In Acts 9:5 we see the close connection between Christ and his church. God willing, this connection will be mentioned often in Christian teaching when it comes to justification and the work of God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit unites us to Christ through faith. As a result of this union, the death of Christ for sin is reckoned as if it were our death. The judgment which sin deserves was paid for by Christ, but it is our penalty which was paid, not his. He did nothing wrong; the innocent was condemned in the place of the guilty. Likewise in our union with Christ, his life of perfect obedience is also imputed to us as if were our own. As if we are the ones who have always kept God’s commandments.
The active and passive obedience of Christ—there is no other hope for salvation and faith is the instrument that connects us to Jesus so that we can share in all his benefits. Faith worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
From the conversion of Saul we see that our union with Christ also works in the opposite direction, so to speak. What is done to us, to his church, is reckoned as if it is done to him. As citizens of God’s kingdom, when we are slandered and ridiculed on account of our commitment to Jesus, why then Christ himself is being slandered and ridiculed. When throwing believers in jail, you might as well do the same with their King. From this we learn that our Lord truly loves his church. He is concerned for all who suffer for his name’s sake. Christians in Indonesia and Congo, Christians in Bangladesh and Nigeria, Christians in North Korea and Paraguay. Their blood may be shed in the present, but they will be vindicated. The Lord knows and sees all that happens. One day justice will be done to all the children of God.
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.