faith and preparation go together because God does not bless a goofy perspective that dispenses with planning and personal preparation.[2] God is looking for those who will sit at his feet and grow in him, and the gospel releases us to do so.

5. Hard Work and Service (21-24)

Finally, the gospel impacted Paul by giving him the desire and resources to work hard for God's kingdom. For years, he was preaching the faith he once tried to destroy (23). Even far away from Tarsus, people heard of Paul's hard work and service, glorifying God because of Paul (24).

I have found the cross of Christ is the only perpetual source of inspiration, motivation, and energy required to work hard in the service of his church. The gospel is the message that propels us forward into lives of self-sacrifice.

Conclusion

For those who have received the gospel message Paul (and others) preached, our passage helps us consider the impact of that message on our own lives. Paul's testimony should reawaken in us an appreciation, not only for his gospel story but also for ours. Paul's past life had a stranglehold on him, driving him to the zealous murder of Christians, but Christ broke through and created a new man in place of the old. And, for as powerful as our pasts are, we must remember that Jesus makes all things new. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, old things have passed away, and all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17). For far too many of us, the past defines who we are, and while it certainly is a factor, it is not the only factor. As Matthew Harmon wrote, "Our past has a profound role in shaping who we are. But it does not determine who we are. One encounter with Jesus is enough to change the entire direction of a person's life." [3]

With all that in mind, we are now commissioned to not only receive Paul's gospel and celebrate Paul's testimony but to share our testimony with others. We never want to share it in a way that distracts or detracts from the gospel—Look at me! I’m an amazing case! Instead, we want to share our story to say, Look at him! He gives amazing grace!

[1] Herbert, Frank. 1981. Dune. London, England: Oxford University Press. [2] Packer, J. I. 2000. A Passion for Faithfulness: Wisdom from the Book of Nehemiah. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. [3] Harmon, Matthew S. 2021. Galatians. Edited by T. Desmond Alexander, Thomas R. Schreiner, and Andreas J. Köstenberger. Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Academic.