Galatians 1:15-16 - Unconditional Election

In Galatians 1 Paul is recounting his personal history of how he went from persecutor of Christ and Christians to preacher of Christ and the gospel and apostle to the Gentiles. He calls this turning point in his life his "revelation of Jesus Christ." When he uses that phrase he is referring to his conversion on the road to Damascus. The event is recorded in Acts 9 by Luke and then Paul recounts it himself twice more before the end of that book.

The purpose of his recounting his personal history is to defend his apostleship and the gospel he preached which are both under assault by the Judaizers. The point Paul is making is that it was Jesus himself, on the road to Damascus, who personally revealed himself to Paul and commissioned him as an apostle. Paul's gospel, then, came by direct revelation of Jesus Christ.

But the way Paul phrases this in Galatians 1 is interesting--and telling. Here's what he says:

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;--Galatians 1:15-16 ESV

The language Paul uses is reminiscent of the call of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. Both were chosen from before birth and commissioned to do a work for God. Both were chosen by grace which means they were chosen, or elected, unconditionally. Are they unique?

When we say that we are saved by grace we mean just that. We are saved by grace alone. Those who are saved are not saved because they were good enough, or smart enough, or wise enough, or just a tad more godly than everyone else. They are not saved because they met a requirement. They are saved by grace alone--unconditionally chosen for salvation. This teaching is so pervasive throughout both testaments of the Bible that it takes absurd mental gymnastics to get around it. Sadly, many do. And in doing so they rob God of the glory due his name and take credit for themselves for what only God could do in them.

In this lesson we take a look at these two verses and break them down grammatically, then compare them to a multitude of other passages that teach the same thing. I hope you will take the time to listen and keep an open mind and heart to what the word of God says. Just click the link below to listen and may God richly bless you as you do so.


Click here: Galatians 1:15-16 - Unconditional Election


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File this picture below under "things the Bible does *not* say." 

(And smile)