Bible Study – Being Called by God (Paul)

Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

(Can you find a greater power than that?)

Apostle- a delegate; an ambassador of the Gospel with miraculous powers. From the root word- “Set apart, to send out”

• You have to be set apart and you have to be sent

Romans 1:1 – Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto (should be into) the Gospel of God

• Called an apostle-not called to be
• “In reality, I am a servant but I am called an apostle”
• I am not necessarily what I am called or what I have been invited to be
• If I am not first a servant of Jesus Christ, I will never become what I am called
• God desires us to be or to become what He has called us!

Servant - a slave -literally or figuratively – (root- to bind)

• Upon conversion he became a servant (not of men first, but of Jesus Christ)

Called - invited, appointed, a saint

Many are called but few are chosen

Set Apart/Separated -to set off by boundary, limit

• Whether or not we will ever be what we have been called is our choice.
• Will we abide and remain within the boundaries and limits of the Gospel? It’s up to us.
• Boundary is the limit itself or the furthest point of extension
• To be set apart implies that we place ourselves under certain restrictions; not the restrictions of man but the restrictions of the Gospel
• There are restrictions within the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty to choose!!!
• In order to experience the good news of the Gospel we have to live within the boundary of the Gospel
• We must live in the Gospel not next door to the Gospel!

Separated into (not unto) -the Gospel (the good news)

• Unto implies being near something
• Into implies being within something- there’s a big difference

Not of men

• He’s not an apostle (an ambassador) of men – He’s not speaking on behalf of men or a group of men; or a specific church, or people.
• He’s not preaching someone’s agenda or some social cause

Neither by man

• He’s not been appointed by men. There was no group or individual that appointed Paul; he did not appoint himself.

By Jesus Christ

• The channel by which he was set apart and sent out is Jesus Christ and God the Father.
• 1 Cor 1:1 – by the will of God-determination, choice, purpose, pleasure
• Not by the will of self or of others
• 1 Tim 1:1 – by the commandment of God -injunction or decree/authority
• God’s will is God’s command – God’s command is his will -
• You can’t separate will from command

God’s will is according to-(in agreement with)

1. The promise of life which is in Christ Jesus -2 Tim 1:1

• 1Ki 8:56  Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
• If the word spoken to Moses came to pass how much more will the promise of life in Christ Jesus be made sure?
• Rom 4:13-14  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
• Rom 4:20 -25  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

2. The faith of God’s elect Titus 1:1

• Gal 3:11 -14 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
• Gal 3:21-26  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
• Eph 1:10-14  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
• Eph 2:11-19  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
• Heb 9:13-15  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

3. The acknowledging of the truth which is after (according to-in agreement with) godliness – Titus 1:1

Acknowledge- recognition-full discernment -root: to know, to recognize, to become fully acquainted with (Acquaint- to make intimately known)

• 2Ti 3:5-7  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• 1Co 14:37-38  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
• 2Co 1:13  For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
• 1Jn 4:1-6  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
• Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
• Joh 14:16-17  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
• 2Th 2:7-12  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
• Tit 2:11-13  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
• 1Ti 6:3-6 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.