Not of Men

“Paul, an apostle,

(not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father,

who raised him from the dead;)...” - Galatians 1.1

Every time I read this verse the words in the parenthesis strike me!

First of all, my salvation and my call to serve the Lord is by, from and in the power of Jesus Christ, and God the Father who, by the way, also had the power to raise Jesus from the dead and will raise us up also.  Like as Paul was an apostle, I am a minister of the Gospel and I have a responsibility to the Lord that goes far beyond what people may think or say of me... “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5.29

“...an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father,”

Then I also realize that this same responsibility is there for every born again believer.  A responsibility that goes beyond any man or men.  God has provided our salvation – it is a free gift.  Now we have that same free gift of grace to offer to the rest of the world!  We have a responsibility to be an active part of a local, new testament church, and as a new testament church we have that commission, “Go ye... teach... baptize...teach...” and that commission was, “(not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father,”.

I hope and pray this verse continues to “strike me” every time I read it for the rest of my life!  To remind me, and challenge me – that what I have to do is because of, it is “by Jesus Christ, and God the Father”!

Pastor