Daily Devotions
Romans
"Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the Gospel of God."
Text: Romans 1:1
A BONDSERVANT AND AN APOSTLE
Paul combined both ideas, of being a bondservant and an apostle most effectively in his life and ministry! It would be interesting to study the calling of Paul as an apostle.
1. A special and spectacular appearance of the Risen Savior to Saul (Cf. Acts 9:1-22)
“But the Lord said to him (Ananias),
‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine
to bear My name before Gentiles, kings,
and the children of Israel.'”
Acts 9:15
2. Recognition of Paul’s unique ministry to the Gentiles by leading apostles
“(For He who worked effectively in Peter for
the apostleship to the circumcised also worked
effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed
to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been
given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right
hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles
and they to the circumcised.”
Galatians 2:8-9
The significance of being given the right hand of fellowship must not be missed. The leading apostles recognized and received Paul and Barnabas as worthy apostles to the Gentiles (In Acts 14:14, both Barnabas and Paul were described as “apostles”.)
3. Personal testimony of appointment to ministry
“To which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 1:11
This appointment, Paul constantly pointed out, did not come from human authority! Resolutely, he maintained that the gospel he espoused and the ministry he had came directly from the Lord Himself (Cf. Galatians 1:11-21).
4. Defense of Apostleship
“…in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles,
though I am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle
were accomplished among you With all perseverance,
in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”
2 Corinthians 12:11-12
Were there some who were acknowledged as “eminent apostles”? What made them “eminent apostles”? Did they perform special miracles? So did Paul. He defended his apostleship as one marked by “signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”