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Paul - Conversion or Calling?

Saul, also called Paul, (Acts 13:9 ESV.) while on his way to Damascus, saw a light from heaven flash, and had a vision where Jesus appeared to him (Acts 9:3-6). There is no doubt about the impact this event had on Saul’s life because he immediately stopped persecuting, killing, and jailing, believers of Jesus Christ. In Acts, Paul states, “I am Pharisee…” (Acts 23:6) making it clear that knew and studied God’s Word well. He also made the statement, “I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” (Acts 23:1). These statements support that Paul believed in God. Since his faith did not change from one religion to another one may be inclined to believe that God was just calling Paul to serve, in a different fashion. After all, Paul’s devout faith and conviction compelled him to passionately hunt down believers in Christ; he thought the gospel message was a made-up lie. This proves the truth of God’s Word, “[n]o one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him (John 6:44)”. With this single verse one can see the question becomes did Paul believe Jesus was the Son of God? The answer is a resounding no. It was not until God revealed himself to Paul, that Paul was able to believe and comprehend Jesus rose from the dead, and he was God’s own Son. If one considers the vision Paul had a calling, would not all the Jewish believers of Jesus Christ, also be considered a calling? The conversion is not necessarily in all cases a switch of one's belief in religion type. It is; however, the acceptance of the fact that Jesus died for human sin, he rose from the grave, and is now in heaven seated with God. Furthermore, Paul's sight was restored, he was baptized in water, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, all the things a new believer goes through once they accept Jesus as their savior. One last note, I do believe that after Paul accepted Christ, he did have a calling on his life, but the event concerning his vision was not the calling it was however the newness of the belief in Jesus Christ that set him on fire to preach, start churches everywhere, and spread the gospel message. Amen!