Human will or exertion vs. God's mercy

Galatians 1:15

• But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

God set Paul apart even from his mother's womb. God knew Paul before he was even born. 

The psalmist says in Psalm 139:13

• For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

God chose Paul for the service in His kingdom when he was still in his mother's womb without regard to what he has done right or wrong.

Romans 9:11-16

• Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand:

• not by works but by him who calls--she was told, "The older will serve the younger."

• Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

• What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!

• For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

• It does not, therefore, depend on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.

Paul tried to establish his own righteousness by following the tradition of his fathers while persecuting Christians.

Therefore, the mercy of God did not depend on Paul's will or exertion, but on God who had mercy on Paul.

Likewise, the mercy of God does not depend on my will or exertion but on God has mercy on me.

God does not have more mercy on me because I ask him to nor does he have less mercy on me because I didn't ask him to.

God has mercy on me, period, because the mercy of God never depended on me who wills or exerts, but on God Himself who had and has and will have mercy on me forever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 1:15

• who called me by His grace.

God called Paul purely by His grace.
And God called us purely by His grace. Amen.