Humans are forgetful creatures, so it is good to be reminded from time to time of the basics. Paul's life and testimony in Galatians provide such an opportunity regarding the doctrine of conversion. From The Westminster Confession, Chapter 9 we read: "3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. 4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by his grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil. 5. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only." Paul was a trophy of God's grace and he is a preeminent example of how even the worst sinners can be converted and changed into faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The divine power which converted Saul the Wolf into Paul the Apostle remains effective today. – Pastor Schlegel |
