From the beginning of Paul’s ministry, God set him apart from the other apostles. Paul was not called the same way as the original twelve, nor did he enjoy the direct training from the master. God called Paul out of a life of being one of the religious elites. He was raised very properly; Paul was flawless in his understanding of Judaism. He was a rising star among the ranks of religious leadership.
Paul was attacking the church with a vengeance and had built a reputation as an effective enforcer of Jewish law and tradition. The Lord stopped him on the road to Damascus. Jesus invited Paul to join the ranks of His apostles as Paul lay blind on the road. Paul met Jesus that day and never looked back.
Paul was called to spread the Gospel to the gentile world. These people had no understanding of Jewish tradition or the many rules they followed to remain separate. So, who would be better to teach them the Jewish way of believing in God?
That was not God’s plan, however. God used this Jewish legal scholar and enforcer to teach the gentile world about the pure grace of God. Paul was preaching the simple truth that God accepts people from every station and without condition. This drove all the leaders crazy. The Jewish leadership hated Paul because he betrayed them. Many of the early Christians did not trust or believe Paul. He used to hunt them, after all. Even the apostles struggled.
God knew that Paul was the right guy, however. Paul was relentless and true to his beliefs. He understood the grace of God better than anyone. God accepted Paul even after Paul was persecuting His church. Paul had “done” all the right things Jewish law and traditions required, but was still empty. Paul was the spokesperson for Jewish separation, so his ministry to welcome gentiles could only be God-driven.
God has shown throughout His Word that He uses the least likely person to accomplish the greatest acts of faith. Childless Abraham, murderous Moses, timid Gideon, shepherd boy David, and Queen Esther all were prepared and called to specific missions of faith. While they would have never been the world’s pick, they were certainly God’s. Now Paul would lead the charge to complete God’s original mission of drawing the entire world into a relationship with Himself.
As with most missions, Paul’s was not easy. So, as Paul began the letter to Galatia, he did so explaining His call and mission. He was not apologizing. Rather, Paul was setting the stage for these people to seek God’s grace without adding extra knowledge or conditions. That message was important for them and is still important for us.
God Bless You
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Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from [a]God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil [b]age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
Perversion of the Gospel
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you [c]by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel [d]contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be [e]accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel [f]contrary to what you received, he is to be [g]accursed!
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Walking With God 