Matter, Energy, Spirit - The Trinity in Unity

I don't believe I ever said it wasn't Paul's experience. I certainly think it was. He was brought up under the tutelage of Gamaliel a great 1st century Jewish religious teacher. Paul was totally religious and would have lived the law inside out. He himself speaks of his righteousness under the law. He was pretty much blameless and followed everything to the tee. As it says, because he was so zealous for the law he was assisting in the killing of the new sect because they were blasphemers from his perspective. I don't think when Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus everything dropped like water off a ducks back. It just doesn't happen that way. Paul would have to 'work it out' so that the reality of his new experience and changed mind/heart penetrated into the multi-decade trained soul of this Pharasaical law abider. I think it took years for Paul to align his new realities and die to his old self. I absolutely think he was talking in Romans in relation to his first hand experience. Nevertheless, the context of his expression is that that experience is not where we are to live and that is why he is testifying to the church in Rome. Living under the law is not a characteristic of a son but rather the slave. I think Paul speaks directly to your 'process' of sin, repent, forgiveness. That's simply not the way it is. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Romans 6:1-2

I think there is spiritual significance, as you say, to baptism. I'm impressed that demons go through 'waterless' places on their journeys after being cast out. It's like demons cannot handle water. Which kind of fits with the holy water as part of the exorcism ritual. That's why immersion fits because at that point the demons can't get to you. What I like about baptism is that it symbolizes a new birth, like out of the womb. Which fits totally with Paul's testimony about our new life in Christ. (and my views on Romans) I agree these things have more meaning than we know and we usually take it on Jesus word. Like Paul says about marriage, the two become one, and it's a bit of a mystery but it's for real. And what about John's whole deal with the three witnesses. "This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree." 1 John 5:6-8

I just don't buy your description of your experience. Which shouldn't be a surprise. Sin works in the subconscious. People don't know what they are doing. The sin I've heard people talk about never amounts to much in my book and they definitely don't display any conviction of sin which is how they would know it was. The Holy Ghost doesn't fuck around. It's normally some light weight rules they've put on themselves. I'd need some real examples to understand how you know what God's will is but I'm not sure that type of dialogue would be fruitful. If you're a serial killer or a child molester I might get on board. The guys who do that shit don't think they're really doing anything wrong.

I think eternity can be comprehended. In fact I think everything can be comprehended. We have the mind of Christ. If we can handle it he'll show it to us. I don't think we're limited that way. Although I'll agree we see in a mirror dimly, nevertheless I'm thinking the glass is half full. Later dude.