Abounding Grace

Pastor Ed Taylor: Today on Abounding Grace. I don't want you to be embarrassed by your testimony to the point where you don't share it. I don't want you to be afraid of your testimony. I know as well as you do, I wish there were so many things in my past that weren't there. There's nothing I can do about it. They're there. I'm not that person anymore. That person has died. I'm a new creation in Christ. It's very important that you grasp that, that you are a new creation in Christ.

I mean, if believers today would just believe that and live on that truth, your life will be dramatically changed. If you're a Christian, you have a testimony, and the Lord can use it in powerful ways. What a privilege it is to speak of God's grace that saves us and changes our lives. In Galatians chapter 1, we run across the Apostle Paul's testimony. You'll notice who he was before he was saved and can't help but see the big difference after God got a hold of his life. Pastor Ed Taylor will point out how our lives can bring glory to God as well. Here today on Abounding Grace.

Open your Bibles to Galatians chapter 1. Galatians chapter 1. If you want to get ahead, you can also go to Jude. It only has one chapter. Galatians chapter 1 and Jude in a Bible study that I've titled, Your Life Can Bring Glory to God. Your life, right now, sitting here in the 21st century, your life in Christ can bring glory to God. It doesn't matter what your past has been. It doesn't matter where you've come from. It doesn't matter the home you were raised in. It doesn't matter the mistakes that you have made. Your life can bring glory to God as you yield it and surrender it to Jesus.

Your life can bring glory to God. Paul wants them to understand, the author of Galatians. Remember, he's writing to a group of churches that received the simplicity of the gospel and it changed their lives. They were born again. God saved them, saved families, broke chains of addiction. All that you deal with, the Galatian believers, they were walking in the freedom that they have in Jesus Christ because they believed the real gospel. Remember the word gospel, it means good news.

And here's the good news: Jesus Christ died for your sins. He was buried and He rose again the third day. That if you today will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. That's the good news. They received it, they were born again, and then these false teachers come to town, the Judaizers. Today we may call them legalists. They came not with good news, but with bad news.

They came to those that were born again already and said, "You're not saved. You're not saved the right way. What Paul said is not true. Don't believe him. He's not trustworthy. He just fears men. He is someone that wants to take advantage." And they were literally gaslighting the churches, saying something that was untrue when they were actually doing it themselves. However, being vulnerable in their sincerity to worship Christ, they followed these false teachers to which Paul then says, "I need to write them a letter."

He couldn't go there, but "I need to correct this by writing them a letter." We learned so far that the letter is very strong. It's a rebuke. It is an exhortation. It's a very strong letter, so much so that remember we spent our whole time last time in our study in Galatians chapter 1 and verse 10. It's so strong that Paul, it's almost like he had to pause for a moment and explain himself. He'll do this a couple of times, but he had to explain himself.

He says, "Look, I know it's hard, but I didn't come to please man. I'm not writing this to make you guys happy or anyone happy. I'm writing this to please God. I'm telling you guys the truth because my life is dedicated to pleasing God. And if I was worried about pleasing man, then I wouldn't be a real servant of Christ," is what he said in verse 10. He's reminding them that sometimes in order to please God, you have to say the hard thing. It may not be well received, it may not be liked, people might get upset, but the reality is that we all must learn to speak the truth in love.

I asked you to open to Jude. Notice with me in chapter 1, there is only one chapter, pick up there in verse 3. You see this theme throughout the Scriptures. It says in verse 3, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men," and it's always certain men. It's never the majority. It's always a few group of people that want to disrupt your life. Not many, just a certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation.

Ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul's doing the same thing here to the Galatian believers. Notice with me now in verse 11, Galatians chapter 1. "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."

He shares with them the gospel, the message that changed their lives, because "I didn't get that from man," which was in great contrast to the false teachers that would lay the emphasis and the credibility of their ministry on men. "I got it from this man, this man, this man, the traditions of men." They would build their credibility on man and Paul goes, "Hey, listen, there's a couple of things we've learned so far. Number one, we learn from Paul in verse 1 that his ministry came from God and not man."

Remember he says, "I was called not of men, nor through man but through Jesus Christ." He says, "This is my calling and it came from God Himself. I didn't get it from another man that laid hands on me and I got it from God. He's the one that called me. My ministry is from God." And now number two, he's saying, "Not only is my ministry from God, my message is from God as well. I didn't get it from man." It wasn't the apostolic succession and only can get it from this man to give it to this man. He says none of that.

God is at work here and God gave me my ministry and He gave me the message and it transformed your life. Verse 13, "For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers." Now he gets a little personal and reminds them of his story, his testimony is what we would call it today.

He's already shared this with them. This isn't anything new, but he's using it as a way to build credibility of the faithful work of God in his life. And he goes, "You know my story. You know my life. You know my past. You know my commitment to the law. You know my commitment to Judaism. You know me. You know how I surpassed everyone, everyone that I was near. I want you to remember who I am because the vessel of the message is very important."

It's very important that you and I have credibility in our lives to be able to share with others the truth that their lives can be changed. And he says, he says, notice, he says, "You've heard my former conduct. You've heard how I persecuted, but in verse 14, how I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and I was exceedingly zealous for the traditions." It's important to learn a few things about Paul here in his upbringing. First of all, he was a Pharisee.

He was in the religious elite of the day. He was the religious, he would have been a part of the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of religious elite among the Jewish people. He studied under the most esteemed rabbi named Gamaliel. Everyone, he would be the kind, he would be the one that you would want all your kids to study under. You would want to study under Gamaliel and feedback that Gamaliel gave of Paul was that he was such a voracious student that I couldn't keep him, I couldn't keep him stocked with enough books and resources that he would learn.

He was that kind of student, just always learning. He committed to memory large sections of the Old Testament. It's even possible, we don't know for sure, but it was common in that day that those that were ascending into the Pharisaical group would commit the entirety of the Old Testament to memory. But at the very least, large sections. It would be like you memorizing Romans, memorizing Galatians, memorizing Acts, putting it all to memory. He would do that with Isaiah, he would do that with Genesis and Exodus.

He committed to memory areas of prophecy, areas of the law. He would be involved in his studies in question and answer groups. At first he would sit and listen, but then he would begin to answer himself and he began to take leadership in these Q&A sessions. He would be the one that people would come to. He was very well-versed in the Scriptures and advanced in the religious studies. He also grew up in the Roman, Greco-Roman world, so he was familiar with the common culture of the day.

He was familiar with the Grecian culture of idolatry. We learned that in Athens, remember? He comes into Athens, he sees all of these idols, he knew exactly what they represented. He understood and used it as a tool to reach out to them. He also understood the Roman culture and Roman law. We also learned in the book of Acts that he used Roman law to save his own life. He goes, "What are you going to do? You going to kill a Roman citizen? I appeal to Caesar."

And that's exactly where they took him. Spared his life. And it's because of these two worlds that Paul was able to say, "I've become all things to all men that I might win the more." You see, God was developing him through this training. He thought he was going to go in one direction, but God actually had another direction. And on top of all that, he was so zealous. You see what he said here of himself, how he persecuted, verse 13, "he persecuted the church of God" and he just adds this phrase, "beyond measure."

You wouldn't even be able to measure it. He did it so much. He was so bad. It's like you just think of some things you were involved in in your life and you go, "Man, I can't even count how many times. I don't even know. I don't even know how much trouble I was in. I can't even remember it all." That's what he's saying. But when he's saying he persecuted the church, I don't want you to think in your mind like he came against a bunch of buildings.

"Well, you know, I was going to try to tear that building down and explode that." It wasn't anything about buildings. There were no church buildings in the first century. That was the temple until it was destroyed, but the early church met in houses, in small cell groups until it grew and it grew and it grew. So he wasn't going after the institution of the church, he wasn't going after the organization, he was going after people. It's very important as he's writing this, he's very careful because what's happening with the Galatian believers, false teachers are coming in to destroy the church and what are they doing?

