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There is absolutely no question that Paul did repent (i.e., had a change of direction in his heart), as is clearly attested to in scripture. Therefore, the question being raised isn’t really an issue of exactly where (or when) this change within him may have occurred, other then how it relates to having occurred before or after his salvation. If his salvation preceded his repentance, then surely it must be attributed completely and entirely to God’s grace (and foreknowledge), given that Saul/Paul was a "chosen vessel." (see Exodus 33:19;Acts 9:15.)
Peter spoke (to the whole house of Israel) on the day of Pentecost and instructed them to "repent and be saved." However, Paul preaches a slightly different message that makes little to no mention of repentance being required as a condition of salvation, referring to his message of salvation by a new name, "the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24.) In fact, Paul states that it is the goodness of God that leads one to repentance in Romans 2:4.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?
Repentance, at some point, is what God commands of all men (Acts 17:30)… but why is there so little mention of it in all of Paul’s epistles if it is thought to be a prerequisite to salvation?
Is it because the Gentile nations were not under the law (as Israel was) and would simply not relate to repentance in the same way that Israel did?
Romans 4
[15] Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression. [16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by
grace…
This question has evolved from another question (that was downvoted twice, for reasons I do not understand) that is posted here:
Anonymous
Unlike the Jews, the Gentiles never supposed they would obtain a resurrection. As the case of every unbeliever, they presumed that death, not life awaited them. They understood that they were lost.
Repentance is preached to those who suppose they are saved!
Anonymous
Paul’s repentance was acknowledging that Jesus was the Lord.
Anonymous
Philip Williams Lord as in the son of God not as in God the Father
Anonymous
Fred Leon Stewart as a Jew, Paul worshipped YHWH, which Paul’s Greek OT translates as Lord, same as the disciples called Jesus!
Anonymous
Philip Williams so as in the Son of God and then I agree..
Anonymous
Fred Leon Stewart God the Son!
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“ John 1:1
Anonymous
Philip Williams Was the Son a God after being created by God the Father?
Anonymous
Fred Leon Stewart the Eternal Son created all things. Being Eternal, he was never created as must follow from the subsequent verse: ”Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.“
John 1:3
Anonymous
Repentance unto life is granted to the Gentiles. Acts 11:18
Salvation is a new birth, a new heart, causing the sinner to become a new creation. Faith, grace, and repentance are gifts of the Holy Spirit given to hopeless helpless sinners through the gospel. Arguments over what order they come are unnecessary and often divisive.
Anonymous
After, of course. It is God’s sovereign work in us that brings us to reconciliation and repentance.
The dead must be first made alive; the mind must be renewed (Eph. 4).
Anonymous
Did the author who wrote faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ got saved AFTER hearing the WORD or by that one on one encounter with Jesus as Paul was on his mission to Damascus?
Anonymous
He repented before he was baptized in water and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. People say he was converted on the road to Damascus but Acts 22 says something different. Having his sins washed away in baptism was an integral part of his conversion experience
Anonymous
are you saying Acts 9 says different from Acts 22?