Galatians 1:15-16
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
Tag: God Calls and God Equips
In the next chapter of Galatians Paul will take on, what appears to be, false teachers who had come into the Jerusalem church to teach false doctrine. Paul wants them to see that this false teaching had even impacted the Apostle Peter:
Galatians 2:11
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
In the verses, above, we see that Paul is claiming he was called by God, even from the womb, to proclaim the Gospel. He goes on to say that after his conversion he didn’t even go to the other apostles to seek counsel. Paul is the product of the Spirit of God bringing Him into understanding of the doctrines of God. He did not consult to get a group gospel - a gospel formulated by man for man. Paul’s gospel is directly from Jesus Christ and the teaching and leading of the Spirit of God. God calls those He wants to teach the Gospel and gives them insight through the Spirit of God. This is not to say we should NOT consult with other believers. Paul will, eventually, do that. But, he first forms His doctrine via the teaching of the Spirit, first. God calls and God guides. Notice what Christ said about this:
John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
The Spirt’s role in our lives is to guide us in all truth. This is what Paul maintains.
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