One of the most vicious enemies of Jesus was Saul of Tarsus. He severely persecuted the church in Jerusalem and scattered it (Acts 8:1-4). Then, he pursued Christians to other cities, hoping to exterminate their faith (Acts 26:11). He also “…went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues [Jewish places of worship] of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2).
However, the message which Saul actually delivered to the synagogues in Damascus was very different from the message he had planned: “…he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20)!
What changed Saul’s mind and message? On the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him in a bright light, and he fell to the ground. After Jesus spoke to him, Saul stood up, opened his eyes and could not see. With the help of his companions, he went into Damascus. In that city, he did not see, eat or drink for three days—but he did pray (Acts 9:3-9, 11). Later, in his letters, he included himself with all “saved” people (1 Timothy 1:15-16; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; Titus 3:5).
So, where was Saul when he was saved? Many people teach that Saul was saved “by faith only” during that great event on the road to Damascus. One preacher even declared that Saul was saved as he was falling off his horse, before he hit the ground! However, the Bible does not mention a horse at all. In fact, Paul and the others had apparently been walking. After the Lord blinded him, Saul’s companions “…led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus” (Acts 9:8; 22:11). The idea of adding a horse to the story came from men, not God. Likewise, the idea of Saul being saved on the road is from men’s imagination, not from God’s revelation.
Actually, the Bible plainly tells us Saul was saved from his sins after he went into Damascus, not on the road. Blind Saul was waiting in a house in Damascus when Jesus sent Ananias to him. Ananias healed him, spoke to him about Jesus and finished by saying, “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). This clearly shows that Saul had not already been saved on the road. He still had his sins when Ananias spoke to him three days later in Damascus. After Ananias spoke, Saul did not need to wait any longer. Through faith in Christ, he obeyed the Gospel that day; “…he arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:18). His sins were washed away by the blood of Christ when he was baptized into Christ. Saul was saved by God’s grace, through faith, when he was baptized.
Jesus is not appearing to people today as He did to Saul. Yet, Jesus is still blessing us through that great event in the life of Saul, who was later called “Paul” (Acts 13:9). He became a dedicated apostle of Christ and led many Jews and Gentiles to salvation!
Through Paul, the Lord told us that the location of salvation is “in Christ” (Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Peter 5:14). He reminded the Christians in Galatia how they entered into Christ: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). These, and many other verses, show that a sinner who believes in Christ is saved from sin at the moment of baptism (John 3:16, 3-5; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
We know Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus since he still had his sins three days later. We also know that he was saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:4-10), but not “by faith only.” Instead, he was saved “by faith when”—when he was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of his sins (Acts 2:38; 8:36-38).
