Galatians 1:11-12 "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
"I certify you." Paul was expressing his deep understanding
that the Gospel he preached was not the result of a smooth talking preacher.
Rather, the message given by him was received directly from the Lord Jesus
Christ. In the next verses he will speak concerning his experience with
the Lord, but his concern was that the Galatians would not be carried
away by those who tried to convince them that their works were necessary in
order to get to heaven. I certify you... I declare strongly unto you... I
assure you that my words were not convinced to me through the means of man;
rather God, Himself, revealed to me the truth of what Jesus has already accomplished.
As a reminder I ask, "What had Jesus already accomplished? He told
us back in verse 4 that Jesus "gave himself for our sins, that he might
deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our
Father." Later in the book, we will be reminded that "... the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) He then went on to say,
"I do not frustrate the grace of God."
Paul told us in the book of Romans, chapter 11:6, "And if by grace, then
is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of
works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Our
eternal salvation is either by grace or by works. The thing we will learn
as we go through Galatians is that because our eternity is secured by the
shedding of Christ's blood, now we have the ability to do good works in order
to experience the blessings of living in the kingdom of God here on earth.
Heaven is secure, but we are to maintain good works in order to have the peace
and joy that is ours in Christ Jesus. Paul was saying, "I know this is
true because Jesus, Himself, spoke it to me." You and I can say the very
same thing. Any revelation we have received concerning Christ and HIs work
comes directly from Him through the Holy Spirit. May we practice the presence
of Jesus in our lives by exercising the ability to listen to, and follow, the
direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives.