Paul's Conversion

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#1
Many see Paul's experience where Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus as the point in which he received his conversion. (Acts 9:3-6) This is not the case. How can this be known? Because we see his sins were not washed away at that moment. Nor had he received the Holy Ghost. It is at this point, however, that Jesus makes the following statement:

Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

What Ananias tells Paul he must do in Acts 9:10-18 and Acts 22:16 parallels exactly what Jesus, Peter, Philip, and Paul himself later told others they must do. After believing in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection everyone, including Paul, was required to be water baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin and receive the Holy Ghost.

Paul's experience is one more example within the word that no one is exempt. All must obey God's NT mandate.
 
Feb 16, 2017
1,037
285
83
#2
others they must do. After believing in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection everyone, including Paul, was required to be water baptized .
-
Paul said that Christ sent him not to water baptize.

Paul's conversion, happened to him exactly the same way it happens to all who are born again.
It happens the instant you believe as "faith is counted as Righteousness".

Water is totally Irrelevant regarding the process of being SPIRITUALLY born again, as water can only touch your flesh and water has no mystical powers, even tho the "water cults" and their heretics falsely teach that water and Salvation are connected.
They are not.
In the case of water baptism you find in the New Testament after Jesus has died on the Cross, a person BELIEVES and is born again, and then the water baptism >follows their Salvation.

Like this....: Acts 8

"""""And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized
And Philip said, 1.). If thou believest with all thine heart, = thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."""

What happened after the Eunuch BELIEVE?
He was water baptized.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#3
Many see Paul's experience where Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus as the point in which he received his conversion. (Acts 9:3-6) This is not the case. How can this be known? Because we see his sins were not washed away at that moment. Nor had he received the Holy Ghost. It is at this point, however, that Jesus makes the following statement:

Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

What Ananias tells Paul he must do in Acts 9:10-18 and Acts 22:16 parallels exactly what Jesus, Peter, Philip, and Paul himself later told others they must do. After believing in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection everyone, including Paul, was required to be water baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin and receive the Holy Ghost.

Paul's experience is one more example within the word that no one is exempt. All must obey God's NT mandate.
It seems to me that to interpret scripture correctly, we need to think of it as the word coming to us from a God that we are told the attributes of. That God is a God of the spirit, not a human at all. What we need to look at is a view of Paul through the eyes of this God.

God needed a man who could understand Him, one who thoroughly knew Him and all His ways. God needed a man who thoroughly knew scripture, and the mind of both Jews and gentiles. Paul was that, raised by Jews in a gentile community. God needed a man whose first language was Hebrew so he understood and thought with the language of the scrolls. Paul was that. Paul was a star graduate of the most prestigious university of the time. God had groomed Paul for his work from the time he was born.

Next, God needed a man was was an apostle, not a disciple, who was taught directly by Jesus. God sent Paul to Arabia for three years where Christ miraculously taught Paul.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#4
-
Paul said that Christ sent him not to water baptize.

Paul's conversion, happened to him exactly the same way it happens to all who are born again.
It happens the instant you believe as "faith is counted as Righteousness".

Water is totally Irrelevant regarding the process of being SPIRITUALLY born again, as water can only touch your flesh and water has no mystical powers, even tho the "water cults" and their heretics falsely teach that water and Salvation are connected.
They are not.
In the case of water baptism you find in the New Testament after Jesus has died on the Cross, a person BELIEVES and is born again, and then the water baptism >follows their Salvation.

Like this....: Acts 8

"""""And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized
And Philip said, 1.). If thou believest with all thine heart, = thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."""

What happened after the Eunuch BELIEVE?
He was water baptized.
Being born again requires receiving the Holy Ghost and having one's sins remitted.

Acts 9:17-18
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Acts 22:16
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#5
It seems to me that to interpret scripture correctly, we need to think of it as the word coming to us from a God that we are told the attributes of. That God is a God of the spirit, not a human at all. What we need to look at is a view of Paul through the eyes of this God.

