Chapter 2 Questions

In what ways do you think Christians today value conformity? In what ways do they value nonconformity?

I think we are living in the days of that people value conformity of nonconformity. In other words, it’s just cool to stand out. Everybody wants to be different. But in doing so, they’ve all become the same. In people’s desperate attempt to be original, they’ve copied the copy of the copy. People glory in their stand for nothing. They pride themselves in how tolerant and diverse they are. And they think that they’re different for doing so. But they’re not. They’re just the same as everybody else.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Just like a child (a teenager that thinks they know everything) they think they stand for something new, something different, something original, something independent, but in truth, they’re just being carried about with every wind of doctrine.

There’s comfort in conformity. They almost seem like the same word. No doubt they are. To be comfortable means it’s the right fit. To conform means to fit it. The value in conformity is the peace of fitting in, the peace and ease of comfort; the old even keel. Whereas the value of nonconformity is standing out; independence.

I’m reminded of the definition of university: unity in diversity. Interestingly, I believe this was actually a Christian term used to describe Christian schools and colleges. It’s a wonderful term to describe the church. The church is unity in diversity. In the church, conformity and nonconformity coexist in harmony: university; unity in diversity. God saves people from all walks of life; different as day is from night. But then conforms them to the image of his dear Son.

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Even the definition of conform maintains nonconformity. Conform means to form together with. It carries with it the meaning of twisting and turning two individual things together until they become one. To be conformed to the image of his Son does not mean to be changed into the image of his Son, but to be formed together with the image of his Son.

That’s why Paul called marriage a mystery. He was speaking of Christ and the church. Two become one. Abraham sent Eleazar to find a bride for Isaac. It brought him joy when they came together as husband and wife. God the Father desires a bride for his Son, Jesus. If all he wanted was Jesus, why then did he save us? Amen. He has predestined us to be conformed, formed together with, the image of his Son.

Pardon the cliche, but we are not all robots. We maintain our individuality in the church; our nonconformity. Yes we all strive for unity and conformity. Both are valued when we love the brethren. Brethren loving represents the value of conformity. While loving brethren demonstrates how we value nonconformity.

Why do you think Paul felt it was necessary to share his conversion experience in this letter?

The easy answer is that Paul shared his experience to establish his credibility to the Galatians. However, I’m not sure as to how Paul’s experience really offered him credibility. Today, if someone came and said that the gospel he preaches came from God and not from man, we’d run him out on a rail. There is probably more credibility to someone who was sent out of a church that had their doctrine straight.

I would think that it would have lent Paul more credibility to have conferred with the apostles; and to have said:

Hey, what’s going on foolish Galatians. These Judaizers are not preaching what the original apostles preached. I know because I was taught of them.

But that’s not what he said. Therefore, there are some possible implications made in this matter.

1. Paul did not trust the apostles. He obviously had a problem with Peter; not to mention Mark, Demas, and others. Paul spoke of his (2 Corinthians 11:26) perils among false brethren.
2. There was something peculiar about Paul’s gospel compared to the apostles. Peter, in the beginning, preached to the Jew a message concerning the King and the Kingdom. He persuaded the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah Christ, the son of God. This is particularly different from what Paul preached to the Gentiles. The doctrine of substitutionary atonement was not really introduced until Paul came around. The death of Christ was preached as their sin on Pentecost by Peter. But Paul preached that the death of Christ was their salvation. Subtle differences, but they were there.
3. Judaizers were a particular problem to Paul and needed to establish a particular credibility. So here is the argument of credibility the credibility must be established in regards to the law and to the transition away from the law. Paul was an expert in the law. And after such a dramatic conversion, he taught a dramatic change in the law. What he was expecting from the Jews is what had become a reality in his own life. He said  Galatians 4:12 (KJV) Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are…

Whatever the case, I don’t think it’s honest to just say that Paul was trying to establish credibility; especially by association. If anything, he seems more to be setting himself apart from the apostles, not in a bad way. He even said at one point that Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation. Barnabas might not have been the only one. Maybe other apostles had a hard time with this. Peter, all the way into the tenth chapter of Acts says Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. This is after the death of Stephen and the conversion of Paul. This is after Paul preached in Damascas and went to Jerusalem. So you’re looking at three years after Saul was converted, that Peter was still following the law; the dietary law at least.

