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Daily Devotions

Galatians

Galatians 
Day 
Day 1

"Paul, an apostle…"

Text: Galatians 1:1

THE CONCEPT OF AN APOSTLE

The concept of an “apostle” may be traced back to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

1. Jesus called people to follow Him and these were called “disciples” (Matthew 10:1).

2. He then went on to commission them as “apostles” (Matthew 10:2).

3. The lexical meaning behind the word “apostle” simply means “sent”.

4. Jesus was described as Apostle by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 3:1).

THE ELECTION OF AN APOSTLE

Judas Iscariot ended up betraying the Lord Jesus and committing suicide (Acts 1:16-19). The apostle Peter addressed the congregation of the first Church founded in Jerusalem to deal with this problem.

1. He proposed that the place of Judas ought to be filled.

2. The Church was given the following criteria in the election of an apostle:-

a) The candidate must have been one of the disciples who followed Jesus from the beginning.
b) He must also be a witness of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21-22).

3. Two candidates were proposed and Matthias was duly elected to the office of an Apostle (Acts 1:23-26).

4. Matthias was then numbered with the eleven apostles (Acts 1:26).

PAUL AS AN APOSTLE

In his opening words in his Epistle to the Galatians Paul defended his apostleship.

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man,
but through Jesus Christ and God the Father
who raised Him from the dead).

Galatians 1:1

1. Paul acknowledged that a person may be made an apostle.

a) From men by means of election.
b) Through man.
He recognised the authority that Jesus gave to His disciples in matters pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18-19).
c) However, he did not receive his apostleship through men.

2. Paul’s defence of his apostleship.

a) It came through the Lord Jesus Christ.
b) It was approved by God the Father.
c) He too would bear witness that God raised Jesus from the dead.
d) He strongly declared and defended the validity of his apostleship.