Changed life of Saul of Tarsus
When I read these portions of scripture, I have to consider who is speaking. This is the former Saul of Tarsus. He is the zealot. The one who claimed to faultless before the commandments and statutes of God's law. He claimed to be surpassing many of his own peers in religious zeal, but something happened to him.
He isn't the same guy. Here he says, "all that stuff that meant so much to me is junk now, in comparison to knowing Jesus".
He says "I don't even have a righteousness of my own that comes from the law anymore, but that which comes through faith in Jesus.
Paul is not the same man as Saul of Tarsus. He even says he looks forward to suffering for Jesus. He wants to "experience" this Jesus, and the power of His resurrection, and even die for Him.
That is a changed man. He traded a life of religion, that worked very well for him, to know Jesus.
Created over 4 years ago
