More than a Servant

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God Romans 1:1

Having first introduced himself as a servant, Paul adds a second element to his description of himself.

He is an apostle. The term is a based on the Greek verb for "to send". An apostle is a sent one - a person commissioned to perform a specific task and given the authority to carry it out.

Paul did not apply to become an apostle. He did not volunteer for the role. His claim is that he was called to be an apostle. The context requires us to understand this call as coming from God himself.

This calling from God had a specific effect on Paul. It caused him to be set apart. Just as we all have objects in our possession which are only used for certain specific and special purposes, Paul saw his very life in a similar way. He did not see himself as belonging to himself any more. Rather, having been called by God, he realised that his life was now focused on the gospel. He was set apart for its service.

Clearly, this gospel of God was extremey powerful, turning a persecutor into a set-apart-servant.

Do you know this powerful gospel? Has it caused you to be set apart?

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