Galatians 1:11-24

Christian persecution by Jews

 

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace.  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:13-24)

The gospel is the revelation of Christ, not the will of man. The gospel is not another gospel that has been sneaked into those who have true freedom in Christ, but is revealed directly by Christ. Another gospel is to follow the words of the legalists. In the end, they say they believe in Jesus, but if they follow the law, they are forced to be cursed. Those who are in Jesus Christ gain life, but if they are under the law, they are cursed. In Galatians 1:8『But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 』

There are also two types of believers in the church. There are those who believe in Jesus, but who believe that they must keep the law well and not fall into sin, and that they are saved only by faith, not the law. Of course, it is said that believers are saved only by faith, but it is also unknown whether it is their own faith or the faith of Christ from heaven. The faith you believe is still locked in the law. Only faith must come from heaven.

In Galatians 3:23-24『But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 』Here, "the time of faith to be revealed" means "when you realize that through law, you cannot achieve righteousness, and you cannot reach salvation unless you are united with Christ." To be united with Christ is to enter into the heart of Christ. It is not my heart that enters into Christ's faith, but enters into Christ. The faith of Christ is the faith that dies on the cross to redeem mankind and is resurrected by God. So those who are united with Christ enter into this faith.

The gospel of Christ's revelation is explained in Galatians 1:1.『Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)』So, this gospel comes from Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father who raised him from the dead. So, the Bible is emphasized in Galatians (v. 1:12). 』

Philippians 3:4-9 『Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 』

The apostle Paul is, in the world speaking, one who has learned enough to learn himself. However, he said that he considered all that he thought was beneficial. If there is anything to boast about, it is the Christ who died on the cross for the ransom of mankind, and God resurrected. The worldly knowledge and learning is nothing before God. Therefore, it is said that the application of worldly thoughts to the Word of the Bible is a fusion.

Revelation is called the Greek apocalypse, a word that comes from the verb apocalito (uncover, reveal, expose). So apocalypse has the meaning of uncovering, revealing what is hidden. It is said to reveal what is hidden inside by removing the cover. When Jesus explained through the parable of sowing the secrets of heaven, the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do you speak in parables?" In Matthew 13:11

『He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.』Revelation was given to the disciples.

In Matthew 13:34-35『All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 』 And in Psalm 78:2, 『I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 』Revelation reveals hidden secrets. The disciples learned the secret of heaven.

In 2 Corinthians 3:14-16『But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 』 The Bible said that when people read the Old Testament, the covered towel disappeared in Christ. If you are outside of Christ, you are still locked up by the law. The law tells us that humans are all sinners who have left God, and that in this world all are strangers. We came to this world through the first person Adam (the image of Christ), and we must return to the homeland of God through the last Adam (Christ). This is realized when the towel is peeled off.

When reading the Old Testament, if you do not find Christ in the law, the towel is covered. When reading the Old Testament, those who find Christ in the law are those who receive the gift of faith from heaven, and the towel is peeled off. So, they become the ones whose revelation takes place. Not simply believing like the mathematical formula of “believing in Jesus and being saved”, the material world is created from the kingdom of God, the spirits who have sinned in the kingdom of God come to this world, and the spirit enters the earth, making it human (first person). Adam) and Eve (criminal spirits) are separated through that person (Adam), and humans are born through them. Humans, again through the last Adam (Christ), escape the soil (the old man dies) and wear the heavenly tent house (spirit body). It is the revelation that realizes why Christ came to the world through the whole process and the death of the ransom. Every secret is contained in the Old Testament, and it is the revelation of Christ that realizes it.

Therefore, if you do not find Christ in God's cover and hidden in the secrets and laws of Genesis 1-3, the towel is still covered and you do not know the revelation. In Hebrews 11:13-16『These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 』

These people represent the advanced beliefs that are being introduced from Abel to Abraham. They knew that they were strangers on this earth. In other words, it is a traveler who came into this land from the kingdom of God. When you say you believe in Jesus, you don't understand the meaning of salvation unless you know why you came to this earth and where to go again. If you had to go back to the Garden of Eden, how would you say that the kingdom of God is your hometown? The Garden of Eden also becomes the Garden of Eden on earth, but it symbolizes the kingdom of God. If the Garden of Eden is understood as the Kingdom of God, what happened in the Garden of Eden may have happened on this earth, but what happened in the Kingdom of God is hidden. So, when you know the contents of Genesis 1-3, you will realize revelation.