Note 5 at Gal. 1:15: In verses 15-17 Paul spoke about three things that God's grace did for him: (1) He was separated unto God from his mother's womb (see note 6 at this verse); (2) He was "called" by God's grace; and (3) Jesus was revealed in him. All of this was done by the Lord so that Paul would preach Jesus among the heathen (v. 16).

In verse 17, Paul states what he didn't do, and what he did do. He didn't go to Jerusalem to consult with the original apostles about the gospel. What he did do was to go into the deserts of Arabia (maybe to study the O.T. Scriptures without tradition) and then return back to the city of Damascus.

Note 6 at Gal. 1:15: Paul wasn't the only one whom the scriptures reveal was separated unto God's service from his mother's womb. This was also said of Isaiah (Isa. 49:1, 5), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5), and John the Baptist (Lk. 1:15-16). By example we can see this was also true of Samson (Jud. 16:17) and certainly this was true of Jesus.

Other scriptures reveal that each one of us was specifically designed by God with a purpose. We didn't just happen or evolve. For instance, Psalm 139:13-16 says, "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."

Paul, along with these others, simply recognized what is true of us all. God has a pre-designed purpose for each one of our lives. Our gifts and talents are uniquely designed to accomplish that purpose. However, that does not mean we have no freedom to choose and that whatever we become is God's will (see notes 1 and 2 at Rom. 8:29, pp. 801-802). No, God has a plan for each one of us but we have the choice to walk in that plan or not.

Even though Paul was separated from his mother's womb to preach the gospel, he didn't always walk in that calling. Instead, he perverted that God-given drive to the point that he actually tried to destroy the faith which he later embraced (v. 23). Therefore, he had to be separated again unto the calling of preaching the gospel (Acts 13:2).

Note 7 at Gal. 1:15: God's calling is by grace, not according to our works (2 Tim. 1:9). We were created with a specific purpose for our lives and our God-given gifts and talents are uniquely fitted for accomplishing that purpose. All of this was given by grace before we had any good or bad actions (see note 6 at this verse, p. 1056). But even though the calling is by grace, Paul said that he labored more abundantly than all the other apostles and that kept God's calling from being in vain (see note 19 at 1 Cor. 15:10, p. 956). So, God calls and equips us by grace but we can either take advantage of God's grace, or we can frustrate the grace of God (Gal. 2:21).