Rom.1:1,2 – “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures.”
Acts 26 – 16-18 – But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Paul’s salvation experience is inseparable from his life’s calling. Before his conversion he had spent his life in preparation to be a leading Pharisee. He was hinting at this in his opening remarks in his letter to the Romans in referring to being “set apart”.
“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures.”
The interesting thing about that is the very word Pharisee is connected to being set apart from the world. Here is how Brian Simmons explains this.
“There is an interesting wordplay here. The Aramaic word for “separated” is the root word for “Pharisee,” a separated one. Paul is saying that God is the one who separated him as uniquely God’s, as opposed to a self-righteous superiority.”
Paul was set apart by the Lord from eternity to be a Christian and to proclaim the gospel to the world. The calling of God proves to be prophetic and self fulfilling. In Paul’s statement in Romans he spoke about the promise of God which was contained in the call of God itself. Here is Strong’s definition of the word promised.
“proepaggéllō – before – to bring word to, to announce, promise. to proclaim or promise beforehand”
So think about your salvation experience. God’s plan for your salvation was about His glory, in other words He wants to display His glorious grace in your testimony. That brings incredible confidence and assurance knowing that His promises and plans for you are guaranteed. In Paul’s case there was unbelievable resistance as he was constantly attacked but God’s plan was always going to come to pass. For each of us, we are set apart to display the glory of God.
“Set apart to display the glory of God” Not to display our gifts or talents but to take hold of the attributes of Jesus by emptying ourselves entirely to make room to receive His spirit, His nature. Trading numerous flaws for in numerous perfection, quite the offer.