I recently watched a DVD that contained a religious debate between Brother Larry Hafley and his opponent, a man whose last name is Ross. The subject of the debate- is baptism necessary for salvation. One of the passages considered deals with Saul's conversion. Brother Hafley presented a powerful chart showing the impact of the teaching in Acts 9. This article communicates my understanding of that chart and the Acts 9 text. If Paul was saved on the road to Damascus,...

The Lord didn't know it. "....Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." {Acts 9:4-6} If Saul was already saved, why did he need to go into Damascus? What information would he receive there? Notice the Lord's statement, "what you MUST do." Jesus appeared to Saul, but that didn't save him. He needed more information. Saul had been persecuting the church {Acts 8:3}. To make a complete turn-around, he needed a reason. That he would find in Damascus, not on the road.

Saul didn't know it. " Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank." {Acts 9:8,9} Saul was the most miserable saved person I've ever seen. Others who obeyed the gospel went on their way rejoicing {Acts 9:39; 16:34}. Why would he fast and pray for three days instead of rejoicing over his salvation from sin? The text seems to reinforce the notion that Saul was unsure about his condition. He was praying for more answers and fasting to demonstrate repentance and remorse over his previous conduct {2 Corinthians 7:8-11}.

Ananias didn't know it. "Then a certain man Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'" {Acts 22:12-16} In Acts 9, we read that Ananias had to be convinced to go and speak to Saul. Why? Ananias knew of Saul's conduct among the Jews and his hatred for Christians, whom he believed to be opposed to God. He was on his way to Damascus to find them, bind them, and take them back to Jerusalem to be cast into prison. Ananias instructed Saul to call on the Lord's authority by being baptized to wash away his sins. Sin separates men from God {Isaiah 59:1,2}. If Saul's sins had already been forgiven, it was news to Ananias!

Saul's conversion shows the necessity of baptism and harmonizes perfectly with all other scripture passages that discuss baptism. Mr. Ross was unable to get around the plain teaching in these passages. Could you?