Paul Was Not Saved At The Point Of Faith

Saul of Tarsus was saved after he believed. Let’s prove that …

First, Saul became a believer in Christ and called Jesus Lord on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-6, 22:8-10). Obviously Acts 26:19 shows Saul believed what Jesus told him in verses 15-18, as he “was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” He began trusting in Christ at that point. Baptists say he was saved at that point.

Three days passed (Acts 9:9). Paul repented during those three days, indicated by the fact he was praying and fasting (Acts 9:11,9).

Yet Saul was not saved from his sins until Acts 22:16 – “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” So Saul was still in his sins at least three days after he believed. The text makes that perfectly clear. We all agree it is the blood of Christ that washes away sin (Rev 1:5, I John 1:7), but Saul needed to be baptized to get his sins washed away by that blood. Jesus’ blood is the what washed away Saul’s sins; baptism is the when. And everybody agrees “calling on the name of the Lord” is necessary to salvation (Acts 2:21, Rom 10:13), yet Saul did not complete that process until three days after he believed.

Conclusion: the apostle Paul’s conversion proves salvation from sin does not come at the point of faith. Salvation by faith only is conclusively disproven!

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