WHEN WAS PAUL SAVED?
Gen 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: THEN began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Recently, someone sent me an article on why Paul was not saved on the road to Damascus but was saved at the time that Ananias baptized him. This claim was made on the basis that Paul did not call on the Lord until his baptism, supposing that the sinner’s call is what saves him. We need to examine these accounts to understand one’s mouth does not save him but rather his heart, for with the mouth confession is madeUNTO salvation,but it is with the heartwhich man believes unto righteousness (Sorry Calvinists!). Calling upon the Lord is evidence that a man has believed. Saved men have been calling on the Lord since the Old Testament since Genesis.
Heart Salvation in Deuteronomy 30 and Romans 10
Deut 30:11 – 15 (11.) For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. (12.) It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (13.) Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? (14.) But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (15.) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
Rom 10:8 – 15 (8.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (9.) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10.) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11.) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12.) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (13.) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14.) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15.) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Paul took Romans 10:8 – 14from the LAW in Deut 30: 12 – 14. It is impossible to really call upon the Lord until you have truly believed on Him. This is why we have so many false professions. Folks are calling on the lord in unbelief. So, now, let us examine the testimony of Paul the apostle in regard to his salvation
Paul’s Salvation Account in Acts 9
Acts 9:1 - 18 (1.) And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2.) And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (3.) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4.) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5.) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6.) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (7.) And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. (8.) And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. (9.) And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (10.) And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. (11.) And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth [privately calling on the Lord], (12.) And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he (13.) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: (14.) And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. (15.) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (16.) For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (17.) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, BROTHER Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (18.) And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Paul was calling on the Lord privately when Ananias found him. Then Ananias instructed Paul to call on the Lord in his presence (Acts 22:15).There are some things here that show that Paul was saved before he was ever baptized. First of all, Paul, after being told that it was Jesus that appeared to him on the road to Damascus to both see Jesus and also to hear His words (acts 22:15) where he said, trembling, UNDER THE PRICKS OF HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTION, LORD, what will you have me to do?
When Ananias was told to look Saul (Paul) up, he was reluctant, but the Lord told Ananias that Paul was a CHOSEN vessel to him (you have to be saved for that, unless you are a Calvinist). The Lord also told Ananias where to find Saul and that Saul was PRAYING in the house of Judas. Yes, he was calling on the lord in the house of Judas. Ananias, when he saw Saul, addressed him as BROTHER and told him that Ananias was sent thatPaul should be FILLED with (not to receive) the Holy Ghost. Then Saul (Paul) was water baptized. Let us examine the second accounting of Paul’s testimony.
Paul’s Salvation Account in Acts 22
Act 22:5 – 16 (5.)As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. (6.) And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. (7.) And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (8.) And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. (9.) And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. (10.) And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. (11.) And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. (12.) And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, (13.) Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, BROTHER Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. (14.) And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. (15.) For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. (16.) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
These parallel accounts again has Ananias addressing Saul calling Jesus LORD after being told it was Jesus and asking Jesus what he should do. We are reminded that no one can TRULY call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Also, here, Ananias calls a Saul BROTHER and tells him that he is CHOSEN Saul to both see and hear Jesus and to be a WITNESS unto all men for him. Of course Calvinists will hop on Saul’s being CHOSEN or ELECTED before Saul was saved. Campbellites will hop on the “wash away thy sins” to prove that Paul was saved by water baptism, rather than Saul symbolizing his sins being washed away by baptism. Those that think the calling on the Lord saves a person will hop on that. We are persuaded that Paul was saved on the way to Damascus by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and that he portrayed his salvation and washing of his sins away in water baptism, and that Ananias was asking Saul to use his mouth to confess unto that salvation so that Ananias could be a witness to it. Water baptism is no good unless it has a witness.
-- by Herb Evans