“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead).” [1]
Notice that Paul sets Jesus Christ apart from being counted as a mere man. He’s saying, “I am an apostle not from nor through man.” Jesus is more than a man! Paul places Jesus’ Name parallel to God the Father because He is the Son of God. He took on human flesh, but unlike us did not inherit the sin nature. He did not have an earthly father. That which was conceived in Mary His mother was by the Holy Spirit.
“I make known to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [2]
Again, Paul notes that when he received the Gospel, it was not from a mere man. Jesus Christ the Son of God appeared to him on the road to Damascus, and revealed the Gospel to Paul. Everyone needs a revelation from Jesus Christ that the Gospel is true to truly believe it and live for it. Unless we are convicted by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is truly the Son of God, we will treat Christianity as we would any other religion. To have the divine revelation that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior is to be set apart for God for Gospel’s sake.
“Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.’” [3]
Once, Paul had the revelation of Jesus Christ… once he knew Jesus personally and walked and talked with Him, he began to talk to others about Jesus Christ… urging them to believe in Jesus as well.
These are the tell-tale signs of someone who has had a true conversion experience with the Triune God of Christianity. I pray that more people will come to know and believe in Jesus Christ.
[1] Galatians 1:1
[2] Galatians 1:11-12
[3] Galatians 1:21-23
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