I like you. I've been reading your "find in forum" and would like to offer my "Welcome to FR!" I would also like to say that I do not see Paul's Damascus Road experience as you do. I would not say that Jesus Christ "forced" Himself upon Paul. I would say that Jesus revealed Himself in full majesty to Paul there; that on this road Paul encountered the Living Christ - and over the next 3 days Paul came to terms with this encounter. The rest of Paul's life from that day forward was the living out of this new relationship to God the Father through the Son by the Spirit - God and Paul hand in hand, heart to heart, united in purpose and in power, amen.
Thanks.
I would also like to say that I do not see Paul's Damascus Road experience as you do. I would not say that Jesus Christ "forced" Himself upon Paul. I would say that Jesus revealed Himself in full majesty to Paul there; that on this road Paul encountered the Living Christ
What was Saul doing on that road to Damascus??? Was Saul on that road seeking God???
NO! Saul of Tarsus had a bill of indictment in his satchel, with the authority of the high priest and Sanhedrin to go to Damascus to arrest Jews who were Christians with the intent of wiping out the Christian church there, as Saul of Tarsus had been responsible for the persecution and killing of a great number of Christians, and Saul of Tarsus did it with zeal. Saul of Tarsus was not seeking God, Saul of Tarsus did not ask Jesus to "come into his life", Saul of Tarsus did not give Jesus "permission to come into his life".
No, as Paul said, he was an enemy of God at that time, and was stuck down by Christ. Christ was not invited, Christ was not given permission to strike Saul down. Saul of Tarsus did not ask to be struck blind and converted. As a matter of fact, Christ struck Saul of Tarsus down AGAINST his will, for Saul's will was to go to Damascus to persecute Christ and His people. But the Will of Christ was overpowering, having chosen Saul to become Paul since before the foundation of the cosmos, and Saul of Tarsus did not grant permission for any of it, Christ DID IT, according to His Purpose and His Will.
And that is what I mean when I say that Christ forced Himself upon Saul of Tarsus, who was given the new name, as all the regenerated of God are given a new name.