The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Galatians 1:11,
"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin."
Paul explains to his reading audience that he preached a message that God had given him directly. He says, "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Verse 12.
Paul was a unique individual. His relationship with God did not begin the way ours does. He was set apart from birth for God's purposes and was "called" by God as a young man, "But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being." Verses 15-16. In this regard, he was much like John the Baptist. Both were set apart from their mother's wombs for God's purposes. We might say both were non-normative when it came to their salvation. We come to know God a different way: through our exposure to the gospel and our embrace of Jesus Christ in faith in our response to it.
Paul says in another place, "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. This is how we come to know Jesus Christ, God's "normative" way.
The message spoken by Paul was a unique message, a message not from within him, or that any other human had given him. "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
Paul was a unique man, a man gifted by Jesus Christ to carry the message of the gospel. He said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans 1:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin."
Paul explains to his reading audience that he preached a message that God had given him directly. He says, "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." Verse 12.
Paul was a unique individual. His relationship with God did not begin the way ours does. He was set apart from birth for God's purposes and was "called" by God as a young man, "But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being." Verses 15-16. In this regard, he was much like John the Baptist. Both were set apart from their mother's wombs for God's purposes. We might say both were non-normative when it came to their salvation. We come to know God a different way: through our exposure to the gospel and our embrace of Jesus Christ in faith in our response to it.
Paul says in another place, "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. This is how we come to know Jesus Christ, God's "normative" way.
The message spoken by Paul was a unique message, a message not from within him, or that any other human had given him. "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
Paul was a unique man, a man gifted by Jesus Christ to carry the message of the gospel. He said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Romans 1:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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