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The Acts of the Apostles
Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead.” Not from
men, but from the highest Authority in heaven, had he received his
commission. And his position had been acknowledged by a general
council at Jerusalem, with the decisions of which Paul had complied
in all his labors among the Gentiles.
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It was not to exalt self, but to magnify the grace of God, that Paul
thus presented to those who were denying his apostleship, proof that he
was “not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.”
2 Corinthians 11:5
.
Those who sought to belittle his calling and his work were fighting
against Christ, whose grace and power were manifested through Paul.
The apostle was forced, by the opposition of his enemies, to take a
decided stand in maintaining his position and authority.
Paul pleaded with those who had once known in their lives the
power of God, to return to their first love of gospel truth. With unan-
swerable arguments he set before them their privilege of becoming
free men and women in Christ, through whose atoning grace all who
make full surrender are clothed with the robe of His righteousness.
He took the position that every soul who would be saved must have a
genuine, personal experience in the things of God.
The apostle’s earnest words of entreaty were not fruitless. The Holy
Spirit wrought with mighty power, and many whose feet had wandered
into strange paths, returned to their former faith in the gospel. Hence-
forth they were steadfast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made
them free. In their lives were revealed the fruits of the Spirit—“love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, tem-
perance.” The name of God was glorified, and many were added to the
number of believers throughout that region.
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