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BY THE WILL OF GOD

Text: Ephesians 1; Galatians 1
21 March 2021

THE WILL OF GOD 

The Apostle Paul wrote significantly about the Will of God. To him, God’s Will was not a philosophical idea at all. He experienced it in his life personally. 

Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ,

By the will of God.     Ephesians 1:1

  1. The original Apostles of Jesus Christ

a) The Lord Jesus spent all night in prayer     Luke 6:12

b) He chose twelve whom He also named apostles     Luke 6:13

c) He gave them power     Matthew 10:1

  1. The replacement of Judas Iscariot as one of the Twelve

Criteria employed:

a) The person must have been one of the early disciples who accompanied the Lord Jesus     Acts 1:21-22

b) He must have seen the Lord Jesus to be a valid witness of the Risen Saviour     Acts 1:22

FAILURE TO FULFIL THE REQUIREMENTS

Paul would have failed to fulfil the criteria established:

  1. He was not one of the original disciples of the Lord Jesus
  1. He was not called an appointed in the usual manner

APPLICATION OF THE WILL OF GOD

The Will of God would thus be very necessary to establish!

  1. It would not be because of his salvation experience
  1. It would not be because of the academic qualifications he possessed
  1. It would take the Will of God to see Paul appointed as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus

PAUL’S DEFENCE OF HIS CALLING AS AN APOSTLE

Here is a summary of Paul’s thoughts about the Will of God and his apostleship!

  1. It is not by the will of man     Galatians 1:1a
  1. It came about through the Lord Jesus     Galatians 1:b
  1. And this was, of course, approved by God     Galatians 1:1c
  1. It was because of God’s grace

a) It pleased God to set apart Paul from his mother’s womb     Galatians 1:15a

b) God then called him     Galatians 1:15b

c) God revealed the Lord Jesus to Paul and in him     Galatians 1:16

  1. The power of God given to all Apostles

a) This was evidenced 

b) In signs, wonders and mighty deeds     2 Corinthians 12:12

The Will of God is a humbling doctrine to study. The Power of God would be vital evidence to prove His will!