The Cause Of Paul's Conversion (Part 2)

The Bible distinguishes between what has been termed by theologians as the “general” call of the gospel and the “effectual” call. The general call is the Bible calling of all men everywhere to repent. But owing to their depravity, all men reject this call. Unlike the general call, however, the effectual call goes out only to an elect few. And it is always effective, for it is always irresistible. Paul’s point in Galatians 1, among other things, is that at each stage in Paul’s conversion and his calling as an apostle, it was God’s choice to pick Paul, not Paul’s choice to choose God. Paul didn’t initiate the choice to be saved on the road to Damascus anymore than he chose to be an apostle. Paul was a Christian, not because he wanted to be one. Rather he was a Christian, he said, and apostle at that, because somebody else wanted it for him. The cause of Paul's conversion was solely based on God's will.