Jesus Is Head, And The Only Head

by Darwin Hunter

The Lord taught His disciples, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). The one who builds anything is in the authoritative position relative to what is built. If a man builds a car from the ground up, everyone would acknowledge his authority over that automobile to do with it what he desired. If a man builds his own business, who would dare to tell him how to run it, how to organize it, or how to spend its profits? The “builder” would probably remind you that you are not in charge!

The apostle Paul emphasized to the Lord’s congregations at Ephesus, and at Colossae, that “Christ is the head of the church” (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). In Colossians 1, Paul makes the statement in the context of showing Christ’s preeminence in the matter of salvation (1:12-14, 20-23), and over the material creation (1:15-17). He further demonstrated His exalted position by calling Him “the firstborn from the dead” (that is, having first place in resurrection power, having conquered death Himself, and having power to raise the dead at the last day, (John. 5:25-29).

This truth needs greater emphasis and application today. Notice the following points:

1. If Christ is the head of the church, no man is head of the church on earth as the Vatican claims. Jesus pointedly claimed all authority in Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18)!

2. If Christ is the Head of the church. His law is the exclusive law for the church today. No book of purely human origin has any authority over the church of the Lord (creedbook, church discipline, or material authored by official ecclesiastical publishers like the Watchtower Society, and the like). Our law is the inspired Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Head (Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 9:15; Romans 1:16).

3. If Christ is the Head of the church, human beings must not set aside, ignore, or refuse to implement His laws pertaining to the church. His plan of salvation, organization, worship, church discipline, and Christian living must be observed! NT rules still apply and will remain in place until He returns (Jude 3). We are not free to change how He ordered things in the church (Revelation 22:18-19; 1 Timothy 3:15)!

4. If Christ is the Head of the church, then Moses is not! The law given through Moses to the Jews is not authoritative for the church of the Lord. Christ Himself fulfilled that law, and then nailed it to the Cross (Matthew 5:17; Colossians 2:14). Thus, our law for Christian action and behavior is the New Testament which Jesus mediated (Hebrews 9:15-17, 10:9-10).

CHRIST IS HEAD OVER THE CHURCH! LET’S NOT FORGET THAT! When we return to the law of Moses, or add our on ideas to the worship or the work of the church we are guilty of “not holding the Head” (Colossians 2:19)!