I have been reading this tread of posts, and find it very profitable to be having this discussion. I believe as you all do, that a correct understanding of Romans 7 is important.
Brother Mike, you make the point that “”Paul's description of himself does not remind me of someone who was a hypocrite or of someone who was violating his conscience or convictions.”” And further mention that “”Paul refers to this part of his life as something that was noble and honorable. He was fighting for the dignity and purity of the church.””
I took a look at what is written in The Acts of the Apostles pages 118, 119, and see that we have been given light that even though Saul thought himself good and was sincere, he was not saved – he had not yielded himself to Jesus – he hadn’t met Jesus – he didn’t know Jesus. If he had died in this state, Jesus would have come up to him at the Wedding feast and asked him why he wasn’t wearing a wedding garment – and he would have had no answer to give – “For many are called but few are chosen.
AA says = “As Saul yielded himself fully to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, he saw the mistakes of his life and recognized the far-reaching claims of the law of God. He who had been a proud Pharisee, confident that he was justified by his good works, now bowed before God with the humility and simplicity of a little child, confessing his own unworthiness and pleading the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Saul longed to come into full harmony and communion with the Father and the Son; and in the intensity of his desire for pardon and acceptance he offered up fervent supplications to the throne of grace.”
“With horror he thought of his guilt in allowing himself to be controlled by the malice and prejudice of the priests and rulers, even when the face of Stephen had been lighted up with the radiance of heaven. In sadness and brokenness of spirit he recounted the many times he had closed his eyes and ears against the most striking evidences and had relentlessly urged on the persecution of the believers in Jesus of Nazareth.”
Please Brother Mike, compare these statements with your thoughts on Romans 7 and that of Richard’s, and I believe you will see that the experience Paul is relating in chapter 7 is not that of a saved Christian who knows and loves Jesus.
Very important point to realize about those that are sincere, they are always capable of being sincerely wrong. And being sincerely wrong is not a safe place to be. “If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
“Jesus read the character of His disciples. He knew how sorely their faith was to be tried. In this incident on the sea He desired to reveal to Peter his own weakness,--to show that his safety was in constant dependence upon divine power. Amid the storms of temptation he could walk safely only as in utter self-distrust he should rely upon the Saviour. It was on the point where he thought himself strong that Peter was weak; and not until he discerned his weakness could he realize his need of dependence upon Christ. Had he learned the lesson that Jesus sought to teach him in that experience on the sea, he would not have failed when the great test came upon him.” DA 382
Mike, could you expand on your point “”These are the same attributes of someone who is saved who does not know Jesus as their personal Saviour.”” Prior to his experience on that Damascus journey, was Saul sincere and saved, or was he guilty, lost and in desperate need of a Saviour?
May God continue to lead in this worthy study of God’s word.
Looking unto Jesus…………
Drew