HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY -- THE CHURCH

Ephesians 1:22

Morning Meditation 7/15/2014

"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,"

What does it mean that Jesus is the head of the body. I understand what He is the head of, "The Church." The church here is called "the body" and just as a human body must have a head, the local church must have a head.

I wonder how many pastors believe this to the point of practice. I also wonder how many church committees practice seeking the Head of the church about the outcome of the responsibilities they have assigned to them.

I ask another question. Is Jesus the functional head of the church of our membership? I can hear someone say, "I'll let Him do it if He wants to." I am going so far as to say, if He is not the head, then everything we do is wood, hay, and stubble. One of our greatest needs is to seek His will in prayer and Bible study and not make a move until the Head has spoken. Let's notice some things about His headship--

HIS HEADSHIP IS BY APPOINTMENT

Colossians 1:18, "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."

Jesus has been appointed by the Father as the Head of the church. Jesus is a functional Head. Acts 3:1-6, "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.."

What the early church did, in the use of the Name of Christ to heal, was done in communion with the Head. No one else is the head of the church including the pope of the Catholic Church. Next let's see--

HIS HEADSHIP BY AGREEMENT

Colossians 2:9, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." There is total agreement between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that Jesus be the Head of the church. Next we see--

HIS HEADSHIP BY ARRANGEMENT

Ephesians 5:23, "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."

The Head is arraigned in the body by the Father. The church with a human head is completely dysfunctional. It could not do anything that is right by accident. Next we see--

HIS HEADSHIP BY ASSIGNMENT

Ephesians 1:21-23, "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

The plan of salvation was worked out in eternity past. Jesus prays in John 17:5, "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." Jesus is the eternal Son of God. God had no beginning and will have no end. In that eternal state the Father assigned the Son the task of redeeming mankind. He did what He was assigned to do. Next--

HIS HEADSHIP BY ATTAINMENT

Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

He endured the cross for us. He stood in our shoes and took on Himself what rightly was ours, and stepped up to the cross to die in our place. He died for me, I died with Him. His death is my death and His life is my life. This is by the grace of God. No Christian deserves to be saved. We are sinners before salvation and after salvation. But we have imputed to us His righteousness. So we have His death to take care of the penalty of sin both past, present, and future. And we have His righteousness imputed to us and this is the ground of our acceptance.

May the Lord bless us with the proper appreciation of what Jesus did for us. And may we, like one of the ten lepers return to give Him glory.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White