Galatians 1:1

Galatians 1:1 says, Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)  Paul was specific in stating who he was.  There were those who questioned his right to call himself an apostle, but he said that he did not base this claim on anything men said or did, but on his relationship with God through Christ.  Having been a Jew, Paul had based his relationship with God on following the law of God, which no one could keep completely enough to claim to be justified before God.  Now, Paul recognized that the only way that he could be an apostle of God was through faith in Christ.  Though Paul had not followed Jesus in His earthly ministry, Paul had met Him personally on the road to Damascus, and he was forever changed.  Paul was now publicly proclaiming Christ, whom he had been persecuting before he met Him personally.  As followers of Christ, we have that same authority.  We do not need anyone in the world to tell us that we may witness for Christ.  We have a mandate from Christ to do so, therefore we should never allow anyone to tell us that we don't have this right.  Paul said that his right to call himself an apostle came from God and not men.  Our right and responsibility to witness come from the same source, which is our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse two adds, And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:  Paul said that he wasn't alone in what he was saying to the churches at Galatia, but that those brethren, or fellow believers, with him sent their greetings as well.  We should never feel that we alone know what God is saying to the world.  What we declare in the name of Christ should always be consistent with what God's written word, the Bible, teaches.  Verse three continues, Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,  Paul definitely was not at peace with those in power in the world at that time, but through Christ he was at peace with God.  Whatever is going on in the world today, we as followers of Christ should be at peace because of our relationship to Him.  We should never allow the world to steal that peace with God.  Verse four declares, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:  Paul did not say that one day Christ was going to deliver us from this evil world, but that He had already done so.  When we put our faith in Christ and follow Him, then we can live at peace knowing that He has delivered us forever.  Verse five adds, To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Paul was not writing to glorify himself, but he was writing that Christ might be glorified, not just for that day but forever.  Our witnessing today should always be done to glorify Christ and never to glorify ourselves.