Apostle Paul listed some of the people who saw the resurrected Christ before 55 A.D., when this letter was written. He includes himself, “last of all” and the “least of all” (5-8).
Jesus came to Paul when he was known as Saul in approx. 35 A.D. (Acts 9:3-19; 22:6-21; 26:13-23), approx. 5 years after Pentecost, the day of the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). Paul converted from Judaism to faith in Jesus the Messiah when Jesus came to him on his way to persecute Christians in Damascus. Three days later, Paul was baptised by the disciple Ananias. The Holy Spirit entered Paul. Paul was born again. Thus, Paul called his spiritual birth “abnormal”.
All those who come to faith in Jesus Christ are spiritually born again as the Holy Spirit becomes one with our soul and enters our body. We are born again by the grace of God (John 3:3-8). That day is our spiritual birthday.
The spiritual birth is not without effect (10). The Spirit enables us with gifts as we work for the good of the body of Christ. It is not us that works, but the grace of God that is with us. What effects has and will God enabled you to do today?
