If you are a Christian, how did you become one? Once we were “without Christ… strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). But praise God, if we are in Christ Jesus, we “who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”! (Ephesians 2:13). When did you move from lost to saved? From out of Christ to in Christ?
The conversion story of Saul (later called Paul) is shared three times in the book of Acts. (It must be important!) Your story will not be exactly like his, but the method of salvation should be the same.
In Acts 9, Saul came face-to-face with Jesus and realized he was persecuting God. Can you imagine passionately thinking you are right and then finding out you are wrong? How would you react? Humbled, Saul admitted his error, as he asked Jesus, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Would you do whatever Jesus says, regardless of the cost? Jesus said, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6).
Was Saul saved yet? He believed Jesus, calling Him “Lord,” but he had not yet obeyed; he was not acting like someone who had just been saved, and the text does not say he was.
Jesus told Saul what he “must do” (Acts 9:6). Saul believed enough to obey; he went into the city (Acts 9:8). Saul obeyed in baptism (Acts 9:18). Later, Saul, whose name changed to Paul, taught that baptism spiritually reenacts what Jesus did physically (Romans 6:3–11). Paul taught that we die to sin the moment we are baptized.
Paul used the phrase “obeyed the gospel” (Romans 10:16). Previous verses explain how we obey the gospel. We need to hear preaching (10:14) and believe it (10:10, 14). We need to confess our belief (10:10) and call upon the name of the Lord (10:13–14).
What, then, is “calling on the name of the Lord”? In Acts 22:16, Paul retold his conversion story, saying that he called on the name of the Lord and washed away his sins when he was baptized.
Even though some of the details of our experiences are different, we are all saved the same way.
When Paul heard the truth, he believed it. He turned from his sins (repented) and confessed his new belief. Paul obeyed in baptism, calling on the name of the Lord and washing away his sins.
What about you?
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2
“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
