“My Gospel” (Gal 1:11-24) - Galatians: Be Free II -

“My Gospel” (Gal 1:11-24)

- Galatians: Be Free II -

Defining Conversion

How do you define “conversion”? In the magazine of the Naval Institute, Frank Koch shares his experience as battleship captain. One night he was serving on the lead battleship. The visibility was poor with thick fog. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." The captain called out, "Is it steady or moving astern?" The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant they were on a dangerous collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'" The signal came back, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees." The captain said, "Send: "I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'" The reply came, "I'm a seaman second-class. You had better change course twenty degrees." By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'" Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse." The captain changed course. Conversion is a change of mind and change of life, a turning towards God by the result of a personal encounter with the risen Christ. In the beginning of the letter the Apostle Paul declares there is no other gospel than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, he shares his own conversion in order to prove that only the gospel of Christ is the scripture way of salvation and transforms people from the inside out. The gospel transformed Paul from terrorist to evangelist. So let us look at his pre-conversion, his conversion, and his post-conversion.

Pre-Conversion: Prevenient Grace (vv. 13-14)

Paul was a terrorist. He tried to destroy the church. He approved the martyrdom of Stephen. He went from house to house, dragging men and women off to jail. He even got a permission letter from the high priest to arrest Christians who lived outside of Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2). In 1 Timothy 1:13 he referred to himself as a “blasphemer,” “persecutor,” “violent man,” and “the worst” of sinners. The thing is that before Paul’s conversion, he thought he was a righteous man. He thought he was doing the right thing before God by persecuting Christians. He was extremely zealous for his ancestors’ traditions. Paul probably saw himself as a modern day hero of the Pharisees. He might compare himself to Old Testament characters like Phinehas (Num 25:11), who pierced an Israelite man and Midianite woman with a spear in God’s zeal. He might also compare himself to Elijah, who displayed zeal by slaying the prophets of Baal (1 Kgs 19:10, 14). Paul was sincere in his beliefs, but he was sincerely wrong. He was beyond the hope of the gospel. John Stott says, Now a man in that mental and emotional state is in no mood to change his mind, or even to have it changed for him by men. No conditioned reflex or other psychological device could convert a man in that state. Only God could reach him— and God did!”

As he looks back, Paul now recognizes God’s grace was working in his life long before his actual conversion. As you look back, probably you have “aha” moments or turning points in your life. In verse 15 he says God “set me apart from birth.” Not only Paul but also each one of us in this room God set apart from birth for his glory. Do you believe this? John Wesley describes God’s grace as threefold: prevenient (preparing) grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace. In this case we call it prevenient grace, which is God’s grace coming before we believe in Christ. It is God’s grace given to every human being. God always takes the initiative in relating to humanity. We do not have to beg and plead for God’s love and grace. God actively seeks us. It was not Paul but God who did seek. God found Paul and transformed him from terrorist to evangelist. No one is so bad that they can’t receive the gospel of grace, nor so good that they don’t need the gospel of grace.

Conversion: Justifying Grace (vv. 15-16a)

If you are a Christian, you have your own conversion experience. You may not have a Damascus Road experience. But the heart of the conversion experience is to personally encounter with Jesus Christ. So, as we examine ourselves to see whether we are converted (cf. 2 Co 13:5a), the most crucial question we have to ask ourselves is this: “Who is Jesus to me?” 1 Corinthians 12:3 says, “Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.” If you believe in your heart that you are made right with God through Jesus Christ and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you already encountered Christ and he lives in you! (cf. Rom 10:10; 2Co 13:5b) The heart of marriage is “oneness” between bridegroom and bride. How was the weather on the wedding day? How many people did come to the wedding? How was the wedding food? Those are only secondary and soon forgotten. In the same way, some may have dramatic conversion, others gradual. Some may see visions or hear audible voices, others not. But the heart of our conversion is a personal encounter with Jesus. In today’s Scripture Paul describes his conversion in this way, “God was pleased to reveal his Son in me.” At that time, Paul was against God. He was an enemy of God. But God was pleased to reveal Christ in him. God set his grace on Paul not because he was worthy of it, but simply because God was please to do so. This is grace. Moses tells God’s people in Deuteronomy 7:7-8: “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you.” God does not love us because we are worthy. He loves us simply because he loves us. This is God’s love toward us in Christ. Have you experienced this love?

Post-Conversion: Sanctifying Grace (vv. 16b-24)

When we experience God’s unconditional love, we are transformed. We are converted. However, this is not the end but the beginning. Conversion is a lifetime experience. When we are converted and sense a personal relationship with Jesus, God gives us a new mission, that is to reveal Christ through what we are, do, and say. In verses 15-16 Paul says, “God was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” Paul was not converted just for his own benefit. His conversion came with a commission. And so does ours! 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (NIV). Before our conversion, we either don’t have purpose of life or have self-centered one. But after our conversion, our purpose of life turns into other-centered and God-centered one.  Paul had a difficult life, but his life was meaningful in God’s eyes.

I still remember when I was a senior in college, I rededicated my life to Christ. At that time, I was a youth group teacher at my home church in Korea. In my group there were several high school students who wanted to go to college but couldn’t because of their personal or family circumstances. God gave me a desire to set up “Vision Study Club.” I began to teach the students both the Bible and academic subjects. By the grace of God they started to discover purpose of their lives and eventually entered college they aimed at. I clearly witnessed how God’s grace transformed their lives. More importantly, God transformed me. I encountered Christ who was at work within and among us. I also sensed that God was calling me to ministry. I still remember the day I responded to God’s call and decided to become a pastor. When I shared my decision with my parents, they were so happy. And particularly, my father who is a Korean Methodist pastor, wrote me a letter. He wrote: "My son, I pray that the Lord will make your paths straight. I still remember the moment when you shared with me that you would want to be a pastor. That was the happiest moment in my entire life. I am still always grateful to God who called you to ministry. It is such a narrow path. You will have hardships ahead, but our Lord will give you all strength and wisdom to overcome them. I believe that you will be a good and faithful servant of God and turn many to Christ!" Whether we are clergy or laity, all Christians are called for one mission. God calls us and converts us and reveals Christ in us, so that we may proclaim him to others.

“Now” Is the Time!

We are called to proclaim Jesus because he is the only way of salvation. The gospel of Christ is not good advice from man. It is good news from God. Before his conversion, Paul was a fanatic headed in the wrong direction. But God already set him apart from birth and was calling him and pleased to reveal Christ in him. Paul’s conversion is all of God’s grace from beginning to end. After his conversion, Paul’s life was not easy, but it was purposeful and meaningful. How about you? Have you found Jesus, the fountain of living water? The Bible says, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Co 6:2b). God already set you apart from birth and has a wonderful plan for you. Christ is calling you. Come and drink now!