Was Saul Saved On The Road To Damascus? By Donnie V. Rader
(http://www.elbethelchurchofchrist.com/index.html)
A very popular concept among religious people is that Saul of
Tarsus was saved on the road to Damascus. The argument is that
he was saved by faith on the road before he reached Damascus where
he was baptized.
Some Of The Arguments
1. Saul was a brother in Christ before baptism. One of the arguments
that our friends make is that Ananias called Saul "Brother
Saul" (Acts 22:13), thus he was a brother in the Lord before
he was baptized. However, "brother" does not always
mean a brother in Christ, but one who is a kinsman. Peter called
murders "brethren" before they repented (Acts 2:29;
3:14, 17). Stephen called the mob that stoned him "brethren"
(Acts 7:2).
2. Saul was born again out of due time when he saw the Lord (1
Cor. 15:8), thus saved on the road. Look closely at this text:
"Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born
out of due time."
It doesn't say that he was born again or even that he was born.
It says, "as by one born out of due time". The text
is not talking about his salvation, but his being a witness of
the resurrected Lord. He saw the Lord, as one who was born out
of due time.
3. God would not appear to a sinner calling him to be an apostle
and preach. Hence, the argument says that Saul was saved when
God appeared to him.
If this argument proves anything it proves that Saul was saved
before faith. For, the Lord appeared to him before he believed
on the Lord. It would also prove salvation before and without
repentance for he had not repented when the Lord appeared to him.
If God could choose Jeremiah before his birth (Jer. 1:5), why
not Saul before his spiritual birth?
Other arguments are made that we do not have space to develop
and answer. However, in answering any of these arguments, we must
remember that whatever conclusion we draw must harmonize with
what Acts 9 and other texts say about Saul's conversion (Acts
22; 26).
If Saul Was Saved On The Road To Damascus
If Saul was saved on the road, as the claim is made, the following
are consequences of that conclusion.
1. Sins were not washed away. For, Ananias said, "And now
why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). He was
commanded to be baptized to wash away his sins. That was in Damascus.
Thus, if he was saved on the road before reaching Damascus, he
was saved while still in his sins.
2. He was the most miserable saved man. For three days he was
blind and didn't eat or drink anything (Acts 9:9). That is a far
cry from the story of the Ethiopian treasurer who immediately
went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39).
3. The Lord didn't know it. If he was saved, the Lord didn't know
it for he told Saul to go into the city and he would be told what
to do (Acts 9:6).
4. Ananias didn't know it. If he was saved on the road, Ananias,
the preacher that God sent, didn't know it, for he told him to
be baptized and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).
5. Saul didn't know it. If he was saved on the road, Saul himself
didn't know it for he did exactly what Ananias had commanded (Acts
22:16).
Thus, those who know that Saul was saved on the road, know something
that Ananias, Saul and God himself didn't know.
What Did Saul Do To Be Saved?
Saul did what every other convert to the Lord did, or else God
would be a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11).
Thus, if others had to repent and be baptized (and they did, Acts
2:38; Acts 8:12, 38) Saul did too.
1. Believed on the Lord. The fact that he went into the city as
the Lord instructed him (Acts 22:11) tells us that. Furthermore,
we find him preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (Acts 9:20).
Thus, he believed as the Lord commanded in the great commission
(Mark 16:16).
2. Repented of his sins. This is evidenced by his fasting and
prayer when he arrived in Damascus (Acts 9:9, 11).
3. He was baptized. He was told to be baptized to wash away his
sins (Acts 22:16). He immediately was baptized (Acts 9:9).
Since confession of faith is essential according to Rom 10:9-10,
we know he confessed his faith in the Lord as the Eunuch did (Acts
8:37).
Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus
The Suffering Of Christ by Jim Jonas (jjbogator@aol.com)
"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh,
arm yourselves also with the same mind …" (1 Peter
4:1).
Peter's first epistle addresses on the concept of suffering. Peter
does not focus upon the circumstantial trauma inflicted by a world
of sharp edges and hostile microbes. Rather, he addresses the
undeserved injury deliberately inflicted upon good people by those
who resent or misunderstand their goodness (cf. 1 Peter 2:12,
19-20; 3:16-17).
As he warns his readers about future trials (cf. 1 Peter 1:7;
4:17-19), Peter repeatedly recalls the suffering of the Lord.
He says that "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example that you should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
Though Jesus "committed no sin," He was reviled, threatened
and ultimately executed (1 Peter 2:22-24). Yet He did not allow
such treatment to undermine His spiritual integrity. He "did
not revile in return … He did not threaten" (1 Peter
2:23a). Oh, how tempting it must have been for Jesus to rise in
righteous indignation and give the arrogant Pharisees a piece
of His divine mind! "But He committed Himself to Him who
judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23b).
Reference to the suffering of Christ, which Peter himself witnessed,
is woven throughout the book (cf. 1 Peter 3:18; 4:1; 4:13). Peter
saw grace under fire. He saw Jesus heal the man whose ear Peter
had cut off with the sword. He heard the Lord intercede on behalf
of the disciples: "I have told you that I am He. Therefore,
if you seek Me, let these go their way" (John 18:8). But
Peter was more than an eyewitness of Jesus' suffering; he was
a contributor to it.
His vehement denial to the contrary, Peter fulfilled the prophecy
of Jesus: "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this
day before you will deny three times that you know Me" (Luke
22:34). Which do you suppose hurt the Lord more: the denial of
the Sanhedrin, or the denial of His dear companion, Peter? Which
has hurt us more in life, the wounds of enemies or strangers,
or the wounds of our friends?
Peter was deeply affected by the suffering of Christ, "the
just for the unjust" (1 Peter 3:18). It solidified his convictions
and reinforced his commitment to Jesus. And it should ours. Whatever
we are asked to suffer for the Lord pales in comparison to what
Jesus endured on our behalf. When ridiculed, penalized or otherwise
mistreated for doing what is right, may we patiently endure it,
as did Jesus?
The Refiner - Author Unknown (Contributed by L. Dillinger)
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi.
As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three,
which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement
meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot -- then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver
smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy--when I see
my image in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that you are in God's hand, He has His eye on you, and He will keep holding you and watching you until He sees His image in you!
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This Month's Bible Reading: Deuteronomy
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of,
and visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com