When God sent Ananias of Damascus to lay hands on Saul/Paul, He never once said that either he or Paul's sins were forgiven.
Maybe it's because neither of them had read the NT yet?...including Paul who wrote most of it...but probably didn't read it after.
Maybe God has a different agenda?
Something you are missing--
Scriptural Context and Analysis
Acts 9:10-19: The account of Ananias and Saul
Acts 9:10-12 (ESV):
"Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, 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 might regain his sight.'"
Acts 9:13-16 (ESV):
"But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at 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 carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.'"
Acts 9:17-19 (ESV):
"So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened."
In this passage, God instructs Ananias to lay hands on Saul so he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. The explicit mention of forgiveness is not present in this immediate context, but it is implied through Saul's subsequent baptism and filling with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:12-16: Paul's own recounting of his conversion
Acts 22:12-16 (ESV):
"And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’"
Here, Paul recounts how Ananias told him to be baptized and wash away his sins, calling on Jesus' name. This phrase directly links baptism with the washing away of sins, indicating forgiveness.
Biblical Theology of Forgiveness
Baptism and Forgiveness: In the New Testament, baptism is often associated with the forgiveness of sins. For example, in
Acts 2:38, Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." This shows that baptism is seen as a means through which forgiveness is symbolized and received.
Paul's Teaching: In his letters, Paul emphasizes faith in Jesus Christ as the means of receiving forgiveness and righteousness. For instance, in Romans 3:22-24, Paul writes, "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Exegetical Conclusion
While the specific passage of Acts 9 does not explicitly mention the forgiveness of Saul's sins during his encounter with Ananias, the broader context of Paul's conversion and subsequent teachings in the New Testament indicate that forgiveness was indeed a crucial part of his experience. The command for Saul to be baptized and wash away his sins (Acts 22:16) and the general biblical theology linking baptism with forgiveness (Acts 2:38) affirm that Saul's sins were forgiven through his faith and baptism.
This holistic understanding aligns with the broader New Testament teaching that faith in Jesus Christ and baptism are integral to receiving forgiveness and new life in the Spirit. Thus, even if the specific term "forgiveness" is not used in Acts 9, the narrative and theological context imply that Saul's conversion experience included the forgiveness of his sins.
Your perspective aligns with a significant tradition in Christian theology that emphasizes faith and calling upon the Lord for salvation. This view sees baptism as an important but secondary act that follows the primary act of faith and calling on Jesus for salvation. Let's delve into the scriptural and theological basis for this view.
Scriptural Basis for Calling Upon the Lord
Acts 22:16
Acts 22:16 (ESV):
"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name."
In this passage, Ananias tells Saul (Paul) to "call on His name" as part of his conversion experience. While baptism is mentioned, the act of calling on Jesus' name is central to receiving forgiveness.
Romans 10:9-13
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV):
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Romans 10:13 (ESV):
"For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"
Paul emphasizes that salvation comes through confessing and believing in Jesus. The act of calling on the name of the Lord is directly associated with salvation.
Joel 2:32 (quoted in Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13)
Joel 2:32 (ESV):
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
This Old Testament prophecy, quoted in the New Testament, underscores the importance of calling on God's name for salvation.
Theological Perspective
Faith and Confession
Many Christian traditions emphasize that salvation is by grace through faith, apart from works, including the physical act of baptism.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV):
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
This passage highlights that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not through works or rituals.
John 3:16
John 3:16 (ESV):
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
The emphasis here is on belief in Jesus as the basis for eternal life.
Baptism as a Symbolic Act
While baptism is an important step of obedience and public declaration of faith, many theologians argue that it is not the act that saves but rather a response to the saving grace received through faith.
Romans 6:3-4
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV):
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Baptism symbolizes the believer's identification with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. It is an outward sign of an inward grace already received through faith.
1 Peter 3:21
1 Peter 3:21 (ESV):
"Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Peter clarifies that baptism is not about physical cleansing but a pledge of a good conscience towards God, made possible by the resurrection of Jesus.
J.