“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18
1. Who is the head of the church? “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” Ephesians 1:22
A. We understand the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ but we are not as clear when it comes to Christ as head of the church.
B. Churches have pastors and elders but Christ is the head of the church. What does that mean? Colossians defines head this way, He is the head over every power and authority.” “Christ's headship expresses much more than the idea of sovereignty; the head is also the center of vital force, the source of all energy and life.” Lightfoot
2. Why should we understand Christ as the head of the church? Jesus will build and provide for His church. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18
A. John 12:32 explains what needs to happen, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
3. What is the church? “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours” I Corinthians 1:2
A. The word church is found in the gospels and in most books in the New Testament.
Ekklesia – is called out of the world and called to Jesus.
An assembly of holy people in Christ Jesus
The redeemed through history
B. The churches were identified by location like, “to the church in Philippi.” Church was not determined by size but on the fact they assembled. Acts 5:12
4. We are to remain connected to the Christ, the Head. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15
A. This is where some have gone wrong. What can a body do without a head? We have adopted Greek wedding theology.
B. This connection is illustrated many ways in scripture:
As a Body - “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function” (Romans 12:4-5) When we are functioning in harmony, the Body, we are able to be and to do what Christ the Head directs and desires.
As a Building - “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22) The whole structure rests upon the cornerstone, the whole structure depends upon the cornerstone. Jesus is our cornerstone.
As a Family - “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (II Corinthians 6:18). All believers are in the family of God and can call Him Father, but here there is something more, for the special portion of those who draw near enjoy His most tender care.
As a Priesthood - “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (I Peter 2:9) . Priests we separated for service to God. All Christians are priests to God "a holy priesthood (who can now) offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.