I'm surprised that paradox3 skpped over one of Paul's most important issues raised by the misguided Galatians.
Galatian Christianity quickly abandons mystical experience-based faith in favor of legalistic spirituality and ethical principles. Paul labels this inevitable transition as "foolish" and calls them out for forgetting and neglecting their prior expectations of Spirit-anointed experiences and miracles:
"
Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard (Galatians 3:3-5)?"
The Christian fight for justice is ultimately spiritually inept unless it is energized by the experience of supernatural power:
"But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ;For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:19-20)."
Thus, Christian preaching of the Gospel should be verified by manifestations of the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit:
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in human wisdom, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5),"
Thus, Paul reminds us of "the signs and wonders" that verified his Gospel preaching to produce mass conversions from Jerusalem to Rome:
"When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you (2 Cor. 12:12)."
"Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 1 will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:17-19)."
Paul's success confirms Jesus' prediction that the power of His followers' ministry will even outperform His own ministry:
"Truly, truly I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these
shall he
do;
because I go unto my Father (John 14:12
Paul's success confirms Jesus' prediction that the power of His followers' ministry will even outperform His own ministry:
"Truly, truly I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these
shall he
do;
because I go unto my Father (John 14:12)."
Global Pentecostals get this essential point in a way that mainline denominations don't. That's why eminent sociologist Peter Berger can call Pentecostalism "the most explosive r elgious phenomenon of all time."