They're going after people. Paul goes, "I know what it's like to go after people. Let me remind you." Go back to Acts chapter 8. It's been many, many years since we studied Acts 8, but notice in Acts 8 when you get there, pick up how Luke describes what Saul was doing to the church. Acts chapter 8, verse 3. It says, "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word."

He dragged out men, but he dragged out women. He was so zealous he would abuse and harm women, pulling them out of the house. And you get the picture, screaming and yelling and the children, dragged the children too and get the husband. "We are going to destroy the church." Look at verse 9, or chapter 9, verse 1. Acts chapter 9, verse 1. Another description of Saul. "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest."

He went to get permission to destroy the church. But notice it says he was breathing threats and murder. I thought that was interesting that there are two things that he's breathing because you know when you breathe, there's two motions to your breathing. You breathe in and you breathe out. And everyone alive breathes. It is involuntary. You don't even need to think about it. You're breathing. If you right now you choose to hold your breath, you will pass out and start breathing again. That's how God made us, how important breathing is.

So when we speak of breathing, we're speaking about the entirety of our lives, what moves us and motivates us, what oxygenates our life, what fills us with life. And what is said of Paul is what filled him with life was murder and threat toward the church. You could say he was wholly consumed, or as he says, "I persecuted the church beyond measure." I don't want you to be, I don't want you to be embarrassed by your testimony to the point where you don't share it.

I don't want you to be afraid of your testimony. I know as well as you do, I wish there were so many things in my past that weren't there. There's nothing I can do about it. They're there. I fully participated in them. And in the events, in the acts themselves, you know, they aren't, they don't make me happy. They don't make me proud. I was sharing with a sister after first service when or earlier, when I share a part of my testimony, it's like this, beyond measure.

That's just, I'll just say it's beyond measure. You don't need to know all the details. It's worse. However far I go, it's worse. And I have friends in my life that each time I go back to California and we start talking about the good old days, I always learn something worse that I didn't know about that I forgot. Or Marie might share something. She's been, she and I have been together many, many years, believer and unbeliever. She'll share things with me. I'm like, "Whoa, it was worse. Beyond measure."

But you know, it's part of my story. I'm not that person anymore. That person has died. I'm a new creation in Christ. It's very important that you grasp that, that you are a new creation in Christ. I mean, if believers today would just believe that and live on that truth, your life will be dramatically changed. No, what happens is, "Well, you know Pastor, what's going on man? Why do you have such an...?" "Well, you know, I've just always been an angry person. I've just always..." "Well, wait a minute. Are you a believer? You born again?" "Yes." "Well, then you're not an angry person anymore."

At this very moment right now, you wish Joel was here. I get it. But you've got to grasp this because your testimony's the bridge into people's lives. It's like, "Oh, you know, I've always been angry." No, no, no. No, the reason why, the reason why you adopt that identity, the reason why you won't live as a new creation, the reason why you always take us back to years ago of how you always, somebody told you you're just an angry person and now you believe that is because you're using it as an excuse for present sin.

You're looking back to the past so that you can excuse your sin today. So while you may have been an angry person, while you may have had thoughts in the past, maybe you've had some, you've wrestled with your sexual identity and who you are, maybe that be a part of your past, you are a new creation in Christ. So you believe in the newness of life and God, you will begin to fulfill God's divine destiny for your life if you will stop messing around with all of the lies that you have believed your whole life and believe God and begin to live in obedience.

Because let it be said, your excuses for your present day sin have nothing to do with your past. They have everything to do with today. What is God doing today? If you're a new creation in Christ and old things have passed away, then let them pass away. Bury them, leave them behind, and walk in the newness of life. That's what Paul's doing here. He's not embarrassed by his testimony. He's not afraid of it. He's not celebrating it either.

He's just like, "Look guys, these guys are coming in with a story and with a line. They're coming in like I'm the one that fears man and I'm the one that hurt you and I'm the one. And I'm just telling you, I used to hurt people, but I don't hurt people anymore. I bring the good, the message of the good news that by grace through faith you can be saved." Because remember the Judaizers, the legalists, they came in and they didn't say, "The gospel is not just believe. The gospel is believe and..." which every legalist does.