Colossians 2:20-22 (KJV) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

So you see, it was necessary for Paul to set himself apart from the apostles instead of using their association as credibility.

The author says, “Election involves responsibility.” Why did god elect to save Paul?

That’s like asking Why did God save Moses? Who comes up with these questions? First of all, God did not elect to save Paul. He elected to save the whole world. He elected to take from this world a bride for his Son. Did God have a purpose for Paul? Sure. Does God ever have a Plan B? In other words, if Paul did not elect to repent and be saved, would God have been up the creek and have nobody to write the New Testament? I think not. The fact that God checkmated the devil is a testament that our God thinks, possibly strategizes, and plans.

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

I’ve always wondered if the life that God has laid out for you is like a choose-your-own-adventure book. Many of us can testify how we made the wrong choice years back. We missed it so to speak. And that God has graciously brought us back around into his will. Interestly, I just saw this:

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

Now, this is not King James. And notice that it almost negates the point I’m saying. Read now the King James Authorized text

Proverbs 19:21 (KJV) There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Big difference, huh? The perverted text gives you the impression that man has plans and God has only purpose and that planning is not something God does; that planning is somehow wicked. There’s just something about this question that irks me. Why did god elect to save Paul? Am I supposed to answer that God saved Paul in order to bring the gospel to the gentiles, to write the new testament, to suffer many things? With the exception of writing the New Testament are we not all called to do these things? To whom much has been given, much shall be required. Yes. Election involves responsibility.

Paul’s experience of conversion was by grace through and through. In your own process of coming to faith in Christ, where was (and is) grace at work?

Let me count the ways.

1. He kept me until the day of salvation.
2. Preacher Allen actually loosed one of his best members to Odem, Texas.
3. Brother Janow was willing and obedient to his preacher and the Holy Ghost.
4. Brother Janow didn’t have a television (I challenged God).
5. God broke through my own deceptions.
6. The opening of my eyes.
7. The pigs running across the lawn.
8. My wife’s advice and actions.
9. When He told me that He loved me.
10. When He gave me the help I needed to call upon his name.

It’s was all grace.

Paul says he received the gospel not from the apostles who had known Jesus during His earthly ministry, but directly by revelation from Christ. What reasons does he give the Galatians to believe something so extraordinary?

I’m not sure if he actually gave reasons to believe his extraordinary account. That is not to say that there were not reasons. After much thought about this, I believe that Paul’s reasoning for explaining his conversion and revelation was to distance himself from the apostles. I believe that he found it necessary to establish a difference between them and himself. The evidence in the scriptures is clear that the earliest church was still in a learning process and that God was progressively revealing the gospel to his church. The Judaizers were in the midst and may even have been associated with some of the apostles. I know that is speculation, but as I said before, Peter was still holding to the morality of the dietary law three years after Paul was converted.

So to put this in perspective, God revealed to Peter that Gentiles were to be added to the church AFTER He had already conferred with Paul in Arabia concerning these matters. This is proof positive that there was to a certain degree a difference between what Peter preached and what Paul preached. Therefore, it was necessary to distance himself from the apostles’ Jew First Principle. Ha ha ha.

Is Paul saying that in general it’s bad to consult other people when we hear something from God?

No. There is no hint that he is implying that at all. However, there is a principle demonstrated here. It’s amazing what the Holy Ghost will show you in the word of God without the use of commentaries. They have their place and I use them often. But you can trust the Holy Spirit to do what Jesus said he would do. He will guide you into all truth. The revelations that God gives us in His word are the ones that stay with us for a lifetime. We rarely remember what the preacher said Sunday morning. But you never forget when God speak to you through his word; when God reveals to you himself in your bible reading and studying. Don’t ever be afraid to believe what the Bible plainly is teaching you and saying to your heart.

Why does it matter to us that the gospel is not of human origin (1:11)?

It just does.

If someone came to you with what he or she said was further revelation that is from God, no man, how would you determine the truth or falsity of that person’s claim?

We’d run them out on a rail! Just like they tried to run Paul out. Go figure.