the ones that God sanctifies, those ones obey Him.
And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
(Acts 26:15-18)
how much 'choice' did Paul have?
when Paul acted of his own free will, he persecuted, imprisoned and put to death the believers.
when Paul gave up his free will - and became the servant of our Good Master - he began to do the works prepared for Him beforehand.
was Paul sanctified before he began to do this holy work? or only after, at the end of his ministry?
the temple articles were sanctified before they could be put to any use. are we, being built into His temple, different than that shadow of the things to come?