God's Goodwill Toward Us

- This encounter, more than anything, would have transformed this zealous persecutor into a zealous messenger of Jesus Christ

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- Paul has the credentials to tell us the truth about God the Father & Jesus His Son

- He has the authority of an apostle

b. Apostolic Authority

Q. What was the important things that qualified one as an apostle of Christ?

- 2 things: 1. You have to have seen the risen Jesus & 2. Be sent or commissioned by Him to be a witness of His resurrection

1 Co 9:1 ....(talking about rights & freedoms). Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

Ga 1:11-12 ..... 11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

- That revelation was not something that just jumped into his mind

- The revelation was the literal appearing of the risen Jesus to him on the road to Damascus – it’s historical

- That is something you would not forget – neither would your companions who had to guide you for 3 days journey into Damascus because you were blind

- Jesus blinded Paul for 3 days & it was only after he spoke with Ananias in Damascus that the scales fell off his eyes & he could see

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- This is a man who had to admit that what he had done was evil

- This is a man who had to admit to being on the wrong path

- This is a man who faces his old peers that now see him as the enemy

- This man is truly qualified to tell us the truth about God & Jesus Christ

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- And how interesting that the first thing he talks about in this letter is about the...

2. Goodwill from God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ

- If anyone knew about the goodwill of God it was Paul

- This persecutor of the church experienced first hand the grace & forgiveness of God

- Instead of destroying him he spared him & entrusted him with the important role of making Christ known to the world

- I guess someone who truly realises their horrible sin against God, would be so grateful for his forgiveness as to dedicate his life to His service

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- Paul says that God’s goodwill is expressed by His grace & peace

- Grace & peace are not static as if it were just given at one time in the past

- Grace & peace are ever flowing toward us as God’s people

- God knows our lives, the struggles we face, the tempations & sin & yet He still has goodwill toward us

- That goodwill should not be taken for granted, but should be a means by which we can grow to be more like Christ

a. Grace

“When I get to heaven, I shall see three wonders there: The first wonder will be to see many there whom I did not expect to see; the second wonder will be to miss many people whom I did expect to see; the third and greatest of all will be to find myself there” (John Newton, author of hymn “Amazing Grace”).

- This is the definition of grace: “a beneficent disposition toward someone, favor, grace, gracious care/help, goodwill”