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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
sacrifices, that in the death of Christ type met antitype, and that Christ
came into the world for the express purpose of vindicating His Father’s
law.
In the light of the law, Paul sees himself a sinner. That very law
which he thought he had been keeping so zealously he finds he has
been transgressing. He repents and dies to sin, becomes obedient to the
claims of God’s law, and has faith in Christ as his Saviour, is baptized,
and preaches Jesus as earnestly and zealously as he once condemned
Him. In the conversion of Paul are given us important principles which
we should ever bear in mind. The Redeemer of the world does not
sanction experience and exercise in religious matters independent of
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His organized and acknowledged church, where He has a church.
Many have the idea that they are responsible to Christ alone for
their light and experience, independent of His acknowledged followers
in the world. But this is condemned by Jesus in His teachings and in
the examples, the facts, which He has given for our instruction. Here
was Paul, one whom Christ was to fit for a most important work, one
who was to be a chosen vessel unto Him, brought directly into the
presence of Christ; yet He does not teach him the lessons of truth.
He arrests his course and convicts him; and when he asks, “What
wilt Thou have me to do?” the Saviour does not tell him directly, but
places him in connection with His church. They will tell thee what
thou must do. Jesus is the sinner’s friend, His heart is ever open,
ever touched with human woe; He has all power, both in heaven and
upon earth; but He respects the means which He has ordained for the
enlightenment and salvation of men. He directs Saul to the church,
thus acknowledging the power that He has invested in it as a channel
of light to the world. It is Christ’s organized body upon the earth, and
respect is required to be paid to His ordinances. In the case of Saul,
Ananias represents Christ, and he also represents Christ’s ministers
upon the earth who are appointed to act in Christ’s stead.
Saul was a learned teacher in Israel; but while he is under the
influence of blind error and prejudice, Christ reveals Himself to him,
and then places him in communication with His church, who are the
light of the world. They are to instruct this educated, popular orator,
in the Christian religion. In Christ’s stead Ananias touches his eyes
that they may receive sight; in Christ’s stead he lays his hands upon
him, prays in Christ’s name, and Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All