Bethany Bullet - June 16, 2010

Christianity is the only religion, faith system, spiritual community that is tied to historical acts and source verification. Paul himself states that if Jesus is not raised from the dead our faith is futile. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul encourages source verification: “The gospel I preach is not something man made up.” Galatians 1:11 “His” (that is Paul’s) gospel is the message that we are justified through faith, by grace, for Christ’s sake, apart from works of the law. Paul goes on to say in this first chapter that you don’t have to take his word for it; this isn’t his invention, you can check other sources, specifically those who knew and accompanied Christ in His earthly ministry.

In vs. 18, Paul mentions Peter and James and then in chapter 2 vs. 8-9 he mentions John as well. All three of these individuals, interestingly enough, wrote letters after Paul’s letter to the Galatians. John wrote 5 books; Peter wrote 2 and was instrumental in Mark’s gospel and James’ own epistle. If what Paul was saying was a lie, if in fact he was making up the gospel, and using their names to validate his false claims they had plenty of time to correct the record. Yet they too proclaim the same thing, that “Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us.” Gal. 1:4

Of course, the first chapter of Galatians not only attests to the historicity of Jesus’ work and the validation that “Paul’s” gospel was the same as Peter’s, James’, John’s and thus Jesus’ - it also leaves us with two very practical points of application.

Paul willingly reveals his past. “He tried to destroy the church.” vs. 22-24. If God could use Paul, it is a sure bet that there is no one who is too damaged to make a difference. I know there may be a voice at times in your head or sometimes a tug in your heart that cries, “I know my past. I know my thoughts. I know what I did. How could God possibly use someone like me?” Remember at such times - Paul. If God could use Paul as his chosen instrument, a former persecutor of the church, as the apostle to the Gentiles He can certainly use you. Maybe you are apostle to the soccer team or class room, the guy next door, or the gal in the other cubical?

In Paul testifying that God came to him therefore, shows us that there is no one who is too far gone for Him to go to, to be His instrument as well. If God could journey to Paul, to those reading this Bullet, or to the one who wrote it, how can we say someone’s lifestyle, behavior, world view, past action or present condition bars them from Gospel proclamation?

There is no one who is too far gone to go to!

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer