(13) For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (14) And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (17) Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. (19) But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. (20) Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. (21) Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; (22) And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: (23) But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. (24) And they glorified God in me.
What a beautiful and affecting history the Apostle hath here given of himself. It is indeed but short, but it is strikingly interesting. He takes it up from the days of his unregeneracy; and makes no reserve, in describing the bitterness of his mind at that time, against the faith of Christ. Paul tells the Galatians, that they had heard of his conversation, when in the Jews' religion, how he had persecuted the infant Church of Christ. Reader! it is a very high proof of a change of heart, when the soul looks back, and takes pleasure, in ascribing glory to God's grace; at the same time taking shame in acknowledging our own undeservings. And, in ministers, and preachers of the word, I believe nothing is so likely, under grace, to win souls to Christ, as by showing how the Lord first graciously wrought on our own.
Paul, having shown what he once was by nature, next proceeds to show, what he then was by grace. And he runs it up to the fountain-head of mercy, in declaring, that it was God's free grace, and nothing of his own deserving. When it pleased God (said he) who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me! Reader! There is a set time to favor Zion! Psalms 102:13. And, it is blessed to behold, that He, who is the God in nature and in providence, is the same also in grace. He who separates from the womb of nature, did long before separate in the womb of eternity his chosen ones. And he who appoints the time of their birth in nature, hath marked their time in the new birth of grace. As it was by Christ, so it is by all the members of his mystical body. When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son. Galatians 4:4. And when the fullness of time is come, for the recovery of Christ's members from the Adam-nature of sin; God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, whereby we cry Abba Father! So minutely doth the Lord attend to all the concerns of his people!
Reader! it is to rob our souls of comfort, when we rob Christ of glory. Oh! had we eyes to see, or hearts to contemplate, things as they are, we should not confine our thoughts respecting Christ, to the act of redemption. Redemption is but part of His office-work. It is the Son of God's work, in his union with our nature, to reign in, and rule over, all the departments of nature, providence, grace, and glory. He is the head over all things to the Church, which is his body: the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:23. It will be well, if you and I can bear testimony to the same work of the Lord, in all the departments of it, as it concerns ourselves; and say, as Paul did: He who separated me from my mother's womb, hath called me by his grace!
I admire the Apostle's expression, in his account of a saving, and effectual call, when he terms it, to reveal his Son in me. He doth not say merely to me, but in me. Not simply opening to the Apostle's view who Christ is; neither showing to Paul his infinite fullness, and suitability: but in him; that is, giving the Apostle an apprehension of Christ, and Paul's right in him. Reader! do not hastily pass away from this distinguishing feature of personal grace. Many hear of Christ, and in this sense may be said to have an outward revelation of him; but Paul's was, and so must every child of God's be, an inward manifestation in him. Job, ages past, marked the vast difference, in his own experience, when he said: I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear. Thus do thousands, and go no further. But now (saith Job) mine eye seeth thee. Similar to Paul: God revealed his Son in me. Here is the sweet mark of God's children. Job 42:5
And, what makes this in-revelation so truly blessed, in distinction to all outward proclamations, is the assurance it brings with it, that all the Persons of the Godhead do graciously concur, and cooperate in this gifted mercy. God (saith Paul, meaning the Father), revealed his Son in me. And it is God the Son which reveals himself to his people, for so he promised; and so it is said: in thy light shall we see light. John 14:21; Psalms 36:9. For as the sun in nature, in his own light, gives light to the objects in nature: So the Sun of Righteousness, in grace, gives light from his own light, whereby we discover his divine light, shining in our souls. And no less, God the Holy Ghost becomes a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ephesians 1:17. Indeed, all the knowledge we have of each Person of the Godhead, is from each other, concerning each other, and by each other. No man hath seen God at any time. But the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18. In like manner, it is said, no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son wilt reveal him. Matthew 11:27. And Jesus, in promising the Holy Ghost, declared, that when He was come, he should make known both the Father and the Son to his people. At that day, (saith Christ), ye shall know, that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. John 14:20; Reader! what saith your heart's experience to these things? Paul here tells you; that at the time God, who separated him from his mother's womb, was pleased to call him by his grace; that then, he revealed his Son in him. Hath it been so with you? Depend upon it, he that separated in nature, is the same which sets apart in grace. Hath he so wrought in you? Have you seen, and do you now see, the glory of God as it relates to your own soul, in the face of Jesus Christ?
I must not, in a work of this kind, enlarge upon all the particulars, to which Paul refers in his history. But if the limits of the Poor Man's Commentary would admit of it, many sweet subjects arise out of them. His authority to preach, his faithfulness in preaching, his abstractedness from all human teaching, and the glory the Churches gave to God, both for his wonderful conversion, and his call to the ministry; these would lead to very inprovable, and profitable discourse. But, having already swollen the observations on this Chapter beyond the usual length, I add no more.