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“The Change That Glorifies”
Gal. 1:11-24
St. John’s – East Moline
06/05/16
Intro.: As I look out on you tonight/this morning I noticed that you have all changed! Yes, even since you got
up this morning, you have changed. After all I don’t see any of you still wearing your pajamas out there.
Having been in this congregation so many years I have seen even more substantial changes in you over the
years. Some of you who I held in my arms and baptized are out of High School, now. Most of you have
learned things, seen things and done things that have changed you. Some of you have grown taller, thicker, or
greyer. And that is okay. Change can be good, especially when it comes to our spiritual life and our
relationship with God. In Paul’s words to the Galatians he makes it abundantly clear that…
I. We All Need To Be Changed. (11-14)
A. Every person who has ever been born enters this world as an enemy of God, and that is not a good state in
which to be. Like their parents before them they are infected with a virus that programs them for idolatry.
They are hard-wired to follow the ways of the devil and of a fallen world.
It is easy to see that this is the case when it comes to St. Paul. Originally going by the name, Saul of Tarsus,
he was, without a doubt, a natural born enemy of God. Of course, that is not how he saw himself at the time.
He actually thought that he was serving God; a self-image that was reinforced by the praise he was getting
from some of the most important people in the Jewish world. Everyone had heard the accomplishments of his
former life. He was famous and feared because of how advanced he was in Judaism and how zealous he was
for the traditions of his fathers.
Sadly, Saul had it all wrong. Even with all of his religious zeal he remained an enemy of God. Actually it
was his misguided religious beliefs that made him the chief of sinners and God’s public enemy number one.
When you get right down to it Saul’s former life was very similar to that of a member of the Taliban or an Isis
terrorist. His zeal for a false religion led him to arrest and murder anyone who seemed to abandoned his
sacred traditions by following Jesus.
The thing is, we all came into this world the same way. In our former way of life, however short it may
have been, we were all natural born enemies of God. Scriptures tell us that all people are conceived in sin and
born in iniquity, and that they are by nature objects of God’s wrath. [Cf. Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:3] As Jesus had
pointed out to Nicodemus we are all originally born of flesh, not of Spirit. In the flesh we all have the same
agenda: to be our own gods, to do our own thing, and to dethrone anybody who gets in our way.
Hard to think of a tiny unborn baby that way, but even there in its mother’s womb it is a sinner. All the sins
that it will commit during its life, the subtle and gross idolatry, the cruel and hurtful things it will learn to say,
the covetous and selfish way it will decide not to share but rather take from others, the murderous thoughts
and brutal actions, the lust and infidelity that will destroy future relationships, it is all there waiting to grow
and mature just like its little eyes and ears, arms and legs. Yes, even when we were little babies we all needed
to be changed.
B. And the change we need is one that “man’s gospel” can never accomplish, because “man’s gospel” as Paul
noted last week, is really no gospel at all, but it is law. That is the gospel to which the people of Galatia were
turning, and the one Saul had followed through his former life. It was the gospel for which he fought and
killed. It was the gospel that made him an even more detestable enemy of God. Judaism and the traditions of
Saul’s fathers had lost the true Gospel. They had forgotten the way that God had promised to save Israel and
all the people of the world. Instead of looking for the Messiah who would come to fulfill God’s Law for all
people, they piled up more and more demands of the law for people to keep in order to save themselves.
This is the gospel that comes naturally to natural born enemies of God, because it again sets us up to be
our own gods and saviors and to do our own thing. Man’s gospel, the gospel we usually choose for ourselves,
tells us that we have to be good enough! Good enough to earn God’s grace. Good enough to merit what
Christ did for us on the cross. Good enough to make the right decision and do the right things.
But “Man’s gospel” will not change us. It might be helpful in altering a few outward behaviors, but it does
not change the heart. Eventually it ends up alienating us even more from God, because it either brings us to
despair in our failure to keep the law or to some kind of warped self-righteousness in the laws we think we are
keeping. I’m talking about the kind that Saul had as he threw some Christians into prison and organized the
stoning of others, all while dressing the right way, avoiding defilement from unclean people, and eating only
foods from the holy menu. Because of our former way of life as enemies of God and followers of a false
gospel we all deserve nothing but eternal punishment, but thanks be to God…
II. Christ’s Gospel Changes Us. (15-16a, 23)
A. It changes people who were born of flesh and gives them a new birth in the Spirit, so that they no longer
live as an enemy of God under His wrath. Rather, they live a new life as a child of God under His grace.
Again, St. Paul is the perfect example of this. Saul had grown up hearing, believing and living according
man’s gospel. Under the bondage of the law Saul never understood that God had always loved him, but now
he did. Even while he was a sinner in his mother’s womb, before he was born in iniquity, while still an object
of wrath, God had set him apart. [Nt. v.15a]
On the road to Damascus, preparing to imprison and perhaps murder even more of Christ’s people, Saul
heard words of accusation and forgiveness. He heard himself labeled an enemy of God as Jesus said: “Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?” But then he heard something new and unexpected. Jesus invited him to
rise and go into the city, where He heard the Gospel from the Lord’s servant. There he was baptized for the
forgiveness of his sins and was told that he would be the Lord’s chosen instrument. Yes, despite all he had
done, Jesus still loved him! By the power of Christ’s Gospel persecutor Saul was changed into preacher Paul.
The Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is also the divine power that changes us from enemies of God into
His children. Before we were born, while yet enemies of God and objects of wrath, our Lord loved us and set
us apart. Many if not most of us heard words soon after we entered into this world through which God called
us and changed us. In our baptism God announced that our sins were washed away and said to us, “You are
now a child of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” That is when you might have first believed that the death of
Jesus on that cross is yours! The forgiveness that Jesus earned when he died is yours! And the resurrection of
Jesus from the dead is yours, also! That is the true Gospel that changes us, just like it did Paul.
B. It changes us into people who are now glorified by God.
I cannot imagine the guilt St. Paul experienced in his former life for all the horrible things he knew that he
done in the name of God. How often did the image of Stephen’s face glowing from the vision of heaven’s
opening and the sound of that saint’s pleading forgiveness for those who stoned him haunt that poor enemy
of God? And all the rest he had dragged away from their families and thrown into prison for their faith in
Christ. But Paul’s entire life was brought from shame to glory as he was delivered from his guilt to experience
the joy of God’s love and forgiveness. He was glorified by God in being forever remembered, not as the
persecutor and destroyer of the faith, but as the apostle to the Gentiles.
The change worked in us by the Gospel of Christ glorifies us, also. It takes away the guilt and despair over all
the things we have done or left undone, and fills us with the joy of being forgiven and saved by the love of God
through the life, death and resurrection of His dear Son. We will not be remembered as enemies of God, but
have received the special honor of being called the children of God; children who out of love for their
Heavenly Father no longer live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. We have all been changed
and glorified to live new, abundant, and everlasting lives in Christ. And…
III. We Are Changed To Glorify God.
A. Paul says that many people marveled and glorified God because of the change that God had worked in his
life. Many were amazed that this man who was once a persecutor and destroyer of God’s church, was now a
preacher of the faith and an instrument of God for building up the Church. Paul’s change demonstrated to
everyone the glorious power of God’s Word to change hearts. What a change God worked in him. The same
man who looked on approvingly while others were stoned for their faith, was now willing to be stoned, beaten
and killed for the sake of the Savior who loved him while an enemy, set him apart before He was born, and
called him by His grace to receive life and salvation.
In addition to Paul’s obvious personal change, Paul’s mission glorified God in the change it worked in
others. As he continue to preach the Gospel, which he, himself, had received, Paul truly became God’s
instrument to bring countless souls into the kingdom of God. Through his life and preaching, the Holy Spirit
led more and more to receive new life and everlasting salvation in Christ. Because the Gospel worked change
in the life of Paul, God is glorified as we continue to receive God’s gifts and to worship Him for eternity.
B. We all have the same opportunity to glorify God, as people marvel at the changes He works in us.
By the power of the Gospel people we see that we no longer live as enemies of God, but as His children who
gladly confess Him to be our God, who joyfully want to do what pleases Him, and who are comforted in
knowing that He is enthroned both in heaven and in our hearts.
This change will be seen by others as we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. God is
glorified through us as His love and mercy are shown through us. We glorify God as we treat others with
gentleness and compassion, remembering that we were once also dead in our trespasses and sins, and only by
grace have we been made alive in Christ. Like St. Paul we have the privilege of being God’s chosen
instruments to proclaim the love of God - that even while we were yet sinners, even chief of sinners and
enemies of God, Christ died for us all. The change that the Gospel of Christ works in us brings God glory as
we live out and share our faith in Christ for the sake of others.
Concl.: As I said, you have all changed! You have not just gotten taller, thicker, or greyer. You have been
changed by the Gospel; changed from enemies of God and children of wrath into children of God and heirs of
God’s grace. My prayer for you is that this change will continue as you grow more and more in the likeness of
Christ, by the working of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God, the Father. Amen.
“The Change That Glorifies”
Gal. 1:11-24
St. John’s – East Moline
06/05/16
I. We All Need To Be Changed. (11-14)
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
Man is born as an enemy of God.
Paul was a natural born enemy of God.
We were all natural born enemies of God.
We need a change that “man’s gospel” cannot work.
“Man’s gospel” is nothing but law.
“Man’s gospel” will not change us, but will alienate us more.
II. Christ’s Gospel Changes Us. (15-16a, 23)
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
It changes persecutors and enemies.
Saul to Paul – from persecutor to preacher.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ changes us from enemies to children.
It changes us into people who are glorified by God.
The change worked in Paul glorified Him.
The change worked in us glorifies us.
III. We Are Changed To Glorify God.
A.
1.
2.
B.
1.
2.
People marveled and glorified God because of Paul’s change.
His change showed God’s glory in the power of His life changing Word.
Paul’s mission glorified God in the change it worked in others.
People marvel and glorify God as he changes us.
Our change to be loving and merciful shows God’s glory.
Our change brings God glory as we live and share our faith.