COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS

LESSON NUMBER 3

Chapter One, Verses 10-12

“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. For I would have you know, 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 I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ”

MEN OR GOD??

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?” (NIV).

              Paul was a preacher, not a career man. He was called of God, and sought only to please Him. Those that aspire to a religious career are shut up to pleasing men. Jesus spoke of such as those that desired to be “seen of men” (Matt 6:5; 23:5). Remember those refusing to confess Christ, because “they loved the praise of men” (John 12:42-43)? Such vain quests inhibit faith (John 5:44).

              The Apostle did not hesitate to tell those to whom he ministered that He was not seeking their approval. “But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself” (1 Cor 4:3). His compelling quest was to be “found in Him” (Phil 3:9).

              His question is rhetorical—he is saying it should be obvious to them by his message that he was dominated by the call of God. He was exercising himself to be a workman that had no cause to be ashamed before God (2 Tim 2:15).

              Understand, from one perspective, Paul did seek to “persuade men” (2 Cor 5:11). He entreated men, in Jesus’ name, to be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20). He even sought to persuade King Agrippa to embrace Christ (Acts 26:28). His efforts to please men, from this perspective, was not for personal gratification. As it is written, “just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor 10:33).

              The thought here is this: “Where men require me to compromise the Gospel, or to shift my emphasis from Christ, the desire to please God dominates my heart and message.” Blessed condition when one is so dominated by a commitment to the Lord, that he will not compromise the Gospel. The world cannot close the mouth of those that are constrained by the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:14).

              It is obvious from Paul’s message that he was dominated by a desire to please God. Actually, no other posture is acceptable.

CEASING TO BE

“If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ — NIV

              It is wrong to be men-pleasers. Friendship with the world is the inevitable result of pleasing men. The penalty for such a posture, however, compels the believer to that kind of friendship. “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

              No person can serve two masters—it simply is not possible (Matt 6:24). The reason for this circumstance is obvious. Natural men and God are at variance with one another. To serve men puts one at variance with God, and to serve God places one at variance with men. At the point the will of man begins to dominate our minds, we abruptly cease to serve Christ!

              “A double minded person is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Such individuals are noted for wresting the Scriptures, twisting them to meet their own wretched objectives (2 Pet 3:16). The remarkable prevalence of this kind of spirit is staggering!

              The thought of not being a “servant of Christ” should strike fear into every soul. Paul spoke candidly of such individuals. “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (Rom 16:17-18). It is tragic that so many follow thus cursed procedure.

              It really is not possible to be neutral between heaven and earth. Our eyes cannot seek man’s approval as well as that of our God. The persuasion of this truth effects the believer radically. Like the Apostles, when commanded to refrain from speaking the Gospel, they simply say they cannot help but speak it (Acts 4:20). The “spirit of faith” constrains us to speak to please God, and God alone!

NOT FROM MAN

“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ” — NIV

              There is such a thing as “man’s gospel.” It is a word contrived for itching ears. Those that are not reconciled to God, yet seek to maintain a religious appearance, seek for those that will satisfy their corrupt desires. This is a sign of spiritually decadent times. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim 4:3-4). The “myths” faithless people desire, are the gospels of men!

              Paul’s message was not invented by himself. It was not the result of his personal analysis. What is more, he was not taught this message by one of his peers. It came through revelation. In this regard, he was like the prophets of old. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet 1:20-21). In revelation, God did not provide a rough outline to be filled in by the one inspired. Paul was not giving his opinion of what was revealed to him. He was providing the true “Author’s intended meaning.”

              The persuasion of the Source of the Gospel message will constrain men to handle it faithfully. It is the business of everyone delivering the Word of God to accentuate its origin. This is what makes Scripture, “Scripture” (Mark 12:10; 15:28; John 8:38; Acts 1:16; Rom 10:11; 1 Pet 2:6). The thought never occurred to holy men of old that segments of Scripture might not be true. They knew the Source of Scripture, and continually emphasized that Origin.

              Academic approaches to the Gospel tend to de-emphasize this reality. They call upon men to rely upon human logic and human resources. They do not emphasize the God of Scripture, and thus their message does not produce faith. Paul underscored the Source of His message—that is what gave it such weight.