DHK said:Paul was saved when he called upon the name of the Lord. Simply because the Lord knew about it before hand does not mean that the apostle Paul was saved before he was born. That is plain absurd. It says that God separated him, not saved him. Learn the difference. God had a plan for his life, but Paul still had to make the choice. I have plans for my children. But they have to make their own decisions. I can't force them. The difference between me and God in this area is that God knows before hand (since he is omniscient) what his children will decide and how they will turn out. I don't have that knowledge. A person is saved when, he, of his own volition, chooses to accept the sacrifice that Christ provided for him on the cross. No one forces him to do so.
Election has nothing to do with it.
Paul was saved when he called upon the name of the Lord.
thats right, he was already saved when he called upon the name of the lord !
Just like those who believe not are already condemned before they believe not !
jn 3
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The opposite is also true, he that believeth was not condemed !