In Acts 9:1-22, we have the amazing story of Saul's conversion. The story captures how Saul became a convert of Jesus Christ.

What does that even mean? Saul was a Jew already. He was a son of Abraham. He was already into Judaism and Judaism is rooted in the God of Abraham. He believed in the Torah and Torah came from Moses. Moses got the laws from God. So why would Saul still be required to be converted?

You know what? God created man and everything is subject to him. He determines the terms of his relationship with man and he said in Acts 4:12, there is no other name by which man can be saved other than Jesus. As of this time, Saul, like other adherents of Judaism, had a problem with the name of Jesus. He trusted in his ability to keep the law to be able to get to God, like most religions of the world. He was an unbeliever and he needed to become a believer in Jesus for him to be saved. Saul had to humble himself and submit to the name of Jesus.

Maybe you have a religion already and you think I don't need Jesus. You say, my religion is enough for me. Saul thought like that as well. But when he gained knowledge, he believed.

The thing about religions is this: most religions are attempts to get to God and here is God showing up and saying, follow the way I provide for you. He owns us and is in a position to determine things. He says in Ezekiel 18:4. All souls are mine. I often say, instead of being worried about your religion or culture when it comes to Jesus, take the step first to accept Jesus and religion will take care of itself. Jesus never bothered Saul about his religion. He simply told him he was kicking against him and Saul got the message. Saul could see that his religion was all the time leading him to Jesus and he requested what Jesus would have him do going forward and referred to him as “Lord” signifying submission. Will you submit to the name of Jesus?

This is not a superiority contest of religions. If a Jew who is already following the laws needed to believe in Jesus to be saved, that should at least help you to understand that it is not a superiority contest of religions. It is about Jesus. If you think this is about Christianity, I will tell you, it is not. Even a fellow who was born into Christian “religion” needed to believe in Jesus to be saved like Saul. I am an example. I was born into a Christian home though we lived for self and I needed to put my faith in Jesus and not trust something else.

Listen, Jesus did not come to start any religion. He came to offer eternal life, the God-kind of life. He had disciples for 3.5 years and did not give any name to his “ministry”. If he really wanted to start another religion, he would have named it. It was years after he had left that people started calling the disciples Christians because they saw that they behaved like Jesus. If any name is to be given to what Jesus offers us, it is eternal life - life in Christ Jesus, not another religion.

Some people are not even into any religion but there is another subtle modern day religion. It is a religion that idolizes self. They don't subscribe to any of these known world religions. This religion manifests in various ways. “Do what works for you”. “Follow your mind”. “Your truth”. The adherents of this religion don't want to follow anything beyond their natural senses. Listen, there is more to life than what you can perceive with your natural senses. You need to dethrone that idol of self and accept Jesus. 

The goal of this quick teaching is not to tell you my religion or way of life is better than yours, it is to teach the truth that we all need. I am not a Jew but God chose to route the message of salvation through the Jews and you can see even the Jew had to put their faith in Jesus to be saved. I will not allow pride to stand in my way. It is not a suppression of my culture. It is a matter of where I will spend eternity. We are all lost and in need of a saviour.  When you look at it from that angle, you will see it is not a competition

To be converted is to get God’s gift of salvation on God's terms. Romans 10:9-10 says “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved”

On the authority of God's word, you can become a believer now and have eternal life. If you're ready, pray with me and mean every word:

Lord Jesus, I believe that you came, died for my sins and rose again for me to be free from sins and guilt. I declare with my mouth that you are the Lord, the saviour. Come be the Lord of my life from today. Receive me and make me new. Help me to follow you all my days - in Jesus name.

Friends, If you say that prayer with all your heart, you can have the assurance of salvation now. Get into a Bible based church and let them know you just made a decision to be a believer in Jesus. You may also contact us and we'll be glad to walk with you. God bless you.