“SAUL, SAUL, WHY DO YOU PERSECUTE ME?”

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And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Acts 9:4 RSV

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From Paul’s later references to this event (Acts 22:14), it is clear that this was an objective vision in which he not only heard but saw the Lord.

In Acts 9:4 appears one of the profoundest doctrines of Christianity, namely, that Christ is still upon earth in the person of his followers who compose his spiritual body; and that whatever is done to Christ’s church is done to himself!

If Paul had not instantly discerned this, he might have said, “Look, Jesus, I have never even met you before this; I have not harmed you; I am only engaged in killing your disciples!”

The deductions from the truth in evidence here are far-reaching and comprehensive:

• What is done to the church is done to Christ.

• Hatred of the church is hatred of Christ.

• Persecution of the church is persecution of Christ.

• Membership in the church is membership “in Christ.”

• Liberality toward the church is the same toward Christ.

• Neglect of the church is the neglect of Christ.

• Refusal to belong to the church is a refusal to belong to Christ.