SUNDAY January 3, 2021
The Most Important Message
Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)….
Galatians 1:1
As an Apostle, Paul proclaimed to people the most important message in the world: For I [Paul] delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is Good News! Through faith in Jesus Christ, people are saved.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central theme given in the Bible, and that truth had deeply affected and changed Paul’s life. It was a message that brought him to his knees to receive God’s grace, mercy and love. Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute and imprison Christians when the Lord appeared to him. Paul, by divine revelation, had a personal encounter with Christ, and he became converted (Acts 9).
It is important to understand that Paul became one of the Apostles at a later time than the original twelve Disciples. One of the requirements, in order to become an Apostle, was that a person had to be a witness of the Resurrection––they had to have seen Christ: After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time (I Corinthians 15:7-8).
Paul actually became the thirteenth Apostle. Judas became Christ’s betrayer and was disqualified. Paul was a chosen vessel of God. He became an Apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15-16). Paul’s message to the churches of Galatia was a declaration of a Christian’s spiritual freedom and deliverance from the bondage of sin and religious legalism.
Salvation is always “good news.” It is news of God’s love and forgiveness—adoption into His family—fellowship with His people—freedom from the penalty of sin—liberation from the power of sin.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!