Are you responding to God’s calling?
Paul shows us how God called and equipped him with a purpose. We can learn from this to recognise when God is calling us, and also how to respond to the call. God not only saves us this way, but also send us out with His purpose, and our lives are suddenly filled with meaning, value and purpose. We do not want to miss out on this call, are you responding to God’s call on your life?
Scripture
Galatians 1:15-18 ESV But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 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; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
Bible Study Questions
Human teaching or the wisdom of God
Paul had given his life to Jesus and to preaching His Gospel. When people undermined his work and discredited the Gospel of Jesus, he passionately defended it. He shows the way that Jesus called Him and gave him the message of the Gospel, of how to have peace with God. What does this say about the nature and authority of the Gospel?
Galatians 1:11-12 ESV For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
God the Father chooses us, we don’t choose Him
Being set apart means being kept for a specific purpose, different from anything or anyone else. Do you think that God sets all believers apart before birth, or just special Christians like Paul? Do you think that being set apart before birth is a once off thing or do you thing that God keeps watch over every detail of the lives that He sets apart from before we are born. What does that tell you about God the Father?
Galatians 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born,
John 15:16 - ESV You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 6:44 - ESV No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
When the time is right, God calls
God doesn’t just set us apart for some mechanical process to be completed in our lives, but He calls us. When called we need to respond. Why do you think God initiates and calls people rather than waiting for us to prove ourselves worthy of His love?
Galatians 1:15 and who called me by his grace,
Ephesians 2:8-9 - ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We need to see Jesus
The Scripture is all about Jesus, all of the Bible points to Him because He is God’s ultimate plan to restore us who sin against Him, to a loving eternal relationship with Him. Before Paul could do anything for God, or even know God, he had to meet Jesus, personally. The Scriptures make it very clear that Jesus is the only way to know God. How do you feel about that, and how do you think the world feels about that? What does this tell us about human beings?
Galatians 1:16 ESV was pleased to reveal his Son to me,
1John 2:23 - ESV No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
We are not called from something, we are called for something
Purpose matters, God’s process of restoring us to Him always includes giving us a reason to live, eternally. What was Paul’s purpose, and how do you think God’s work in Paul’s life was used to prepare him for that purpose? How has God been preparing you for His purpose?
Galatians 1:16 ESV in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles,
Ephesians 2:10 - ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
A relationship with God is by God’s grace, but our responsibility
Abraham at met God at dusk, the Apostle Peter had an incredible revelation from God at noon while he was praying. Jesus prayed all night, John on wrote the book of revelation on the island of Patmos. These were very different experiences, but they all had something in common with Paul in the Arabian desert. They were alone with God. One on one. We need Church, friends, family and community to love and serve the way God has designed us to, but we need alone time with God too. What kind of God chooses us, calls us, saves us through faith in Jesus and then speaks to us personally one on one, preparing and empowering us to do His wonderful work?
Galatians 1:16-17 I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
1Kings 19:9-10 - ESV There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Paul like the other Apostles
There are a number of similarities between the way Jesus called the 12 Apostles and the way He called Paul. Can you see the similarities? What are some of the similarities and differences, and how can we be ready to respond to God’s call on us? What steps in the process have we seen and how can we respond we we recognise these in our own lives?
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.
Mark 3:13-15 - ESV And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.