God needed a man who could understand Him, one who thoroughly knew Him and all His ways. God needed a man who thoroughly knew scripture, and the mind of both Jews and gentiles. Paul was that, raised by Jews in a gentile community. God needed a man whose first language was Hebrew so he understood and thought with the language of the scrolls. Paul was that. Paul was a star graduate of the most prestigious university of the time. God had groomed Paul for his work from the time he was born.

Next, God needed a man was was an apostle, not a disciple, who was taught directly by Jesus. God sent Paul to Arabia for three years where Christ miraculously taught Paul.
Paul was no different from any other person as far as his needing to be born again. Afterward Jesus gave Paul insight that equipped him to fulfill his personal ministry. The insight given in no way changed the NT mandate initially given to each group of humanity by Peter.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#6
-
Paul said that Christ sent him not to water baptize.

Paul's conversion, happened to him exactly the same way it happens to all who are born again.
It happens the instant you believe as "faith is counted as Righteousness".

Water is totally Irrelevant regarding the process of being SPIRITUALLY born again, as water can only touch your flesh and water has no mystical powers, even tho the "water cults" and their heretics falsely teach that water and Salvation are connected.
They are not.
In the case of water baptism you find in the New Testament after Jesus has died on the Cross, a person BELIEVES and is born again, and then the water baptism >follows their Salvation.

Like this....: Acts 8

"""""And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized
And Philip said, 1.). If thou believest with all thine heart, = thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."""

What happened after the Eunuch BELIEVE?
He was water baptized.
The OP is obsessed with water. He will not be happy on judgment day. Good luck. Many have tried to show him.. Maybe you can get through with the help of God
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#7
@Omegatime I find it interesting that anyone would respond negatively to scriptural proof that speaks directly to truth associated with the NT rebirth experience. It was Jesus Himself that sent Paul to Ananias who told him what to do in order for his sins to be washed away.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#8
The OP is obsessed with water. He will not be happy on judgment day. Good luck. Many have tried to show him.. Maybe you can get through with the help of God
How about responding to the truth presented from Paul's conversion experience. Both receiving the Holy Ghost and submitting to baptism were stated requirements per Ananias.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#9
The OP is obsessed with water. He will not be happy on judgment day. Good luck. Many have tried to show him.. Maybe you can get through with the help of God
-
Paul said that Christ sent him not to water baptize.

Paul's conversion, happened to him exactly the same way it happens to all who are born again.
It happens the instant you believe as "faith is counted as Righteousness".
The enemy has been twisting scripture concepts for years. See what James says about Abraham. It contradicts what is preached today as truth. True faith/belief will always prompt action/obedience. And in doing so faith is made perfect. Not a popular concept, but nonetheless fact according to scripture.

James 2:20-24
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
 
O

Omegatime

Guest
#10
The enemy has been twisting scripture concepts for years. See what James says about Abraham. It contradicts what is preached today as truth. True faith/belief will always prompt action/obedience. And in doing so faith is made perfect. Not a popular concept, but nonetheless fact according to scripture.

James 2:20-24
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.


I suppose by your account that the thief on the cross was previously baptized

Just a closer walk with thee-George Jones--great song
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
8,879
4,334
113
#11
I suppose by your account that the thief on the cross was previously baptized

Just a closer walk with thee-George Jones--great song
I have heard it said many times by those who preach baptismal regeneration that the thief would have been previously baptised.

They quote

Mark 1:4-5
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

I cannot imagine the thief on the cross would have notion to be baptised.
If then it obviously was not real or relevant as he still willingly carried on his lifestyle.

He was save by


Luke 23:42-43
42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Notice he calls him Lord and believes he will be raised up into his kingdom.

As Paul says

Romans 10:9-13
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,332
4,056
113
#12
Many see Paul's experience where Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus as the point in which he received his conversion. (Acts 9:3-6) This is not the case. How can this be known? Because we see his sins were not washed away at that moment. Nor had he received the Holy Ghost. It is at this point, however, that Jesus makes the following statement:

Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

What Ananias tells Paul he must do in Acts 9:10-18 and Acts 22:16 parallels exactly what Jesus, Peter, Philip, and Paul himself later told others they must do. After believing in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection everyone, including Paul, was required to be water baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin and receive the Holy Ghost.

