Note 18 at 1Co 15:10: Paul was definitely humble, as can be seen by his statements in 1Co 15:8-9, but his humility was nothing like the false humility that is so prevalent in the church today, where people refuse to see or say anything good about themselves. Paul knew who he was and all the authority that came with that. He just didn't feel like he deserved it, which he didn't. It was a gift.

True humility is not a debasing of self or a hatred of self or our accomplishments. It is simply an awareness that all that we have and are is the gift of God. Therefore, only those of us who acknowledge God can operate in true humility.

Note 19 at 1Co 15:10: This is a great statement by Paul that balances his previous statement about the grace of God, giving us much clearer understanding. All our talents, abilities, and callings are a direct result of God's grace. However, God's grace alone doesn't guarantee success.

For example, God's grace that brings salvation has been offered to all people (Tit 2:11), but not all people are saved. This is not because it isn't God's will for them to be saved (2Pe 3:9), or because there is a lack of God's grace; it's because not all people put faith in God's grace. God's grace must be mixed with faith to release its power (see note at Eph 2:8).

So, God's grace is consistent toward everyone, but not everyone will reap the benefits of God's grace, because not everyone will labor as Paul speaks of here. This labor is not "works" that earn us God's favor. That would violate grace (see note 2 at Ro 11:6). These are works of faith (see note 4 at Ro 9:32).

We don't have to study the Word to get God to love us; He already loves us by grace. However, we do have to study God's Word to renew our minds and convince ourselves of the fact that God loves us. We don't have to go to church to obtain God's grace, but because we have God's grace, we need to go to church to keep our hearts from being hardened (Heb 3:13 and 10:25).

Paul acknowledged God's grace as the source of everything he had and was, but he allowed God's grace to have its full effect in his life through seeking God more than the other apostles did. We have to labor against the flesh to rest in God's grace (Heb 4:11).