Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians UNTIL…he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Acts 9 He was blinded by a very bright light but Jesus talked to him and told him,” I am Jesus…” Saul BELIVED and asked Jesus, “What do you want me to do?” Let’s just stop right here and ask yourself what do preachers today say Saul should do right here?
Some would say, “ There is NOTHING you need to do. You ‘believe’ so you are saved.”
Some would say, “ Just repeat the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and you will be saved.”
Some would say, “ Just accept Jesus in your heart and you will be saved.”
Some would say he was saved because he had a “religious experience.”
So what did JESUS say? He told Saul to go into the city and there he would be told WHAT HE MUST DO! Obviously, there was MORE he needed to do to be saved than just believe. If not, then why did Jesus say that?
Saul spent 3 days in Damascus fasting and praying. Evidence of REPENTANCE but no evidence that he “prayed through” to salvation. Finally, Ananias came to him and told him to “Arise, and be BAPTIZED and wash away your sins.” Saul still had his SINS three days after he BELIEVED, and REPENTED. This was what “he was told he must do.”
Some would say, “ There is NOTHING you need to do. You ‘believe’ so you are saved.”
Some would say, “ Just repeat the ‘sinner’s prayer’ and you will be saved.”
Some would say, “ Just accept Jesus in your heart and you will be saved.”
Some would say he was saved because he had a “religious experience.”
So what did JESUS say? He told Saul to go into the city and there he would be told WHAT HE MUST DO! Obviously, there was MORE he needed to do to be saved than just believe. If not, then why did Jesus say that?
Saul spent 3 days in Damascus fasting and praying. Evidence of REPENTANCE but no evidence that he “prayed through” to salvation. Finally, Ananias came to him and told him to “Arise, and be BAPTIZED and wash away your sins.” Saul still had his SINS three days after he BELIEVED, and REPENTED. This was what “he was told he must do.”
So this portion of your post verifies what Jesus said:
Finally, Ananias came to him and told him to “Arise, and be BAPTIZED and wash away your sins.”