Paul's experience is one more example within the word that no one is exempt. All must obey God's NT mandate.

Paul believed in Jesus the moment Jesus told HIM who HE was and who he was persecuting.

Salvation = Sozo in the Greek means Saved, Healing and deliverance Paul said Who are you, Lord? Jesus said I have chosen HIM.

you can't get any more saved than Jesus saying I have chosen you.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,188
113
#13
Is water baptism ABSOLUTELY necessary to be Saved?

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Nope. Salvation doesn't come by what people do. Salvation comes by what God gives as His Gift.


Is water baptism a bad thing? No. Get water baptised. I view it as your public proclamation of Christ.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,332
4,056
113
#14
Is water baptism ABSOLUTELY necessary to be Saved?

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Nope. Salvation doesn't come by what people do. Salvation comes by what God gives as His Gift.


Is water baptism a bad thing? No. Get water baptised. I view it as your public proclamation of Christ.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
amen nowhere in scripture will you find


IF you get baptized after you believed :)
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
8,879
4,334
113
#15
Is water baptism ABSOLUTELY necessary to be Saved?

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Nope. Salvation doesn't come by what people do. Salvation comes by what God gives as His Gift.


Is water baptism a bad thing? No. Get water baptised. I view it as your public proclamation of Christ.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
I see it as a spiritual marker.

I refused to baptise someone because I wasn't coming convinced he was actually actually saved.

I quoted the verses from Romans and asked him if he had done this and believed that Jesus rose again.

He said no so I told him I could not baptise him.

I also think today that we make baptism a fearful event.
From checklists based on want you do and what you dont.
Expect people to stand up and give some amazing testimony.
I have baptised many people who were reluctant because of some of the above.
I said to them "Just stand up and say I love Jesus and I want to baptised"
In the pool I quote the verses from Roamans then when they say yes I baptise them.

If it were up to me people should be baptised as soon as.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#16
Is water baptism ABSOLUTELY necessary to be Saved?

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Nope. Salvation doesn't come by what people do. Salvation comes by what God gives as His Gift.


Is water baptism a bad thing? No. Get water baptised. I view it as your public proclamation of Christ.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Amen, we can also go to Pauls letter to titus

NOT by works of righteousness which we have done (water baptism would be a work of righteousness we do) but by his mercy he saved us.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#17
I suppose by your account that the thief on the cross was previously baptized

Just a closer walk with thee-George Jones--great song
The thief was under the Old Testament mandate. The NT rebirth experience was only available after Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, and the pouring out of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost.
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#18
I have heard it said many times by those who preach baptismal regeneration that the thief would have been previously baptised.

They quote

Mark 1:4-5
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

I cannot imagine the thief on the cross would have notion to be baptised.
If then it obviously was not real or relevant as he still willingly carried on his lifestyle.

He was save by


Luke 23:42-43
42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Notice he calls him Lord and believes he will be raised up into his kingdom.

As Paul says

Romans 10:9-13
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John's baptism was an introduction to what would later be modified. Water baptism for the remission of sin became necessary for all after Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-18, 10:44-48, 19:1-6, 22:16) Another piece of evidence that water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus was necessary is Paul's rebaptizing of those who had only received John's baptism. (Acts 19:1-6)
 

BillG

Senior Member
Feb 15, 2017
8,879
4,334
113
#19
John's baptism was an introduction to what would later be modified. Water baptism for the remission of sin became necessary for all after Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-18, 10:44-48, 19:1-6, 22:16) Another piece of evidence that water baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus was necessary is Paul's rebaptizing of those who had only received John's baptism. (Acts 19:1-6)
And it wasn't necessary for all before Jesus death, burial and resurrection?
If not why not and how we're their sins forgiven?
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
4,762
1,038
113
#20
Paul believed in Jesus the moment Jesus told HIM who HE was and who he was persecuting.

Salvation = Sozo in the Greek means Saved, Healing and deliverance Paul said Who are you, Lord? Jesus said I have chosen HIM.

you can't get any more saved than Jesus saying I have chosen you.
We see from scripture when Paul's sins were washed away and it was not at the moment Jesus appeared to him.