Conversion of Saul

ByRobert C. Archer

“An honest, but mistaken man, once

shown the truth, either ceases to be mistaken, or

ceases to be honest.”

Saul was a religious man

Philippians 3:4-6 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Question:Is it enough just to be

religious?

Yet the Bible teaches:

Just being religious is not enoughMatt. 15:9

And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Matt. 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate

and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from

Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Furthermore: only one gospel saves

2 Jno. 1:9-10 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the

doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

God declares

1 Cor. 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel

which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

Hold fast the word

Saul was a sincere religious man

Acts 23:1 1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

Jesus teaches that it takes more than just sincerity

Matt. 7:21-23Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall

enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

Saul was a zealous sincere religious man

Acts 22:3 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

Jesus teaches that it takes more than zeal

Rom. 10:1-3Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God

for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Saul was an honest man

When confronted with the truth – he accepted it, and he obeyed it Acts 9:1-16; 22:12-16

Questions:

When was he saved?When he saw the light?

No, the vision was to make him an apostle (Acts 26:17-18)

After he prayed? No, he had NOT been told what to do (Acts 9:6)

After he fasted? No, he had NOT been told what to do (Acts 9:6)

Questions:

When was he saved?He was saved when he “arose and was baptized”Remember

Acts 22:16 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

Questions

What saved him?The vision?

No, it was to make him an apostle (Acts 26:17-18)

Praying? No, he prayed for three days and he still had

NOT been told what to do.Fasting?

No, he fasted for three days and he still had NOT been told what to do.

Questions

Did water save him?No, the blood of Christ did

Ephesians 1:7 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

But only after he was baptized (Rom. 6:3-7)

Romans 6:3-7 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized

into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into

death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.

Saul was a converted man

His life changedPreached the way that he had once tried to destroyActs 26:19-20

19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Saul (Paul) was a contented man

Phil. 4:11-13Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have

learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Saul (Paul) was a secure man

2 Tim. 4:6-8For I am already being poured out as a drink

offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Again: “An honest, but mistaken man, once shown the truth, either ceases to be mistaken, or ceases to be honest.”

If you are not saved like Saul, you are NOT saved!