Old Jerry Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Paul is careful to be humble about his call and apostleship because he knows that it wasn’t what he did that got him where he was. He knows that it was Jesus that has protected him and that it was Jesus that saved him. We know that Paul’s example that we didn’t receive Jesus on our own and that it was Jesus that saved us. We can’t do anything like this and we need to be humble in our acceptance of Jesus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lighthouse2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Q3. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? How can his example help us remain as humble servants? Being humble to his call and apostleship, Paul never forgets what he had done to persecute the church of God. He considers himself to be the worst of all sinners. We can remain servants as Paul had by remembering that our past was total enmity towards God. We thank God continually for His peace and mercy that He has bestowed upon us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoanG Posted April 10, 2015 Report Share Posted April 10, 2015 Paul does not want people to think that he is better than they are. He wants them to know that it was God and Jesus that changed his life and it was them who showed him a better way. We can not do anything on our own. We need the grace from God to succeed in becoming and doing what we were meant to be. We need to allow God to work through us. We need to be God's hands and feet and hearts in this world. We need to allow his love to shine through us at all times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen11 Posted October 25, 2017 Report Share Posted October 25, 2017 On 7/29/2006 at 6:58 PM, Pastor Ralph said: Q3. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? How can his example help us remain as humble servants? Paul remember's the person he was, what he once held in his heart. Now through Christ he is a new man, with love in his heart. He does not forget where he came from but now lives for Jesus. To not forget the way our lives where but to move ahead with love in our hearts for our neighbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted February 24, 2022 Report Share Posted February 24, 2022 Q28. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? How can his example help us remain as humble servants? Anyone who sees Christ in His glory realizes his own sinfulness and uselessness. This is what we see in Paul, who followed Christ in humility, rejection and suffering. We will do well to follow his example. Paul was not proud and arrogant being rather wise and understanding. Those that are truly wise, like the Apostle Paul, will have the hallmark of genuine humility. We should note that the divine character is made up of holiness, love, humility, meekness, kindness and forgiveness. This we can only aim to reflect from our association with the Lord Jesus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bianca Posted February 27, 2022 Report Share Posted February 27, 2022 Because Paul recognizes the mistakes he has done in the past. But yet God is a forgiving God and out of his soveringty he chose Paul regardless of his past. God is such a forgiving God. We also have to recognize our own mistakes and recognize how much we been forgiven for. We also need to remain humble when God uses us. All our talents and gifts come from God almighty we have to always remember that. Our gifts are to be used to bless others not to become prideful and arrogant. God loves a humble heart. Just like Paul, God chooses us regardless of our past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haar Posted February 28, 2022 Report Share Posted February 28, 2022 Q28. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? How can his example help us remain as humble servants? He is fully aware that he had been a persecutor of those he has now been arrested and sent to preach the Gospel to. We too can copy him to humbly recall where we have hitherto been- ugly and sinful to the Lord and deserving punishment but have found mercy, received pardon and acceptance. We can then repent and humbly serve him in humility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krissi Posted March 5, 2022 Report Share Posted March 5, 2022 Paul was a man of tremendous ability and like all men of great talent, intelligence and skill, he was proud, naturally and rationally. Yet, he knew where his ability could lead him had he were not bridled by the Holy Spirit -- already, he had been instrumental in the murder of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. I'm sure this weighed heavily on his conscience. Paul reminds me, a bit, of men who stress their own lowliness to disguise real abilities and achievements -- humble-proud? -- yet, in his case, I think his humility was earned by the memories of his mistakes. Having said that, he does seem use extreme rhetoric: Paul was of the upper class ... he was NOT a servant, yet he called himself this. Paul knew he had been called to be an apostle ... yet he described himself as the least of all people. He knew he had been given supernatural/spiritual gifts in order to fulfill his calling, yet he stressed that it was by His grace. I think Paul was trapped in the conundrum of not knowing which of his abilities and achievements were his own, the consequence of hard work and diligence, and what was freely given to him by God. The idea that every ability and accomplishment we have is of God on one level is true -- we're all created as we are, even unbelievers -- yet some people maximize what they have while others die with their abilities untapped. I think Paul knew he was both gifted AND had worked hard as a student and rabbi to develop these natural gifts. Too, he had extraordinary opportunities. But he also knew that post-conversion, his natural man was reoriented into God's direction, and during this re-orientation, he had been re-gifted and changed. Thus his new calling and life was built on his natural giftedness, early work and accomplishments as well as his new gifts and strengths. The idea that we cannot do anything without God is patently false. People do amazing things without any divine inspiration all the time -- I was just looking to see if the Pritzker prize in architecture had been awarded this year: it has not yet been awarded, but someone will get it, an individual with amazing three-dimensional visions. What do we receive, then, in terms of supernatural giftedness when we become Christian? Do we become better at what we're already doing, as if God gives us a spiritual vitamins to do our jobs in a better, more thoughtful, kinder and perhaps even more accomplished manner? IF the architect who wins this year's Pritzker award suddenly became a Christian, would it show in his designs? I wonder about this often, how faith is actualized in what we do. I can see, if God calls us to do something completely different than our training and abilities that we'd have to be given new grace to preach or whatever, but what about a man like Paul who had incredible theological training, speaking abilities, physical strength, a viable career as a tentmaker, and much more, and was called into a career path that utilized his prior life strengths? How, exactly, did God grace Paul? Sorry for rambling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janzie Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 On 7/29/2006 at 6:58 PM, Pastor Ralph said: Q28. (Ephesians 3:7-9) Why is Paul so careful to be humble about his call and apostleship? How can his example help us remain as humble servants? Paul careful to be humble about his call and apostleship because he knows the grace and forgiveness God has given him. Where he came from, what he did in persecuting the Church and the revelation God had given him. He is a servant, chosen, given a gift of ministry by the Lord, less than the least but appointed by Christ to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. We know that in giving our lives to the Lord, that He has changed us completely and given us a heart of flesh, keeps us from sin and sinning, saved us from a devils hell, leads, guides and helps us by His Holy Spirit, protects and provides for us as we lean on and trust Him. There is none like Him. We need to present ourselves as servants also, ready to do His will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Edwards Posted March 29, 2022 Report Share Posted March 29, 2022 St Paul was very carefull to be humble about his call and apostleship due to the fact that he loved Christ very deeply. Christ changed his heart very dramatically. He spent time in the desert after his conversion: the Holy Spirit was his teacher. St Paul needed that time to reflect and pray. He didn't just become a mighty preacher overnite; God schooled St Paul. We need to spend periods in solitude. Quietness and solitude are necessary for the servant of God to be renewed. I will never forget how an elderly lady from the Society of Friends (Quakers) explained to me the value of silence---I was 12 years old. Each day we need pray and study the Bible; we need fresh manna from heaven. Yesterday's manna is gone. So many since but sincerely wrong preachers and laity--have gone off the rails--into serious doctrinal errors and sinfull living--due to lack of a good prayer life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Jerry Posted May 26, 2022 Report Share Posted May 26, 2022 Paul knew that the calling that he had was not of himself but of God. We are also not called from ourselves but of God. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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