Derek Thomas

And Paul is saying, there's something about the understanding of who I am.

There's something about my understanding of the gospel that has sovereignty written all over it.

Paul is a man who has encountered and been shaped by the sovereignty of God.

The reason why Paul is a Christian, the reason why he's an apostle to the Gentiles, is because God has had a plan for him from before he was born.

It's an anonymous hymn.

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew he drew my soul to seek him, seeking me.

It was not I that found, O Savior, true.

No, I was found of thee.

And that's a hymn, and we sometimes sing it in our church, but it's a beautiful way of describing we sought the Lord and

I was converted in December 28, 1971, 1130 or so at night after reading John Stott's Basic Christianity.

Within days, I realized that something had been at work.

Someone had been at work in my life years before.

In fact, had been shaping my life and the contours of providence from the moment of my birth and the more I read Scripture beyond, further back than the moment of my birth, into the counsels of eternity.

When Paul thinks about his conversion, he is gripped by the sovereignty of God.

The reason he's a Christian is not because he made a decision.

He made a decision.

He did make a decision.

His will was engaged.

His volition was engaged.

His affections were engaged.