A Look at the Church of Christ #5 - Christ, the Head of the Church

A Look at the Church of Christ #5:

Christ, the Head of the Church

Text: Ephesians 1:20-23

Introduction:

(1) We know that the saying “too many chiefs and not enough Indians” is true in most situations, including the Church.

(2) Today, we will look at who is in charge of the Church and what that means to us today.

Discussion:

I. Fact: Jesus is the Head of the Church.

A. First, the Church belongs to Christ.

1. He promised that He would establish “My church” (Matt. 16:18).

2. He purchased it with “His own blood” (Acts 20:28).

B. Second, He is the one with “all authority.”

1. He told the disciples that He had been given “all authority in heaven and earth” (Matt. 28:18).

2. “That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:20-21).

C. Third, He is named the Head of the Church.

1. “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23).

2. “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Col. 1:18).

D. Fourth, He is Lord.

1. God has exalted Him as Lord (Phil. 2:9-11).

2. Therefore, we must confess Him as such in order to be saved (Rom. 10:9-10).

II. Application: Since Jesus is the Head of the Church …

A. Then each individual congregation answers to Him alone.

B. Then He alone has the right to decide how the Church should be organized and what work it should be involved in and how it should do that work.

C. Then the Church must respect His choices in all matters without any alterations whether it understands and/or likes those choices.

Conclusion:

- Will you submit to His rule?