-------------------------- Sermon Outline--------------------------------

I. Paul's First Defense: Jesus Not Jerusalem (vv. 13-17)

 A. "Who I Was" (Paul's Pre-Conversion Life as a Jew) –vv. 13-14

    1. Public knowledge: Paul was a notorious convert  

    2. Paul's former manner of life "in Ioudaismos" ("in Judaism")  

        a. Expressed negatively (13) and positively (14)

        b. The question of authority

 B. "What I Am" (Paul's Conversion to Christ) – vv. 15-16a

    1. God's Choice (cf. Romans 9:11-18; Ephesians 1:4-5)

    2. God's Call (cf. 1 Peter 1:3, 2:9)

    3. God's Commission (cf. Jeremiah 1:5)

 C. "Where I Went" (Paul's Post-Conversion Trip to Arabia) – vv. 16b-17    

II. Observations . . . (adapted from Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae: Galatians-Ephesians, vol. 17 [London: Holdsworth and Ball, 1833], 24–26)

    A. Our salvation is the same in its origin: the electing love of God

    B. Our salvation is the same in its means: the effectual grace of God

    C.  Our salvation is the same in its manner: the revelation of Christ who is the Gospel

    D. Our salvation is the same in its goal: to make Christ known