Celebrate Your Salvation

Read Galatians
 
Galatians 1:14-17 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
 
GALATIANS is an epistle, a letter of teaching. This was one way the apostles instructed churches. These epistles may have been addressed to one particular church and then passed on to other churches to expand the instruction. One ongoing theme through many epistles is that God’s grace is the foundation of salvation. One early false teaching in the church was that grace was not enough. Many Jews believed circumcision and other sacrifices were necessary to be saved. Paul wrote to confirm God’s grace is sufficient.
   No one may have been better qualified than he to truly know about grace. Paul was an excellent Jew. He was a top-notch Pharisee, young, ambitious and ready to stand firm for all the law. Then Jesus resurrected Paul from his unbelief. Jesus changed Paul’s passion for the law into compassion to fervently administer God’s gospel of grace. “God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” is a confession for every believer.
   One of the great sources of evidence for God’s existence, the Savior’s resurrection and the Spirit’s power is the Pharisee Saul’s conversion to the apostle Paul. Paul’s life changed as completely as a life can change. His life gained an eternal purpose. And he gained many hardships. Paul quickly left behind the comforts of an exalted standing in the religious system and the culture. Ahead of Paul each day were hardships, disputes, jail and enemies.
   Be assured, faithfully following Jesus will change you – sometimes dramatically, often gradually. People will reject your testimony, “God changed me.” Most unbelievers do not understand that God cares enough for his own to personally transform each life over time to become holy as he is holy.
          Live with a passionate compassion for the world. Be as Paul and generations of Jesus’ saints. Listen to your Lord. Celebrate your salvation. This is God gift to you for you to use for his glory.