by Derek Gitsham
"For I neither received it of man, neither
was I taught it , but by the revelation of
Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:12
The enemy of our souls has very cleverly
manipulated us all by many tricks, and
deceptions, that have substituted the gospel
for another gospel. The context of this verse
is quite plain. Paul is actually quite
aggressive here. The Churches in Galatia were
being infiltrated by another gospel. So alarming
is this to Paul that he cries out in the 8th
and 9th verse that the individuals responsible
for this outrage to be accursed. They had
denied the relevance of the gospel, to him
the gospel had now been made irrelevant.
It was a simple error. When things go wrong it
is not a big thing at first, seemingly, but
really it is. Verse 6 says “I marvel that you
are so soon removed from Him that called you unto
the grace of Christ into another gospel.” The
gospel to Paul was Jesus. Everything about it
was Him and Him alone. In fact, he goes on to
say in the verse we are looking at, that he
received the gospel by the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
Revelation means unveiling. Jesus was unveiled to
Paul and at that moment he claims the gospel was
his. How marvelous. Knowing who Jesus is was the
key to all his preaching and ministry. Paul
claimed to the Corinthians, in the first epistle,
ninth chapter, verse 1, in defending his apostleship
of them, “Have I not see the Lord?”
We know on the Damascus Road that Jesus spoke to
him. He was blinded by the incident, but three
days later a disciple named Ananias is commanded
by God to go and pray for him to receive his sight.
He does and Paul receives his sight, inwardly and
outwardly.
The voice of Jesus alone was not enough. He had to
have Jesus revealed within him. Many are saved, but
still have had no revelation of Jesus. Could this be
the answer to so much lack of power in our lives?
Jesus reveal Yourself to our hearts today. Amen.
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