A life change - life-changing

Galatians 1:13-24

1. Why did the churches praise God?

Paul, in his previous way of life in Judaism persecuting Jesus Christ, was called by God's grace. God revealed Christ in him so that he might preach Christ among the Gentiles. Paul did not consult any man, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before he was, but he went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

The people only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of Paul.

Philippians 3:3-14

2. How did Paul view his old strict religious life?

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.

But whatever was to Paul's profit he now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, he consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord, for whose sake Paul have lost all things.

Paul wants to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Paul press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus.