The problem is that many times Paul says that once this now that and we think we know it is once we were unbelievers and now we believe.  But it doesn’t really work.  Somehow Paul is even including believers who were (though believing) once this and now they aren’t.  Once death reigned but now Jesus does, since he died and rose again.

Read Romans 6 and ask how Zacharias, Elizabeth, and Cornelius fit in.