Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's
This week's question:

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age?

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its

wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message

preached to save those who believe.

Paul describes himself as a "Hebrew of Hebrews", a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5), taught under Gamaliel strictly, and a persecutor of the church with zeal and to the death (Acts 22:1-5). But although he persecuted the church he said "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God to this day." (Acts 23:1) Just as many have a zeal before God today but not according to true knowledge
(Romans 10:2). And so it was with Paul as Stephen was stoned and those that did laid their robes at Paul's feet and he was in hearty agreement with them (Acts 8:1).

For our answer to today's question of was paul saved on the road to Damascus we turn to Acts chapter nine. Paul, still called Saul, is persecuting the church in Jerusalem by going from house to house and dragging the saints off to prison which helps scatter them throughout Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1-3). Paul asks for a letter from the high priest so that if he found any of the "Way" he could bind them and bring them back to Jerusalem. As he and others traveled on the road to Damascus a bright light from heaven flashed around him:

Acts 9:4-9 and as he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you

persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are

persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do." The men who

traveled with his stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and

though his eyes were open, he could see nothing: and leading him by the hand, they brought him into

Damascus. And he was three days with out sight, and neither ate nor drank.

There are three things that we will focus on at this time with these scriptures. First, there is no doubt that Paul now understands that Jesus is the Christ and that he persecuted innocent blood. Second, that it takes three days before a man named Ananias comes before him. And the third, which is just as important, Jesus tells Paul to go into the city where he would be told what he must do.

Jesus then goes before Ananias and tells him:

Acts 9:11-16 And the Lord said to him, "Get up and to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house

of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named

Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight." But Ananias answered,

"Lord, I have heard from many about this man and how much harm he did to your saints in Jerusalem;

and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to

him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the

sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."

Yes, Paul did believe on the road to Damascus, but was he saved? Is belief enough for salvation? The demons believe-and they shudder:

James 2:18-20 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without

the works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one? You do well;

thedemons believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without

works is useless?

And so after three days of Paul hearing the voice of Jesus, Ananias comes before Paul and asks him this important question: "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized , and wash away your sins, calling on His name." (Acts 22:16). And he got up and was baptized (Acts 9:18). Was Paul saved with his sins still attached? If we set aside any preconceived notion and look with an honest heart and mind we can understand that Paul believed that Jesus was the Christ on the road to Damascus, but salvation's door was opened when he got up and washed away his sins in that burial of the watery grave (Romans 6:1-6).

Why else would Peter say through the inspired word:

1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of the dirt from the flesh, but

an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And so there we have our answer to today's question: Paul was put on salvation's road when he got up and was baptized, by doing what Jesus told Him he must do! He will be able to stand before God in all good conscience. How about us? Can we say that we have done the things that Jesus said we must do? Think about it. Our time is still opportune while he lends us breath.

Thank you again for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word. Please visit our other window's on this website and tell a friend. This is Bible Break, and have a good day!