Called By Grace
Read Galatians 1:11-24.
This passage in Galatians may be as close to an actual account of Paul's conversion from the man himself. Though he doesn't mention being knocked down by a bright light, he does give us some insight as to how that event, and the years that quickly followed, affected him. To some, this passage may sound arrogant, like Paul is bragging, but in context, he's giving verification for his ministry. And that ministry, and Paul, all centers around one little phrase found in verse 15: "called by grace."
Though Paul had great credentials in Judaism, and though he was extremely intelligent, none of that is what mattered to him in his current ministry and way of life. What ultimately mattered is captured in that little phrase. God had seen fit, for whatever reason, to call to Paul, to offer him a new life and a chance to impact the world. Paul answered, and the world was never the same. But it wasn't because of Paul. It was because of the grace of God. Paul was only able to do what he did because of grace.
Grace is perhaps best defined as unmerited favor, getting what we don't deserve, a gift based not on the character of the receiver but on the love of the giver. Grace is being chosen when we don't deserve to be, and Paul knew that if anyone didn't deserve to be chosen to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be made an apostle-lately-born, it was him. He had worked against Jesus. He had killed (or at least approved of the killing) of faithful disciples of Jesus. He did not deserve to become the foremost preacher of the Gospel.
Only by grace. Only because God called him by grace. That's why Paul did what he did.
And that's why we do what we do. None of us deserve special attention or notice from God. We have all done things that offend God—things that are called "sin." We've messed up. We may not be "as bad as" Paul or <insert horrific criminal name here>, but we still know, deep in our gut, that we have not done everything right. And yet...
And yet...
We don't tell others about Jesus because we deserve to do so. We tell others about Jesus because we are called by grace. We live out our faith because in response to grace. We live as faithfully as we can and entrust the rest to grace. St. Augustine reportedly said, "Love God and do as you please." By that he's not giving license to sin or "do whatever you want." Rather, he is reminding us that when loving God comes first, the rest of our desires (what we "please") will flow from that. We respond to God's calling, a calling that comes because of grace.
Have you been called by grace? If so, are people praising God because of the way you have responded (v. 24)?
This passage in Galatians may be as close to an actual account of Paul's conversion from the man himself. Though he doesn't mention being knocked down by a bright light, he does give us some insight as to how that event, and the years that quickly followed, affected him. To some, this passage may sound arrogant, like Paul is bragging, but in context, he's giving verification for his ministry. And that ministry, and Paul, all centers around one little phrase found in verse 15: "called by grace."
Though Paul had great credentials in Judaism, and though he was extremely intelligent, none of that is what mattered to him in his current ministry and way of life. What ultimately mattered is captured in that little phrase. God had seen fit, for whatever reason, to call to Paul, to offer him a new life and a chance to impact the world. Paul answered, and the world was never the same. But it wasn't because of Paul. It was because of the grace of God. Paul was only able to do what he did because of grace.
Grace is perhaps best defined as unmerited favor, getting what we don't deserve, a gift based not on the character of the receiver but on the love of the giver. Grace is being chosen when we don't deserve to be, and Paul knew that if anyone didn't deserve to be chosen to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be made an apostle-lately-born, it was him. He had worked against Jesus. He had killed (or at least approved of the killing) of faithful disciples of Jesus. He did not deserve to become the foremost preacher of the Gospel.
Only by grace. Only because God called him by grace. That's why Paul did what he did.
And that's why we do what we do. None of us deserve special attention or notice from God. We have all done things that offend God—things that are called "sin." We've messed up. We may not be "as bad as" Paul or <insert horrific criminal name here>, but we still know, deep in our gut, that we have not done everything right. And yet...
And yet...
We don't tell others about Jesus because we deserve to do so. We tell others about Jesus because we are called by grace. We live out our faith because in response to grace. We live as faithfully as we can and entrust the rest to grace. St. Augustine reportedly said, "Love God and do as you please." By that he's not giving license to sin or "do whatever you want." Rather, he is reminding us that when loving God comes first, the rest of our desires (what we "please") will flow from that. We respond to God's calling, a calling that comes because of grace.
Have you been called by grace? If so, are people praising God because of the way you have responded (v. 24)?
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