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"For you have heard of my former conduct..."

Text: Galatians 1:13a

THE TESTIMONY OF PAUL

Paul was not proud of his past infamous behaviour. But neither would he avoid speaking candidly about what he was like in the past.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism,
how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure
and tried to destroy it.

Galatians 1:13

1. “My former conduct”

a) This could have been used against Paul.

b) He had indeed persecuted the church of God.

c) He had gone to extreme measures against the church.

d) He had tried very hard to destroy it.

2. Doubts cast upon Paul and the message he proclaimed

a) How could he have truly proclaimed the gospel he was against?

b) How could the church accept a man who had sought to destroy it?

MANY CONFESSIONS

This was not the first time Paul publicly confessed his past misdeeds:-

1. He spoke about his evil past to an angry mob in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-21).

2. He openly spoke of his past before King Agrippa (Acts 26:1-23).

3. He wrote about his past in a pastoral epistle (1 Timothy 1:13-17).

A SINFUL PAST DOES NOT CANCEL OUT A PRESENT MINISTRY

Paul did not try to excuse his past wicked behaviour. He chose to deal with his wicked past as candidly as he could. The following things may be noted from (1 Timothy 1:13-17).

1. There is mercy with the Lord (1 Timothy 1:13).

2. The grace of the Lord Jesus is indeed exceedingly abundant (1 Timothy 1:14).

3. Christ had come to save sinners; Paul admitted that he was the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

4. Paul was God’s classic example or pattern of His redemption plan.

a) God’s longsuffering is seen clearly.

b) God’s abundant grace is well evidenced.

c) The Lord had counted Paul worthy to be put into the ministry.

d) The Lord had enabled him to serve as an apostle in the preaching of the gospel.