A Brief Sermon on the Head of the Christian Church

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18 KJV).

"And he is the head of the body, the church..."  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the local church.  The elders are subordinate to His ultimate rule over the local churches in biblical Christianity.  It is in the written Word of God that contains what an elder ought to be and ought to teach.  The local church is subordinate to the supremacy of the written Scriptures.  The preaching elder ought to preach the Word faithfully to the believing sheep in the parish or congregation.  We see that Christ is the only Head of His universal or catholic Church, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body" (Ephesians 5:23 KJV).  The Savior of the body of God's elect people is the only Head of His body of Christian people.  There is no elder who is the Savior of God's people; Jesus alone is the Savior of His people.  We read a summary of the Christian faith in the London Confession of Faith of 1689 under Chapter 26,

1._____ The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
( Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:23, 27, 32 ) 2._____ All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted.
( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22 )
3._____ The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
( 1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3; Revelation 18:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12; Matthew 16:18; Psalms 72:17; Psalm 102:28; Revelation 12:17 )
4._____ The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
( Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-9 )
5._____ In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
( John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20 )
6._____ The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
( Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 5:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 9:13 )
7._____ To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.
( Matthew 18:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 )
8._____ A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )
9._____ The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
( Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6 )
10.____ The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
( Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14 )
11.____ Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.
( Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11 )
12.____ As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
( 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15 )
13.____ No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.
( Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2, 3 )
14.____ As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.
( Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10 )
15.____ In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
( Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1 )

G. Campbell Morgan wrote on Jesus and the Church,

"The Church of God apart from the Person of Christ is a useless structure. However ornate it may be in its organization, however perfect in all its arrangements, however rich and increased with goods, if the Church is not revealing the Person, lifting Him to the height where all men can see Him, then the Church becomes an impertinence and a sham, a blasphemy and a fraud, and the sooner the world is rid of it, the better."

Kris Lundgaard author of "The Enemy Within" wrote,

"You may make a great show of love and faith in church, singing like Pavarotti or attracting the masses to your profound Sunday school lectures. But if there is no private communion between you and Jesus – frequent and deep communion – then your religion is worthless. You’ve lost your first love."

We see that men have replaced the supreme authority of Jesus Christ with man-made rules, traditions and personal reflections.  A man-made rule would be some sort of unbiblical tradition alongside the Word.  A tradition of devils is the papal supremacy of papal infallibility.  Another tradition is adding to the divine atonement godhood like in Orthodoxy.  A personal inference is the teaching of the meritorious flames of purgatory.  These teachings are because of a unbiblical view of supreme authority. 

If we behold the divine Word we behold the very mind of Jesus Christ.  It is like Jesus Himself.  That is why He tells us to read and ponder and study His written Word.  We ought to be men and women study to be approved unto God rightly handling the Word of Truth.  We do not have Jesus speaking to us devoid of His written Word.   He does not speak apart from the supremacy and centrality of the Word preached.  Jesus speaks to us through His Word alone.  If we want to hear the voice of Jesus, we ought to read or hear His Word alone.

There are many false visions, false teachers, false churches, false organizations, false interpretations, false imaginations and false beliefs.  The written Word advocates objective, private interpretation.  There is such a thing as subjective interpretation.   It is a interpretation devoid of the author's intended meaning.  Every interpretation not of God is sin.  The written Word has the preeminence among all teachers, writings and traditions.  The Word is here in the place of Jesus Christ as the supreme and sole and final authority for the universal church.  Tradition is an unsafe guide to believe something spiritual.   Rather we ought to believe and obey the voice of Jesus in His written Scriptures alone.  Let us not be deceived with the blind authority of papal supremacy or authority of a "church" over the infallible Scriptures.  Let every error be proven by the written Word.  The papacy of mere men is not safe-guarded by the naked assertion of supremacy over the written Word.  No one has any business over the Scriptures.  It provides for us the self-guidance of its rules of interpretation.  Let us not trust sinners to tell us what the Word says.  Rather let us search the written Word even if it was the apostle Paul.  I am not saying we are to be a "pope unto ourselves."  Rather no one should be a pope, because there is no biblical basis for it.  We ought to be humble believers in Christ that are subject to the Word of God alone. 

We are called to obey the faithful Word preached.  We can test every spirit in light of the supreme Scriptures.  We ought to hold fast to that which is good.  The good is the divine and holy Scriptures.  John Owen wrote,

"God speaks by the Church (the true Church we mean); but He speaks nothing by her but what He speaks in the Scriptures, which she does only ministerially declare to us; and therefore the authority of God and His law is above hers, who, though she publish, yet did not make it, but is herself subject to it."

Clement wrote of the "conflict" in the body of Christ because of lack of submission,

"Why is it that you harbor strife, bad temper, dissention, schism, and quarreling? Do we not have one God, one Christ, one Spirit of grace which was poured out on us?... Your schism has led many astray; it has made many despair; it has made many doubt; and it has distressed us all. Yet it goes on!... It is disgraceful, exceedingly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian upbringing, to have it reported that because of one or two individuals the solid and ancient Corinthian church is in revolt against its presbyters… The result is that the Lord's name is being blasphemed because of your stupidity, and you are exposing yourselves to danger."

Louis Berkhof author of "Systematic Theology" wrote,

"Strictly speaking, it may be said that the true preaching of the Word and its recognition as the standard of doctrine and life, is the one mark of the Church. Without it there is no Church, and it determines the right administration of the sacraments and the faithful exercise of Church discipline. Nevertheless, the right administration of the sacraments is also a real mark of the Church. And though the exercise of discipline may not be peculiar to the Church, that is, is not found in it exclusively, yet it is absolutely essential to the purity of the Church."

The Head of the universal Church would want its message to be about Him and His saving knowledge in the gospel of grace and peace in Christ alone.  Many churches do not heed the call of the true gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Does you church faithfully preach "the obedience of faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ" or some sort of unholy addition?  The Word says in all things that He might have the preeminence!  No teacher is about the divine text of Scripture or head in anyway of God's catholic and evangelical and orthodox and reformed church!  That is, these churches with leaders with "outstanding" titles have radically missed the humility of the gospel call to a soft heart before God and simply a child-like obedience to His absolute Word.   Do you possess the divine righteousness of Romans 3ff?  For the divine Word says:

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
²⁹ Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
³⁰ Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
³¹ Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

A true church teaches the unified divine righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed to us by faith alone.  Do you add to faith alone a life of sexual immorality?  Do you add to Christ alone a life of disobedience and a reckless lifestyle?  We ought to focus on the righteousness of His life and death alone to live a godly life of obedience that is centered on His awesome name.  Is your church sound in theology but reckless in the obedience of faith?  Is your church a lover of the knowledge about Christ but careless in an obedience sold to Christ in loyalty over sins and works of the flesh?  Put to death the deeds of the flesh!  Mortify your works of the flesh because they dishonor the Supreme Christ and His local body of believers.  It means repentance unto mortification (Mark 1:15).  These deeds of obedience never add to the unified work of the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Rather it demonstrates of gift of faith (Ephesians 2:10) and shows to whom we belong.  All of us belong to Jesus Christ that are chosen by God.  The chosen of God must live a life of obedience.  The performance never saves us; a life of obedience demonstrates a good heart. The local church is filled with polluted sinners, but let us walk as examples of faith and obedience in thoughts, words and deeds!  Let us all be like a Demetrius in Third John who has a good testimony among the body of Christ and Jesus the Truth itself.  Everyone ought to submit in sold-out obedience to Jesus Christ through adherence to the divine Word alone as Head of the Christian church in every way.