How did meeting the risen Christ change how Saul understood the law?
On the Damascus road, confronting the ascended Lord made the law suddenly mean what it said to Saul. He recognized he was the biggest lawbreaker, a sinner who had persecuted believers, and confessed, “I died”—not physically, but to old Adam. The law exposed his sin nature, which flesh cannot overcome.
Les explains that when Saul was confronted with the ascended Lord on the road to Damascus, the law meant what it said to Saul of Tarsus. He realized he was the biggest lawbreaker of all, which is why he claimed to be such a sinner, having persecuted believers. When the law finally got a hold of old Saul, he had to recognize, “I’m nothing.” He said, “I died”—not physically, but old Adam had to die. Les connects this to Romans’ theme: dealing with the old sin nature that constantly makes man rebel against God’s tenets. He notes this cannot be done in the energy of the flesh; no one can deal with old Adam in the flesh, and it is not accomplished by joining a church.