Paul Called by God's Grace Galatians 1:15 - Equipped for Battle

With the background of some people we may wonder if they could ever have a relationship with God. However, when we trace Paul the apostle's background along with his testimony, we will discover that the grace of God is available to everyone. Paul has been called by God and given the task to be the apostle to the Gentiles of whom the churches in Galatia are a part. Because of false doctrine infiltrating the church, he has been addressing those who have begun to believe these false teachers. The credentials he has given us thus far in the first chapter have led us to Paul's real reason for his relationship with God. He tells us in verse fifteen of chapter one:

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,

First, Paul previously referred to his excellence in Jewish studies, and his zeal for his then known religion. Although he was one of the top in his class, he knew this was not enough for his salvation. He wrote: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb.” Paul knew the origin for his existence. It was God's pleasure that Paul even be born. No one decides on their own whether they shall be born or not. None of us had anything to do with that decision. Paul knew the idea written in the book of Revelation in chapter four and verse eleven:

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.

God created Paul, and it was His pleasure to “separate” him from his mother's womb.

Secondly, Paul says that God, “called me by his grace.” Not only was it God's pleasure to see that Paul exist, it was also God who called him by His grace. God's “unmerited favor” was shown toward Paul when He gave him the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Paul did not earn his birth, nor did he earn his salvation. Paul's excellence in his field, his super-abounding zeal, and his dedication to his religion were not enough to save him. He needed more, and God supplied the extra. No amount of work or greatness on Paul's behalf would ever be enough to obtain the call of God upon Paul's life. Paul needed the grace of God as does anyone who comes into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

From where did we obtain our birth? Did we decide it, or did someone else have that responsibility? If we are in a relationship with Jesus Christ, how did we obtain it? Do we think it was by our own efforts and strong will, or did we obtain it by the unmerited favor of God? Do we consider ourselves called by God, and if so, how did we receive that call? Perhaps as we ponder Paul's background and his call from God we will consider our own, and as we reflect, we shall see that an abundance of the grace of God has been flowing and will flow toward us for all of our existence.

Next time we see what Paul did after he received the grace of God, so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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