Paul's Call By His Grace Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

2. Paul’s Call By His Grace

Introductory Remarks.

1. This is part-two of a sermon-series entitled: “When it pleased God.” In this lesson, we will discuss Paul’s Call By His Grace.” He wrote: How God called him by grace. This sermon is the most comprehensive lesson I have ever delivered on the topic of: “Salvation by Grace.” We must appreciate the truth outlined in the scriptures, that salvation is procured: “by grace through the faith,” Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9. It is not possible by the works of the law, or by works of human merit, Ephesians 2:9; Galatians 3:11-12. Grace is solely bestowed upon us through our, “faith and obedience” to the gospel of Christ, Romans 1:5; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:16-18. In Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, he firmly and confidently defended this truth of God. I pray you will continue to read and study this lesson and all of our sermons regarding: “The Pattern of Conversion," now available on SermonCentral.com: to understand further: “God’s calling by faith into His grace,” through the gospel of Christ! This lesson is another sermon-series by me for an in-depth study on the grace of God.

2. Second, we will discuss how God called Paul by His grace. One of the greatest gifts of love and grace to humanity, besides giving Christ for our sins: was God's call of Saul of Tarsus into Christ and the church. Paul was a “pattern” of God's mercy, kindness, and grace. His transformation was from persecutor to preacher; destroyer to the promoter; religious zealot of the traditions of his fathers, to the servant of Christ; and from a blameless Pharisee under the law, to the prisoner of Christ under the grace of God. The call of Saul brought "rest to the saints" and growth to the church through the disciples’: “preaching of the faith he once tried to ravish,” Galatians 1:22-24. No other disciple contributed to the gospel's spread into Asia, Africa, and Europe: as did this beloved apostle. When it pleased God, He "separated Saul from his mother’s womb, called him by His grace, to reveal His Son in him, that he might preach Him unto the heathens,” Galatians 1:15-17. He did this with unswerving devotion, and tireless dedication in carrying the message of grace everywhere, as an "ambassador of Christ," 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. With this brief introduction, let’s consider part-two in this sermon-series: Paul’s Call By His Grace.

II PAUL’S CALL BY HIS GRACE

A. Paul’s former conversation. Paul now conveys God's call of him to these Galatians through His grace. He wrote: “For you 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,” Galatians 1:13. He mentions two noteworthy things: 1) his life in the Jewish religion, observing the traditions of his fathers, and 2) his persecution beyond measures the church of God. One need only to read Acts 8 and 9 to obtain a detailed account of his persecutions of the church. For now, let's consider,

B. Paul’s former life. The Galatians undoubtedly had heard of Paul’s former life in the Jewish religion: Judaism. Here, he mentions his former life but does not expound upon it. He wrote: “And (I) profited in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers,” Galatians 1:14. He unlikely did not want to discuss all of his achievements under this system of works. Interestingly, he mentioned these two things. Let’s consider them,

1. His profit in the Jews religion. He wrote: “I profited in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my nation,” Galatians 1:14a. He rose to great heights far beyond his equal in this religion. He became a “Pharisee of the Pharisees,” Acts 23:6. Living in all “good conscience before God until this day,” Acts 23:1. He sat at the “feet of Gamaliel and was taught of the most strictness of the law of his fathers, being a zealot of God,” Acts 22:1-3. Observe,

a. Jesus taught His disciples: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father, nor me,” John 16:1-3; John 8:19; Luke 10:22.

b. Paul here is bearing witness to his former life, he once trusted and boasted in as he made his defense: before the chief priests and the entire Jerusalem council, Acts 22:30; Acts 23:1-11.

c. He was “Being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of the fathers." He not only kept these traditions but was more exceedingly zealous in them than those of his countrymen. These were the same “traditions" that Jesus rebuked the: “scribes and Pharisees of being zealous in their keeping of the traditions of their fathers.” Observe—