How do we testify about ourselves and yet point others to Christ? When we talk about ourselves, we tend to talk about our qualifications, accomplishments, and all things positive, leaving out the negatives. For the Apostle Paul, when he was a prisoner and stood before the governors, he talked about Christ and urged them to come to Jesus. When we share our testimony, we must consider the context, and be very selective about what we share. The experiences we share must be real (not something made up), and our testimony must always be the truth.

In testifying, we must always confess our sinful past. In Galatians 1:13-14, Paul did not keep his past a secret. He was an infamous persecutor of Christians. His “conversation” or behaviour in reference to the Jewish faith was public knowledge. He was a vicious enemy of the Church of God. Notice that he did not mention any gory details of his persecution of Christians. Thus, the readers’ minds were not soiled by those unnecessary details. The word “profiteth” means advanced, progressed or increased, implying that Paul was very good at what he did (i.e. persecution). But he regretted his past. Although the suffering of the Christians was ordained by God, it was wrong of Paul to abuse the Christians. When Paul was on the road to Damsacus, he was born-again, and he became part of the Church of God. He knew what the Pharisees and the governors were doing, for he was like them in the past.

In Galatians 1:15-16a, Paul moved from his sinful past to his ministry as a servant to God. He highlighted three important aspects.

1. “separated me from my mother’s womb”: God knew Paul’s past role in persecuting the Church, yet He still saved him. In fact, God had elected Paul even before he was born. The timing of Paul’s salvation was based on God’s own good pleasure.
2. “that I might preach him”: Upon his salvation, Paul became a defender of the faith. Even his sinful past did not disqualify him from his apostolic office. It was the sovereignty of God. He had set Paul apart. Paul’s testimony of salvation was all about God working in his life, turning a sinner into a saint.
3. Paul’s ministry: In the past, Paul promoted the Sanhedrin but after conversion he promoted Christ. His calling into ministry was from Christ. What about us? Do we promote Christ now that we are saved? When His name is attacked, do we defend Him for His glory?

Like Paul, our testimony for Christ must be about what Christ had done for us, and through us. “He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).