God has saved us and called us to live a holy life. This isn’t because of anything we’ve done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus even before time began.
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I’ve chosen this man to do a special work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
God made these plans for people to become like his Son, and he called those people to be saved. Then he made those people right with himself, and finally, he them gave his glory.
Through him we received grace to become apostles to the Gentiles and through that grace to bring them to obedience to God by trusting in Jesus. We do this to bring glory to him.
After you’ve suffered for a little while, the God of all grace will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. He has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ.
I’m amazed that after such a short time, you’re abandoning the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ. You’re turning to a different “good news”—
But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace wasn’t wasted on me. No, I worked harder than all the other apostles—though it wasn’t me doing the work. God’s grace was with me.
At that time Jesus was filled with joy through the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you’ve hidden these things from wise and educated people and shown them to little children. Yes, Father, this is what you wanted to do.
God wisely planned that the world wouldn’t be able to understand him through its own wisdom. Instead, God was happy to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe.
From Paul, an apostle, and from all the brothers and sisters who are with me. I have not been sent by any human group or leader. I’ve been sent by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from the dead. To the churches in Galatia.