Information Related to "How Paul Described His Thinking Before Conversion"
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Does the apostle Paul's description in Romans 8:6-8 of human resistance to God's principles apply to you and me?
Absolutely! What Paul learned about himself is exactly what we must learn about ourselves.
From childhood Paul believed in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. But he-like all other human beings-was naturally inclined to be overly confident of his own opinions and self-discipline.
He explains, "If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one!
"What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault" (Philippians 3:4-6, New Living Translation).
Paul had observed the letter of God's law with a devotion rarely seen. But like all people-sincere or not-he was woefully unaware of how far-reaching his self-deception had become. Only after being shown that he was persecuting people who really were living by the principles that he thought he was defending did he understand his spiritual blindness.
"I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful [Paul never lacked sincerity, zeal or dedication] and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of Christ's name], a persecutor [of people living a godly life], and a man of violence.
Related Information on UCG Sites:
Sidebar to Suffering: How It Began, How It Will End
Table of Contents that includes "How Paul Described His Thinking Before Conversion"
Conversion examples: