1 Cor 15:9-11
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
(from New International Version)Here is Saul, the worst of sinners become Paul one of the greatest of missionaries. How did he feel about himself? God had forgiven him, and for that forgiveness he worked the hardest of the apostles. But did he forgive himself? 2 Tim 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
(from New International Version) Here we see what Paul thinks about himself, in the end he had done what was right. He forgave himself everything he had done before. This can be based on the idea that Jesus presented to Nicodemus, John 3:5-8
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
(from New International Version) To be born again is to put away all that went before, and to start fresh. In order to start fresh, one must forgive themselves.
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