But when the one who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace was pleased to reveal His Son to me so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,
Paul writes: "But when the one who set me apart from my mother's womb," at the start of Galatians 1:15. The question is "in what way was Paul set apart?" For salvation? Nope. As a Hebrew? Perhaps. As a person who would become a prophet, a spokesperson of God? Probably. Note Paul was NOT set apart (chosen) before creation, but after he was conceived, during his lifetime.
Paul continues: "and called me through His grace," refers to his Damascus road experience. So this refers to when Christ revealed Himself to Paul and asked Paul why he was persecuting Him. Note Paul was invited by God's grace by an encounter in the physical world, a revelatory grace, not an invisible beam of irresistible grace. About 3 days later, Paul "called upon the name of the Lord" putting his faith in God and His Christ.
And now to the heart of the matter, "was pleased to reveal His Son to me" refers to Paul receiving the "pure gospel," not from men but from God, for the purpose of Paul being God's agent to reveal His Son to others.
"that I [Paul] might preach His among the Gentiles," Nothing in this passage says or suggests God compelled Paul to believe, but rather the Lord's startling appearance caused Paul to reconsider to direction and repent.
The essential truths being taught are that no one can believe unless (1) God's "revealing grace" (the gospel) is provided, and (2) the soil is prepared to receive it. Some are brought along with sweetness and light, but others like Paul, must be hit along side the head with a two by four. Such as the "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God" sermon. We must recognize we are on the wrong track.
Paul writes: "But when the one who set me apart from my mother's womb," at the start of Galatians 1:15. The question is "in what way was Paul set apart?" For salvation? Nope. As a Hebrew? Perhaps. As a person who would become a prophet, a spokesperson of God? Probably. Note Paul was NOT set apart (chosen) before creation, but after he was conceived, during his lifetime.
Paul continues: "and called me through His grace," refers to his Damascus road experience. So this refers to when Christ revealed Himself to Paul and asked Paul why he was persecuting Him. Note Paul was invited by God's grace by an encounter in the physical world, a revelatory grace, not an invisible beam of irresistible grace. About 3 days later, Paul "called upon the name of the Lord" putting his faith in God and His Christ.
And now to the heart of the matter, "was pleased to reveal His Son to me" refers to Paul receiving the "pure gospel," not from men but from God, for the purpose of Paul being God's agent to reveal His Son to others.
"that I [Paul] might preach His among the Gentiles," Nothing in this passage says or suggests God compelled Paul to believe, but rather the Lord's startling appearance caused Paul to reconsider to direction and repent.
The essential truths being taught are that no one can believe unless (1) God's "revealing grace" (the gospel) is provided, and (2) the soil is prepared to receive it. Some are brought along with sweetness and light, but others like Paul, must be hit along side the head with a two by four. Such as the "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God" sermon. We must recognize we are on the wrong track.
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