Central Truth

Paul defended his ministry and explained how he began to preach the gospel to others. He said God had set him apart at birth and called him by His grace to reveal His Son to him so that he would preach about Him to the Gentiles.

Reflections

Satan can make us think we are on the right path in life and keep us deceived in thinking we are OK.

I was in a church for years before I became a believer in Jesus Christ. I was like Nicodemus--religious and morally upright. I was a "yes" person who did all the works I could for the church--Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, constant volunteer; I worked in vacation bible school, I attended many bible studies, and I was always at the church participating in their programs. It was many years later through being in a non-denominational women's bible study that I realized something was very wrong; something really important was missing in my life. I had never accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was not "born again" from the Holy Spirit. I had been misled by the church--we never heard the Salvation message! I was works-oriented, and thought the whole time that I was religious and doing the right thing.

Paul was the same way--he had been misled by the church. The Jews' religion had been an experience of outward rituals and practices. Paul was a leader of that Jewish faith, a respected young rabbi, zealous for the traditions of his fathers. He was not seeking to know Jesus as his Savior, but he knew about Him because Paul was a persecutor of the church.  This passage tells us that our Heavenly Father knew Paul and set him apart from his birth. In His wisdom, God saw what would be needed to make a believer out of him. Paul was passionate about his religion. And our all-knowing God knew what it would take to radically turn his life around and make him passionate for Jesus. This passage also says that Paul did not discuss his conversion with any one, but went away by himself for three years before he started his ministry. Taking time out of our day, or lives, to spend alone with our heavenly Father and letting him speak to us is crucial to our growth in Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
2. Do you believe that people change when they become believers?
3. Do you seek to know what God wants you to do, or do you just do what you want to do?
4. Do you spend quiet time in His Word, listening to His voice?