“Paul, an apostle not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead.” Galatians 1:1
Everything pertaining to the Gospel of Christ, and the calling of God, are not of this world. They were first in the heart and mind of God before the creation of the world. The Apostle Paul would confirm this by writing to the Ephesians”…He chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before Him in love…” (1:4) With regard to works and the will of God for every individual, the Apostle continues to write: “For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (2:10) The true believer in Christ, having been born of the Spirit, was chosen by God, and who chose God as a result, was not only created anew to BE holy, but to DO that which was in the heart and mind of God. The believer was born again to a new hope, but also with a new mission, that of following his Lord, trusting Him wholly to lead and to guide, so that, being filled with the knowledge of His will, and strengthened by His Spirit, he should accomplish those “good works which God prepared beforehand that he should walk in them.” How then is this to be realized in the life?
First and foremost, the believer must come to grips with the fact that the call of God is not of this world, nor from men, or organizations, and certainly not by one’s own good ideas and intensions. It is from God. We see this in Isaiah’s calling when the Lord asked, “…whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (Is. 6:8) Paul, the Apostle, would reaffirm this when, in writing to the believers in Rome, he declared: “And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (10:14,15) Of course, the clearest and most powerful testimony and confirmation of the fact that God ALONE calls His servants, and this to BE holy, and then to DO that which God has foreordained that they accomplish, is the Lord Jesus Himself when He said, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I shall go to Him who sent Me.” (Jn. 7:33) In other passages of Scripture we find a basic principle by which the Lord Jesus lived and ministered on this earth, and it was the absolute dependence He had upon the Father, for He did nothing apart from His Father, and under the authority of His Father. For example, He said, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (Jn. 5:30) Thus, Christ came to this earth to die for the sins of men so that they could know forgiveness and cleansing from sin, and eternal Life by the Spirit, because He was sent. And the message that He brought was that created in the heart of the Father, as well as the Son. This message of lifegiving power was given in its content and power by the Father. This is born out in Jesus’ words, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” (Jn. 12:49) With regard to His works and mission, Christ would declare: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (Jn. 6:38)
When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Galatian believers, he made it clear that he was following in the steps of his Master and Savior. His calling was from heaven, as is the calling of every believer. The Gospel of Christ was also from heaven and not from men. God’s perspective is essential in Christ’s service.
Dear Father, Conform us to Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.