Jesus Christ In Relation to the Church (Col. 1:18)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/22/2017 2:03 PM

My Worship Time                                                   Focus:  Jesus Christ In Relation to the Church

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Colossians 1:18

            Message of the verse:  “18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

            Let me explain what we are going to be doing as we look at this one verse as you can see in the “focus” part of this SD the main point and we will be looking at four sub-points or four truths that Paul is presenting about Christ’s relation to the church:  “Christ Is The Head of The Church,” “Christ Is The Source of the Church,” Christ is the Firstborn of the Dead,” and Christ is the Pre-Eminent One.”

            “Christ is the Head of the Church.”  The following are some of the many metaphors that are used in Scripture to describe the church:  A family, a kingdom, a vineyard, a flock, a building and a bride.  The following however is perhaps the most profound metaphor, as it is one that has no Old Testament equivalent and that would be the metaphor of a Body.  The church is a body and Christ is the head of the body, thus the head of the church. Some may tend to think that this speaks of Christ being the head of the body like a CEO is the head of a company, but that is not what the Bible is speaking of when it uses this metaphor of Christ being the head of the church for the church is a living organism, inseparably tied together by the living Christ.  Jesus not only controls every part of the church but also gives it life and direction.  As His life is lived through every member it provides the unity of the Body.  Let us look at 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 “12  For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body.”

            John MacArthur writes “He energizes and coordinates the diversity within the Body, a diversity of spiritual gifts and ministries (1 Cor. 12:4-13): ‘4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.  12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.’  He also directs the Body mutuality, as the individual members serve and support each other (1 Cor. 12:15-27): ‘15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.’ 

            “Christ is not an angel who serves the church (cf. Heb. 1:14).  He is the head of His church.”  ‘14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

1/22/2017 2:23 PM