There's always a list. There's always something. "Read this extra book and then you can be saved. Do this extra thing, eat this extra way." There's always something added. Always something added that the legalist will come and Paul, he'll just, he'll come and go, "No, no, no. It's just faith, a gift of God, grace." And the legalist come in, "No, you have to be saved and what? To keep the whole law. If you keep the whole law, then maybe you'll be saved. And then if you're a man, you have to be circumcised." It's like, "Whoa, no, no thank you. No thank you. I'm already saved."

God has already done the work. It's a finished work on the cross. Isn't that what Jesus said? "It is finished." All that's necessary. And that newness of life will lead to what the Bible calls, the Bible calls these works of righteousness. They come from salvation. Works of righteousness. You live a different life but they don't save you. And Paul says, "I used to be what they're accusing me of but I'm not that anymore. I'm a different person."

Guest (Male): And we'll stop right here for just a minute or two. Pastor Ed Taylor will share a closing thought when he returns to Abounding Grace. If you joined us late or would just like to hear this message again, drop by aboundinggraceradio.com. Another way to take in a steady dose of God's Word is through the app. It's free. We're also on oneplace.com. Abounding Grace is made possible through the support of our listeners, and when you give a donation of $25 or more to Abounding Grace, we'll send you a copy of *When the Storm Hits* by Chuck Smith.

Maybe you're in a storm even as we speak. Know this, the Lord stands by you. His purpose sustains you, and God's Word will encourage and guide you. So if you're feeling a little overwhelmed by the waves, see how to get anchored on Jesus the Rock as you read *When the Storm Hits*. Call 877-30-GRACE. That's 877-30-GRACE. You can also get the book online at calvaryco.store. Now as promised, here is Pastor Ed to close things out.

Pastor Ed Taylor: I want to point out a few things as we wind down here. Notice at the end of verse 14, he was exceedingly zealous for the traditions. Not for God. Not for, before he was saved, Saul of Tarsus was exceedingly zealous for the traditions of man and the teachings of man and the interpretations of man, specifically through the school of Gamaliel, because there were other rabbis with different teachings. He was a student of Gamaliel, so he was very zealous for what he was taught by man.

It's not much different today, you know, this zeal. I see many, many believers getting off track, being exceedingly zealous for something other than the gospel. They call it the gospel, but it's really not the gospel. It's something else. It's tradition. It's some interpretation. It's someone's popular, trending, viral opinion, and they're really zealous about it. "Don't you know," and they're running off in this and running off in that because somebody caught their ear in some new cause and some new, and you're exceedingly zealous for all the wrong reasons.

I can't tell you how many times this has happened where maybe we're dealing with an issue here in our own congregation or I'm ministering to another pastor helping him deal with an issue in his congregation, and we're talking about the situation and it's like, "Man, if these guys were just as passionate and zealous for the gospel as they are for that, there'd be no stopping the church." But now we're trying to talk them into, "What are you doing? You can't, don't go that way. That's not the heart of Jesus." "No, it is the heart of Jesus. I read a book and I saw a YouTube video and this is the heart of Jesus."

No, bro, that's that guy's interpretation. That's what you're zealous for. You're following a man now. If you would just be that excited about the gospel, if you'd be that excited about being a husband, if you'd be that excited about being a wife, being a faithful employer, the church would turn this world upside down. But sometimes this is your testimony and you've got to really take it to the Lord. The time is short and I know it's real. We deal with it far more often than you realize. I know it's real.

Get your eyes back on the Lord. Don't be zealous for traditions. Don't be zealous for the teachings of men. Don't be zealous for, you know, even things that get handed down through denominations and movements and don't be zealous for those things. You be zealous for the Lord.

Guest (Male): Be zealous for the Lord. With that biblical challenge from Pastor Ed, we leave you today. Come back next week when we'll finish up this message, "Your Life Can Bring Glory to God," here on Abounding Grace. Abounding Grace is brought to you by Calvary Church Colorado, here in Aurora.