Jesus, the Head of the Church

Headship - Authority

Ephesians 4:15 ESV

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Jesus is the Head of His church, he is the souce of all authoruty in His church, he is the ruler and govener of His church. He is the source of purpose for His church.

We must

Psalm 72:11 ESV

May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

Even at His birth we see His authority.

Matthew 2:10–11 ESV

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Church

Ephesians 2:20–22 ESV

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Jesus the

Acts 4:11 ESV

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

Jesus the Foundation of the Church

You need to have confidence is Jesus Christ as both the Head of the Church and the CornerStone of the Church. He is also the Foundation of the Church

1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

You need to have faith and confidence in Jesus as the Head, cornerstone and foundation of the church.

Head - covers top

Corner - cover side

foundation - cover bottom

We need to understand how safe we are in His arms.

Christ Loves the Church

You are loved. You are loved with a matchless love. You are loved with Agape love, which simply means that you are loved despite all your failures, blemishes and shortcomings.

How do I know that?

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:16 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Love means many things. But words do not do it justice. Its sacrificial. The cross is not a symbol of “look how holy i am” its a symbol of “look how much He loved me”.

Romans 8:35–39 ESV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ’s love is the basis for our victory. Love cast out all fear.

1 John 4:18 ESV

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Believing that Jesus Christ love you, that he died for you to prove that love is truth thats sets men free.

In a world filled with people who are desperate for love, for hope, for peace - the message of Christ love is the only thing that will satisfy.

Christ Cares for the Church

What good is love without care? Jesus not only loves you, he cares for you, he looks after you.

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Ephesians 5:29–30 ESV

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.

Psalm 23:1–6 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

ps 23

When His eye is on the sparrow and each budding leaf that grows, when he sends the dew each morning, and the sunshine to the rose, you may know beyond all doubting, in this trial you're passing through, God cares and every moment he is watching over you.

God cares about you because he is concerned about you. He is concerned about your growth, he is concerned about your character, he is concerned about your situation, he is concerned your family.

In fact he is concerned about whatever you are concerned about.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

He cares, he is present, he knows.

He has been present every times you cried.

Psalm 56:8 ESV

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

He cares about things you don’t even care about.

Matthew 10:30 ESV

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Today we are in the presence of an all loving, holy God who proved His love towards you and demonstrated that love and to this day cares deeply about the things of your life.

Christ Prays for the Church

ps 20 1-

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: Mysterious Melchizedek (Hebrews 7)

As the Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5), Jesus Christ is God’s great Surety. Our risen and ever-living Saviour guarantees that the terms of God’s covenant will be fulfilled completely. God will not abandon His people. But our Lord not only guarantees to us that God will fulfill the promises. As our Representative to God, He perfectly meets the terms of the agreement on our behalf. We of ourselves could never meet the terms; but because we have trusted Him, He has saved us and He has guaranteed that He will keep us.

Intercession involves representation.

Don’t get the image of an angry Father who needs constant appeasement - both God the father and God the Son are in perfect agreement on the plan of salvation.

and don’t get the image of a Jesus constantly praying in supplication.

He is interceding, Representing us in the throne room.

Your prayers are represented by His authority.

This representation and our faith in His representation is the source of our confidence in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Christians who no not have confidence in prayer so not have faith in Christs intercession.

conclusion

Ephesians 5:27 ESV

so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.