You Are Called

Passage: Galatians 1:10–24
Main Idea: You are called by God’s grace to serve Christ supremely and to share the gospel for His glory.

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Introduction

In 1993 a 33-year-old theologian named Albert Mohler became president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. The school had drifted into theological liberalism—questioning the authority of Scripture and even denying key doctrines of the gospel.

Mohler stood before trustees and faculty and declared that the seminary would once again be anchored to the inerrant Word of God and the historic confession that founded it.

The cost was enormous:

• Faculty departures

• Lawsuits

• Protests

• Declining enrollment

But over time, God blessed that bold stand for truth. Today the seminary is one of the largest and most influential training grounds for pastors in the world.

Mohler understood something essential:

He was not there to please people. He was there to serve Christ.

Christians throughout history have faced the same calling—to stand for the gospel regardless of cultural pressure.

Church, we are called by God’s grace to stand for the truth and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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1. Called by God’s Grace

(Galatians 1:13–16)

“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me…” (Gal. 1:15–16)

Paul emphasizes that his salvation and calling were entirely God’s grace.

Paul’s Past

Paul reminds the Galatians of his former life:

“I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.” (Gal. 1:13)

Paul was not merely indifferent toward Christianity—he actively opposed Christ.

We first meet Saul approving the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.

Later Paul would write:

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
(1 Timothy 1:15)

Paul never got over God’s grace.

Grace for Sinners

Paul understood something foundational:

• Salvation is not earned

• Salvation is not deserved

• Salvation is God’s gracious gift

As the hymn says:

“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling.”

The gospel is not about religious achievement.

Religious but Lost

Paul had extraordinary religious credentials:

“I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age…” (Gal. 1:14)

But religious knowledge does not equal salvation.

The most moral, disciplined person still falls short of the glory of God.

“By grace you have been saved through faith…not a result of works.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Heaven is not filled with good people.

Heaven is filled with sinners who have trusted Jesus.

The Gospel of Grace

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1:15)

God did not save us because we were impressive.

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Grace should humble us and destroy self-righteousness.

As John Newton said:

“I am not what I ought to be…
but by the grace of God I am what I am.”

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2. Called to Serve Christ Supremely

(Galatians 1:10–12)

“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)

Paul describes himself as a servant of Christ.

The word means bondservant or slave.

Paul had a new master.

Not Pleasing People

Paul refused to shape the gospel to win approval.

He was accused of:

• Compromising truth

• Lowering standards

• Disturbing Jewish traditions

But Paul’s response was clear:

“The gospel I preached is not man’s gospel.” (Gal. 1:11)

It came directly from Christ.

Two Dangers for the Church

Paul warns against two distortions of the gospel.

1. License / False Liberty

This distortion says:

• Holiness doesn’t matter

• Truth should not offend

• Christianity should fit cultural expectations

This leads to:

• Weak convictions

• Worldliness

• Churches shaped by culture rather than Scripture

As J. Gresham Machen said:

“Indifferentism about doctrine makes no heroes of the faith.”

2. Legalism / Tradition

The opposite distortion adds rules to the gospel.

For the Judaizers this meant:

• Circumcision

• Dietary laws

• Jewish traditions

Paul responds:

“For freedom Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5:1)

Legalism places burdens on people that Christ never required.

The gospel is not:

“Fix your life, then come to Jesus.”

The gospel is:

“Come to Jesus—and He will transform your life.”

Serving Christ Alone

We must resist both distortions.

Our goal is not:

• Pleasing culture

• Impressing religious people

Our calling is to serve Christ supremely.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
(Colossians 3:23–24)

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3. Called to Share the Gospel

(Galatians 1:15–16, 23–24)

“…he called me by his grace…in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” (Gal. 1:15–16)

Paul’s calling included proclaiming the gospel.

The word used means to announce good news.

The Gospel Message

The gospel is simple but profound:

Through Jesus, God offers sinful people eternal life.

Paul summarizes the gospel clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:

• Christ died for our sins

• Christ was buried

• Christ rose again

This is the good news we share.

Defending the True Gospel

Paul fought against the Judaizers who added works to salvation.

“By works of the law no one will be justified.” (Gal. 2:16)

Even today, attacks on the gospel often begin with attacks on Scripture.

People say:

• “That was just Paul’s opinion.”

• “That was ancient culture.”

But if Scripture loses authority, human opinion becomes the authority.

The church must contend for the faith.

“Contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

A Transformed Life

The early church heard the remarkable report:

“He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” (Gal. 1:23)

The result?

“They glorified God because of me.” (Gal. 1:24)

A transformed life points people to the glory of God.

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Conclusion: Called for God’s Glory

“Let your light shine before others…that they may give glory to your Father.” (Matthew 5:16)

“You are a chosen race…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Our calling is not about making much of ourselves.

The world says:

• Build your name

• Build your platform

• Build your reputation

But Scripture says:

Make much of Jesus.

And in doing so we discover our deepest purpose and joy.

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Main Idea

You are called by God’s grace to serve Christ supremely and to share the gospel for His glory.

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Application Question

Where is God calling you to make much of Him?

Share the story of God’s gracious work in your life.

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Homework

1 Corinthians 15:1–11

• Read
• Reflect
• Respond
• Rest