No Invention of Man

"He which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed." (Galatians 1:23)

Paul is credited with having a lot influence over the first century church. But his position as an apostle and noted author of 13 letters of the New Testament was not attained by prestige. Paul was formerly know as Saul, a Christ hating murderer who made it his life's ambition to hunt down professing Christians and kill them.

This really tells us two things. First, we learn that Paul was not appointed to an honorable position of power and influence by his own work and deeds.

We have it by Paul's own confession that he was previously a Jew of great honor. He was exceedingly zealous for the customs and traditions of his Jewish heritage. He had absolutely no intention of becoming Christian. But most of all, he actually believed that he was doing God a great service when persecuted the church, even punishing some to death.

"For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers." (vv. 13-14)

So if the gospel of grace in Jesus Christ did not come from Paul, where did it come from? He answers that question too...

"It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen" (vv. 15-16)

God called Saul of Tarsus, saved him by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, changed his name to Paul, and ordained him to be an apostle and preacher of the faith to the unbelieving world. Jesus Christ was his teacher; he was no man's disciple. But have you ever wondered why God would use someone like Paul to be, what some would say, the greatest apostle? Why not Peter, James, or John? Again, the answer is quite simple: God wanted to demonstrate very unmistakably that the gospel, which we believe, is not an invention of man, nor does it follow after the traditions of men. How perfectly is this accomplished in Paul by using a man who had absolutely no love for Christ and no selfish-ambition to promote Christ!

Secondly, we learn that the grace of God in salvation far exceeds all of our sin and wickedness.

Several years ago I called my mother to share the good news of salvation and forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. I had recently become a Christian and all I could think of is how desperately my mother needed Jesus. While we were talking she just started crying on the phone and after a few minutes she said this... "God couldn't possibly love me! You don't know what I've done."

Now I can't tell you in words how much that hurt. It still hurts to think about that conversation. But she was in a position that so many like her are in everyday - thinking your wickedness is greater than God's forgiveness. But there is one thing God has made abundantly clear: God saved Paul!

Paul was the chief of sinners; I can think of no one who hated Christ more than him. If he can be forgiven in Christ then certainly I can too. And that is what I told my mother. "He will forgive you mom," I said. "Jesus died for all your sin and all your wickedness." By the grace of God she believed that night and confessed her sin to God asking for forgiveness. Now today she is very active in church and she is even the president of the Gideons Woman's Auxiliary.

Christ died for the ungodly, not the righteous. Who needs Jesus more than the vilest of men and women? And he will save you too by his grace through faith. Do you believe in his Son Jesus Christ?

Jay