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Scripture Reading:  Matthew 16:13-19

Christ:  The Head of His Church

Intro.

1.  Eph. 1:20-23 – Head: “metaph. anything supreme, chief, prominent” (Thayer, 345).

2.  Christians are the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 4:4; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:27).

3.  Col. 3:17 – That Christ is Head of His church affects our lives:  how we choose to live & whether we will be saved from our sins.

I.  HEADSHIP OF CHRIST PREDICTED – Psa. 118:21-24.

  A.  Would be Rejected by Men – 118:21 (Acts 4:11); Matt. 21:33-45.

    1.  Acts 4:12 – Only in Him is salvation.

    2.  1 Pet. 2:7 – Reject Him by disobeying Him!

    3.  Will you reject Him by not obeying Him?

  B.  God Made Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone – Psa. 118:23.

    1.  His resurrection from the dead proclaims it – Rom. 1:4.

    2.  Matt. 16:18 – Built His church upon the foundation that He is the Son of God (1 Cor. 3:11).

II.  APPOINTED BY GOD TO BE HEAD – Heb. 1:2; Eph. 1:20-22.

  A.  Crowned With Glory & Honor – Heb. 2:5-9.

  B.  Who Has Appointed…

    1.  The pope?  (College of Cardinals)

    2.  The king/queen of England?  (Self)

    3.  Mormon president & prophet?  (Their “apostles”)

  C.  Christ is not Head Of Denominations, But of His Church (saved ones) – cf. Heb. 3:6.

    1.  Eph. 1:22-23 – His body, His fullness – the head – Col. 1:18.

    2.  Acts 2:47 – Saved ones (2:38, 41) compose His church.

III.  HE HAS AUTHORITY IN ALL THINGS – Col. 1:18 (1 Cor. 11:3).

  A.  Authority Over All Men – Matt. 28:18.

        -Not only if/when one acknowledges Jesus as Lord (Psa. 110:2).

  B.  Authority in the Salvation of Men – 1 Tim. 4:10; Mk. 16:15-16.

        -(Plan of salvation)

  C.  Authority in Doctrine – Jno. 8:32; 12:48; Heb. 12:25 (1:2).

    1.  Inspired scripture – 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Jno. 9.

    2.  Apostolic teaching – 1 Jno. 4:1, 6.

    3.  Col. 2:18-19 – Perverters of truth are not “holding fast” the Head!

      a.  False doctrine on how to be saved; how to worship; how to organize the church; etc.  False doctrine does not honor Christ!

      b.  2 Tim. 1:13 – Hold fast the pattern of sound words & shun error – 2 Tim. 2:14-16.

  D.  Authority in Morality – Jno. 8:12; Eph. 5:1-7; Rom. 13:11-14 (1 Pet. 4:1-3).

IV.  AS THE HEAD OF HIS CHURCH, CHRIST:   

  A.  Commissioned His Apostles – Jno. 20:21 (12:49); Matt. 28:19-20.

  B.  Gave Gifts to Men – Eph. 4:8, 11-12.

        -Functions to fulfill in His body for our growth – 4:15-16.

  C.  Saves the Body (His Church) – Eph. 5:23, 25-27; Acts 20:28.

    1.  Being in the right church does matter – only His church will be saved!

    2.  Do you want to be saved?  Do you expect to be saved?  Only if you are a member of His body!

Conclusion 

1.  We honor Christ as Head of His church by:

  a.  Becoming a member of it (Acts 2:37-38, 41, 47).

  b.  By being a faithful, devoted member of it (Eph. 4:16).

  c.  By doing everything in our lives by the authority (word) of Christ (Col. 3:17).

2.  If you are going to call Jesus “Lord,” then do what He says!  (Lk. 6:46)