When Was Saul (Paul) Saved?

If there is one thing that Christianity is all about, it is salvation. We read as early as Matthew 1:21 that Jesus would "save His people from their sins." Later, we come to understand that God made salvation available to the whole world (John 3:16). Salvation comes as a result of the love, grace, mercy, and patience of God. But the question is, "When is the actual point in time that someone is saved?" If salvation occurred at the very instant that God made it available, it would be universal. Everyone would receive it if there were no conditions at all placed upon the free gift (Rom. 6:23). Yet we know that, according to Jesus, the majority of people are traveling the broad road to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14).

But before we go further, what does it mean to be saved? Is not the meaning that an individual's sins are no longer held against him, thus condemning him? Notice what the apostle Paul himself wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:11 to the church there: "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God." All three of these occur at the same moment. Washing refers to baptism, when sins are washed away. Without sin, people stand justified before God; nothing condemns them any longer. Since sin is removed, they are likewise sanctified—made holy. All three of these things result from the blood of Christ washing away one's sins (Rev. 1:5).

In view of this information, we ask the question, "When was Saul (later called Paul) saved?" Many people will place that event as occurring while he was on the road to Damascus. Jesus appeared to him and spoke to him, but He never said he was saved. When Saul asks what he should do (now being convicted of his error), Jesus tells him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:6). Nothing in Acts 9 or the retelling of this event in Acts 22 indicates that Saul is saved at this point—despite many people thinking that he was. In fact, he acts like a man who is deeply distressed. For three days he neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:9). Furthermore, he devoted himself to praying. If he were saved, why would he not be rejoicing instead?

When Ananias came to Saul, he restores his sight (Acts 22:13) and says to him, "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). Saul neither acted saved as a result of seeing Jesus—nor was he saved! His sins were not yet washed away; nor was he justified or sanctified. Saul cannot both be saved and have sins that need to be washed away at the same time. Paul understood the message of Ananias; he understood his condition: "…he arose and was baptized" (Acts 9:18). People believe that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus because they have been taught incorrectly that a person is saved by "faith only." No. In addition to faith, everyone must repent of his sins and be baptized for their forgiveness (Acts 2:38).