Living In Light of Our Salvation - Seven Points from 1:1
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1. “Paul…”
• Formerly Saul of Tarsus, Paul the apostle was never thought of by anyone to be a possible convert. He was in the midst of his zeal to destroy the church of Christ, on the road to Damascus to imprison more Christians, when he was confronted by Christ.
• Ananias certainly did not think it was possible, and hesitated when told to go find Saul for fear of who he was.
2. “…an apostle…”
• An apostle was one, by definition, who brought a message for another. They, especially in this context, were ambassadors and represented the One who sent them.
• They were specifically selected by the One whom they represented, and took orders specifically from Him.
3. “…not sent from men…”
• “Men” being all-inclusive- no mere man had sent him or chose him, nor did he act on the will of men.
• He was not bound by the approval of men, and thus said what he said and did what he did for the approval of the One who sent him.
4. “…nor through the agency of man…”
• He was not sent by any group of men- elders, counsels nor governments had any hand in his apostleship.
• Not even the other apostles. He never required their approval nor acceptance to do what he did. As soon as he was converted, he began teaching.
5. “…but through Jesus Christ…”
• Specifically the God-man, the Messiah, the Son of David. To the Jews, this was a high claim, to be called by the Christ, since such was the King of Israel and the rightful judge.
• He was the One about whom the Father said “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
6. “… and God the Father…”
• This being the head of the Trinity, the One to whom all authority belong … who will bestow such authority to the Son.
• This also being the One who sends the Spirit, especially to the apostles who Christ sends out, to speak the Truth and work miracles to validate the one speaking.
7. “…who raised Him from the dead…”
• Whenever a person is raised from the dead, it is always by the work of another person. It was clearly an act of God, but was done by means of a human being.
• When Jesus was raised, it was not by any man, but by the Father Himself, validating what was said early, that as the Centurion noticed, “Surely this was the Son of God!”
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