AUGUST 3, 2025 – ACCORDING TO MAN?

READ: Gal. 1:10-17: … But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood …

Paul defends himself. Not because he thinks he’s important, but because of the message he is called by Christ to bring to the Galatians. Because of its importance and truth, he must defend himself against the false teachers who reject Paul.

They say: he didn’t walk with Jesus on earth like the other apostles—how can he then proclaim the truth about Jesus? Does he preach just to benefit himself? That’s how they try to discredit him.

But Paul rejects any notion that he tailors his teaching to please people. He says: it’s the exact opposite. The gospel I preach does not come from man, nor is it according to man. I received it from God Himself.

Yes, before my conversion on the road to Damascus, I was very much operating in a mortal manner. I received praise for zealously persecuting the church of Christ! But Christ Himself converted me on the road to Damascus. From that moment, I became His servant. I now proclaim a divine gospel and, by God’s command, seek to persuade people (v.10).

God had already destined me for this (v.15). Furthermore, people didn’t teach me this gospel. I received it by direct revelation from God through His Son. That’s why I first had to separate myself from the other believers in Jerusalem, even from the apostles. I went to Arabia (probably the Nabatean kingdom, now southern Jordan) and then returned to Damascus.

Paul shows that his preaching of the true Gospel is of divine origin, command, and content. There’s nothing of human input involved. What the false teachers bring is a human product set in contrast to the divine message he delivers.

How do you know that the message of the Bible is from heaven?

Sing: Ps. 52:5,6