The Chosen Vessel

by G. Prasher, Jr., Manchester | Category: The Life And Work Of Paul | Feb 1971

It seemed incredible to Ananias! Had he misunderstood the message? For in vision the Lord had told him to find Saul of Tarsus and to lay his hands upon him that he might receive his sight. Little wonder that Ananias expressed surprise, but in confirming reassurance the Lord said, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). The RV margin explains that the literal Greek expression here is "vessel of election", suggesting to us limitless depths of divine purpose in God's choice of one or another. His sovereign will obtains, and Saul of Tarsus was one chosen by God~ for a unique place in the spiritual service of this dispensation.

A Vessel of Mercy

In discussing the mystery of God's elective purpose in the gospel, Paul drew a contrast between "vessels of wrath, fitted unto destruction" and "vessels of mercy, which He afore prepared unto glory" (Romans 9:22,23). God willed to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy. Those riches were brilliantly displayed in the salvation of the once proud, self-righteous young Pharisee.

"I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Tim. 1:13).

"For this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief (of sinners) might Jesus Christ show forth all His longsuffering, for an ensample of them which should hereafter believe on Him unto eternal life" (1 Tim. 1:16).

"I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:9,10).

Where Saul's sin had so fully abounded, God's grace abounded more exceedingly. He looked back in humble recognition of the wonder that he should have been chosen in Christ to know redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of such fearful trespasses according to the riches of His grace. All that he became in spiritual service derived fundamentally from the sovereign grace and mercy of God towards him. The very enormity of his guilt in persecuting the church of God enhanced the mercy which made him a "vessel of election". His own deep realization of unworthiness was doubtless used by the Holy Spirit to illustrate to Paul the truth of human depravity through sin, and that salvation could be alone on the ground of the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. To us also the mercy of God towards the "chief of sinners" bears the constant reminder that we were by nature "dead", "children of wrath", "separate", "alienated", "having no hope and without God in the world". "But God, being rich in mercy, ... quickened us together with Christ". We too are but "vessels of mercy". "Be not highminded, but fear"

Separated ... and called

In retrospect Paul realized that God had separated him from his mother's womb, and called him through divine grace, to reveal His Son in him, that he might preach Him among the Gentiles (Gal. 1:16). The Scriptures are rich in examples of God's special preparation of certain outstanding personalities for particular tasks. Moses was recognized from birth to be "a goodly child", "exceeding fair", reflecting special characteristics which would in due course be dedicated in God's service. To Jeremiah God said, "Before I formed thee ... I knew thee ... I sanctified thee" (1:5). John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). The very brilliance of such outstanding examples may tend to obscure the truth that for the humblest believer there is also a place in God's plan and service. Each may be a "vessel unto honour, sanctified, meet for the Master's use" (2 Tim. 2:21). Only let us purge ourselves from defilement, and "follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart".

"As seemed good to the Potter to make it"

The divine Potter very wonderfully moulded the chosen vessel as seemed good to Him, having fully in view the tremendous spiritual purpose to be accomplished through Paul. It would seem that Paul's physical constitution was built to endure the arduous demands to be placed upon it. Certainly we read of the thorn in the flesh, and of the outward man decaying (2 Cor. 4:16; 12:7). But these references only underline the marvel of the sheer physical achievement involved in his journeyings and sufferings. Trace again the vast distances covered in his missionary travels, and try to assess the energies spent on them. Read again the great catalogue of sufferings endured even up to the time when he wrote the eleventh chapter of 2nd Corinthians. All this adds up to an impression of enormous physical energy and resilience which could carry Paul through a programme of these dimensions. His physique had been prepared as "seemed good to the Potter to make it".

His also was greatness of mind allied to deep spiritual capacity. As to visions and revelations of the Lord, he recounts an experience when he was caught up to the third heaven and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Cor. 12:1-7). Through him were remarkably revealed such mystic concepts as the unity 'of believers with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church which is His Body; He the Head, they the members (Ephes. 1:22,23; 5:22-33). To him we are indebted under God for such profound revelation concerning the Person of Christ as outlined in Colossians 1:12-20. He was richly endowed with a capacity to receive divine revelation to this superlative degree, and with a mind which could express this revelation effectively to others.

This ability to communicate divine truth to widely varying types of people is shown in Paul's addresses as recorded in the Acts. To the Jews of Antioch (13:16-41) he presented in masterly order a case in proof of the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy in the Person and work of Christ. To the Greeks of Athens he approached the message on ground familiar to them (17: 22-31). His testimonies before the Jerusalem rioters (22:1-21) and later before Agrippa (26:1-23) were lucid, challenging and aptly appropriate to the circumstances. The effectiveness of his public ministry was evident from the reactions of his audiences, whether in favourable response to the message or contrariwise.

It is in Paul's epistles, however, that we are provided with a much greater wealth of material to assess the greatness of his mind. The variety of theme treated, and the characteristic vigour and clarity of his work, are outstanding. In the epistles to the Romans and Galatians he spelt out with burning logic the great fundamental truths of the gospel of Christ. To the Corinthians he discoursed on a wide range of then current problems of Christian experience. With typical Pauline versatility he could include in his letters both solid areas of factual teaching and such a sublime "hymn of love" as occurs in 1 Corinthians 13. It is a tribute to the richness of Paul's mind that God was pleased to impart to us through him such a considerable proportion of our New Testament. A chosen vessel indeed, fitted in mind and spirit for these great tasks, "as seemed good to the Potter to make it".

"A vessel ... sanctified ... prepared"

Great gifts of personality or intellect may be neglected or misdirected. Before he was saved, Paul's intensity of nature found expression in the misguided persecution of those who loved the Lord. Once enlightened, however, his zeal was poured out in loving service to Christ. He described himself as a "bondservant of Christ Jesus" and "the prisoner of Christ Jesus", no mere figures of speech but literally expressing his position in the Lord's service. The love of Christ so constrained him that he no longer lived unto himself, but unto the One who for his sake died and rose again. He was so keenly concerned for those for whom Christ died that he would have deprived himself from eating flesh for evermore if his eating would cause his brother to stumble (1 Cor. 8:13). His constant attitude of heart was 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" A vessel chosen by God, Paul responded without reserve to dedicate himself utterly to the purpose of his calling. "I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected" (1 Cor. 9:27).

Treasure in the Earthen Vessel

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves" (2 Cor. 4:7).

Paul was writing here about the light of divine revelation in the Person of Christ; it had pleased God to place this treasure in mere earthen vessels. Mortal men, subject to infirmity and suffering, were those through whom the light would be carried to others. For him and his fellows this involved being pressed on every side, perplexed, pursued, smitten down. During an era when many servants of Christ endured -so much in the proclamation of the message, Paul was conspicuous both for the extent of his ministry and the afflictions which accompanied it. He had been chosen to bear Christ's name before the Gentiles and kings and the-children of Israel. His realization of the greatness of the treasure entrusted to the earthen vessel impelled him forward.

"Necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16).

"I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some" (1 Cor. 9:22).

"Yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation" (Romans 15:20).

Under God his personality and character were used to impress the message upon eminent men such as the proconsul Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7), the Roman governors Felix and Festus, king Agrippa and the like. Yet he felt himself debtor also to the barbarian, to the foolish as well as to the wise (Romans 1:14). The range of his testimony embraced peoples of many countries and all levels of society. The exceeding greatness of the power was of God and not from himself; the One who chose was the One who enabled.

G. Prasher, Jr., Manchester | Feb 1971
The Life And Work Of Paul