Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) Observe — I. That as Paul puts his call to the apostleship in the forefront of the Epistle, SO EVERY MINISTER MUST HAVE A GOOD AND LAWFUL CALL. II. That as Paul says, "Not of man," etc., SO EVERY LAWFUL CALL IS FROM GOD. 1. God only can call. 2. The Church can only consent and approve. III. That as Paul proclaims his call, so THE CALL OF EVERY MINISTER MUST BE MANIFEST TO HIS CONSCIENCE AND HIS HEARERS. Ministers — 1. Are God's ambassadors. 2. Need divine help. 3. Require human obedience. IV. That Paul indicates THREE KINDS OF CALL. 1. Human and not Divine — false teachers. 2. Divine though human — ordinary ministers. 3. Wholly Divine — apostles. V. That as the property of an apostle is to be called immediately by Christ, it follows that THE APOSTOLIC OFFICE CEASED WITH THOSE WHO FILLED IT. (W. Perkins.) Parallel Verses KJV: Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) |
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