Paul tells us that he received his gospel as God revealed Christ in him. This dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus changed everything for Paul. He experienced a complete reorientation of thinking and living. Was this revelation given because Paul deserved special attention? Was it given because he was keen on God and had gained special favour?  No!  Paul would say he deserved God’s judgement because he was opposing God rather than living for God.  And following the revelation of Jesus, Paul had to learn anew what it means to “live to God”. 

This encounter with the risen Jesus was an event that bore no relation at all to Paul’s worth. It came simply from God’s decision.  Paul says,  “…when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me…(Galatians 1:15) God’s action revealing Jesus to Paul was all down to the underserved intervention of God. 

God moves towards us giving himself to us even though we are not worthy of his attention.  Indeed in the absence of worth. The fact that the gift comes from God this way does not mean our part is bypassed.  No! God’s giving creates a relationship in which we respond to his giving as he energises us into action.  Within this relationship, He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  And as God continually works within us, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling,