The Whole Body, Part 2: The Head

Well this morning we carry on with now part two of a series that I think is going to carry us into April as I was play praying and plotting and planning out what body parts we might cover in the weeks to come what what it might draw out as we work through this series and reflect and think about where we are as a body and.

I.

Think it'll be helpful if we begin at the top and we'll over the weeks to come slowly work our way down. So we're gonna begin with the head here this morning in come April. We'll end with the feet. I might not hit every organ or limb or digit.

But enough that I think will be helpful for us to really get an idea of the whole body that is to say what a sound or a healthy a mature a Complete body ought to be like how it ought to function how it ought to worship and serve and love.

And so we've we've named this series the whole body and again the idea of whole there. We even touched on during the interaction time last week. Could be rendered the Greek adjective there to lay us could be rendered Perfect or mature or complete.

It could have a connotation of soundness or health. That's what we're getting at with the whole body and We've read again 1st Corinthians 12 14 through 26 as sort of our banner. Looking at again this many membered body.

The body is not one member but many and so there's an interdependency upon the parts of the body. Every member has been joined to this body. Therefore The hand cannot say to the foot. I have no need of you the I can't say to the stomach.

I have no need of you. If the organs begin to rebel and contend against one another where will the body be? How will the body function? We cannot have members of the body displaced in styrofoam containers on ice.

We can't have the hand crawling around like the Adams family. We all need to be intact and one. That's the idea. Paul says indeed. There are many members yet one body and There's this not only this dependency, but there's this way of honor.

Mutual honor. He says those members of the body which we think to be less honorable on these we bestow greater honor on the Unpresentable parts we bring about greater modesty. The presentable parts have no need.

So he's also rocking the normal dynamics that we bring in a worldly way of looking at one another. The metrics of dog-eat-dog. Who's got the status. Who's got the influence. Who has the best seats the best presentation the best manner.

These parts we automatically give honor give place give weight to and Paul says no. If you understand the way that the Lord has composed the body, you'll begin to think a little bit differently. You'll be like James just because someone comes in with fine linens in a golden ring doesn't mean they get to sit at the helm rather those who seem to be dispensable as we said last week are Indispensable vital those members that seem to be weaker.

Perhaps more immature we see is actually necessary for the growth and the maturity of the body. And so Paul says in this way, there should be no vying no fending no Discontentment no schism in the body.

In fact, all should have the same care one for another. And so this is what we're going to be focused on the whole body and we closed last week. Where we're going to begin this morning Ephesians 4 the desire of this whole series of looking at the whole body.

Is that we may grow up in all things into him who is the head Christ? That's our focus this morning. The head of the body who is Christ from whom the whole body. That's our series the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies.

According to the effective working by which every part does its share. Causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. So every member functioning as it's intended to function. Serving with the grace that God has supplied with the gifting that is wrought by him.

That Christ ascended and gave gifts to men and and so this this procession of the Spirit brings about giftedness. And so we're all assigned and designated into a body to function in this effective way.

And it all flows from him who is the head and it all returns to him. Who is the head all stems from him and all bends toward him? That's the glory of the head who is Christ. So this morning we begin with the head really three simple points to rather brief the third one will be longer.

And as we begin our anatomy of a body proper. We must begin all things must begin with the head who is Christ. So the first point is simply this Christ is the head of the body. Plain and simple you want to understand what a church is.

You cannot define you cannot begin to conceive of a church without rightly first. Understanding the headship of Christ. Christ is the head of the body. The second point will be Christ as the head bears all authority and.

Then the third point is that Christ as our head is all of our unity. And that's all we're going to cover this morning. So let's begin with the first point. Christ is the head of the body. Christ is the head of all those who belong to him.

He's the head in other words of all those who have saving faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He's the head of all believers. Since all believers have saving faith in him. They are joined to him by the Spirit through that faith and as a result They now compose or are comprised in the body of Christ.

The spirit of adoption has been poured out upon them by that spirit of adoption. They cry Abba Father. God now owns them as his own he sees in them sons and daughters. Because he sees them in his son and so they rightly call him father.

They rightly know him to be their father because they have been wed to the son. Christ is the head of the bride the head of the church the head of his own body. We're gonna start to unpack in in a brief moment.

Very briefly this idea of the the mystical union of a husband and wife because Paul points in Ephesians 5 Back to Genesis 2 to explicate the mystery. That is Christ in the church. And the point in Ephesians 5 is the point we're making here at the beginning.

Christ is the head of the body. I think Paul doesn't just say that in Ephesians 5. In fact, it's frequently found As a metaphor and and then as we'll see even as a title in several places in his letters.

1st Corinthians 11 He begins with this idea of Headship moving on from the headship of the father the headship of the son the headship of a husband. He says I want you to understand the head of every man is Christ.

Debatable whether that term man there should be translated as husband. I would I would I Would think that would make sense of the context, but you're dealing with creation as well. And so some translators differ, but the point simply is establishing the hierarchy of authority.

Christ is head over all men all men. Christ is the head of every husband. Christ the head. That's 1st Corinthians 11 3 Ephesians 1 22 and 23 he put all things under his feet that is God the Father put all things under the feet of Christ and gave him as Head over all things to the church, which is his body.

So then here's the headship of Christ. The father put everything under his feet and Yet made him to be the head over all things to the church and What's the church? Flesh of his flesh. It's his own body.

Just as a husband to a bride. So Christ to his church. Ephesians 4 15 speaking the truth in law that it's actually. Speaking is not a verb that's there in the original. Simply the verb truth, but in English, we don't have a verb truth.

We have that as a noun. Properly, it would be truthing in love. I think the translators are right to say speaking the truth in love. That fits very well with the usage in the context, but the reality is it's a lot more than speaking.

It's not only speaking. It's truthing in love. It's conforming to the way of love practicing love. Truthing in love we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ. Ephesians 4 15.

So this growth comes from him and as I said it returns to him. We grow up into him grow up in every way into Him. Why. Because he's the head. A chapter later Ephesians 5 23 Christ is the head of the church his body and is himself its Savior.

Again even more concisely Colossians 1 18 He is the head of the body the church and then in the next chapter in Colossians 2 verse 19 He's the head from whom all the body Nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments grows with the increase that is from God.

You see again Paul relaying this metaphor this idea. Christ is the head of the church. That is his body or Christ is the head of the body. That is the church the headship of Christ. Speaks on the first hand of the authority of Christ.

That's how it's used clearly in Ephesians 5, but it also speaks of the preeminence of Christ. He's exalted over all things clearly. That's the usage in Colossians 1. We'll get we'll get there at the very end maybe in longer form.

On occasion Paul can use head to refer to a part of the body without referencing Christ. That's what we have here in 1st Corinthians 12. He doesn't seem to be explicitly referencing Christ when he uses the body part of the head in 1st Corinthians 12.

He's simply talking about body parts. The head can't say to the foot. I have no need of you. But elsewhere he goes beyond the metaphor and he seems to use the term head almost as a title for Christ. Capital H.

He is the head of the church. It's more than an illustration. He's talking about the preeminent authority. The sovereign power of the Lord Jesus Christ now. Some of you may be up to date with some of the debates that have swirled around issues of headship, maybe you've read a book or two on on marital roles or you're aware of some of the Egalitarian pushback on complementarianism or patriarchal ism or whatnot if these are all I'm sounding like Charlie Brown's teacher right now.

Just you know think happy thoughts just for a minute. That's fine. But it all comes down to that term in Greek kephalé. That's head and There seems to be a debate about how to translate or even understand that term.

Should it merely be understood as authority? That's by far the most common usage, but there there is a special pleading case because you do have instances where kephalé is is perhaps having the idea of an origin point or a source and so you have a lot of journal articles and monographs where Scholars go back and forth and they argue.

No. No. No, when Paul is saying that the head of the wife is her husband. He's not meaning anything in terms of authority. He's meaning a source somehow like the provision the provider. He's the source.

It doesn't really seem to hold much water. But the idea is again how we understand that little term even in even in relation to a Husband has a bearing on how we understand it in relation to Christ. What does it mean for Christ to be the head over all things?

In Colossians 1 do you have the idea of a source certainly? Christ is the one from whom all things exist for whom all things exist.

He is the he is the.

Creator the the agency of the Creator God Who the Father wills the Son creates by the Spirit every act of God is a Trinitarian act so certainly you have the idea of origin or source. But more than that you have the idea of authority because all things are put under his feet and this makes him the head.

It seems to be that the issue of submission in a marriage or obedience relates not to source. That would be doing some exegetical gymnastics, but rather to authority. The point is this and here's my case.

Christ is now head of the body. That is the church by virtue of being exalted to the right hand of God. Christ's headship over the body of the church as a result of his ascension to God. That's the point.

I want to make he had to win the bride. That's the issue. He purchased her with his own blood. That was the bridal dowry his own precious blood. He bought her he died for her. Gave his life for her life.

That she might become one with him in. In so doing he became the head of the body. The husband of the bride the bridegroom of course awaiting that consummation at the marriage supper of the lamb. He is specifically head over his body as the body is in submission to his authority.

That's the point that Paul makes in Ephesians 5 23 and 24. But this headship goes far beyond that. We don't want to use the analogy of a husband the parallel of a husband. To exhaust all that Christ's headship means because again Colossians 1 says his headship his authority his sovereignty is Comprehensive.

The world is made through him and for him. So we can't exhaust the meaning of headship. To merely the parallel of a husband. But of course, it's really important that we understand this idea on the one hand of authority on the other hand of pre-eminence.

Listen to how James Bannerman an old Scotsman who wrote a tremendous book called the Church of Christ an excellent book on all things except where it strays from congregational polity. It's a Presbyterian book on the church.

It's an excellent book if you if you are willing to skip a few chapters. The church as a society He says owes its origin to Christ. It derives from him its government its offices it receives from him its laws its Constitution it draws from him its spiritual influence and all of its grace.

It accepts from his hand its ordinances its Institutions. It acts in his name. It's guided in all of its proceedings by his presence. He is both its founder and its administrator the ever-present source of life and influence of Ordinance and blessing of law and authority of word and doctrine within her through his spirit through his word through his ordinances alike of government and grace.

Christ is both the origin and the administrator of his church upon the earth. That is an excellent way to understand what it means for Christ to be the head of the church. The church as the body of Christ is one of the most intimate metaphors we have in Scripture.

What's a more intimate? Relationship speaking humanly than marriage. There's no relationship so sensitive so vulnerable. So intimate there's no earthly relationship that scripture likens to a one-flesh union but marriage between a husband and a wife and.

It's that metaphor that becomes descriptive of our relationship to Christ as a congregation as a corporate body. In fact if you were to take away that metaphor if you were to take away the language of body and head.

We would have a very hollow understanding of what the church is and what the church is to be like. You of course have other ways of relation. You have a shepherd and a flock or you have a builder and a temple but Those are still somewhat removed when we compare it to The head over his own body flesh of his very flesh bone of his very bone.

This Paul says is the mystery of Christ in his church. So the first point is simply that Christ is the head of the body. The second point is this. Christ as the head of the body bears all authority. Christ as head of his body bears all authority.

He and he alone has supreme authority. Again as a result of the Ascension. His name is now exalted. He's been given authority in heaven and on the earth and under the earth. He has all authority everywhere.

But in this unique relationship in this unique way, he has authority over his own body. That is the church. He alone is the authority of the church. It's like saying the first Adam at creation. God called him to exercise dominion in what he had made and he had authority to exercise that Dominion.

He was rightly understood a vice-regent on God's own behalf for creation. He was to rule and subsume and bring the glory of God's creation to a fullness. Until the glory of the Lord covers the seas like like the waters.

That was the I that was the task for Adam. Well, he had that authority over creation in a unique way. He was the head of his bride Eve. That's the same parallel. Christ has all authority all Dominion all power in a unique way.

He has a relation of authority to his own body. That is the bride. Christ's headship again refers not just to his preeminence, but also to his authority. God put all things under his feet so that he is now head over all things Ephesians 122.

He's the head Colossians 2 10 of all principalities and powers. The amazing thing about Christ as the head who bears all authority is he does not use his headship as Tyranny. He exercises his power. He uses his authority in a gracious way to save his people again, the Savior of his own body and Strengthen them in their union with him.

It wasn't just that he gave his life at Golgotha for his bride. He ever lives to intercede he's ever pouring his life into his bride. He's ever in this union giving forth grace and mercy that renews Joy unspeakable that strengthens peace that settles in calms trust that bears us through valleys.

He's ever bearing his life upon his bride, so he is the the sacrificial head. That Paul points to in Ephesians 5 and says husbands learn from this follow this you have Christ as the Example, this is what a husband is supposed to be.

Not only do you have his headship exercised in that way. But of course you have his headship mediated through other authorities in the church. The church is his body. He arranges he constructs it as he sees fit and according to his institution.

He's designated that the church have offices in fact Ephesians 4 where you're moving toward this idea of Christ's headship he begins with the Apostles and the prophets the evangelists and the the preachers and the teachers and all these that equip the body for the work of the ministry.

And what does that work of the ministry do for building up the body of Christ? So Christ gives leaders gifts Offices in such a way that the body of Christ will build itself up through the ministry of the word in love.

It's building up the body of Christ according to his designated delegated authority. For us now we no longer live in that foundational period where there were still Apostles and prophets. Now we of course recognize the the authority the office of elders and deacons.

This is part of what Christ has instituted in his church. It's delegated offices. Instituted offices to equip the Saints for the work of the ministry to build up his body. So elders and deacons have a unique task.

Elders in a unique way represent Christ's authority over the church. But the key point here is it is always Christ and only Christ who is governing his church. Christ alone bears all authority the sole responsibility of those given charge and Calling to lead or teach or preach or serve the church Is to actually carry out the word in both declaration and application.

So Christ is ruining his church by word and by spirit.

He.

Delegates authorities to apply that word to teach that word to make that word known to minister that word to be stewards of that word. But in so doing they are merely extensions of Christ's authority.

He alone is the authority of his church. No hireling no usurper. No self-made man has any business in this task of the bride. The evil men working in the vineyard must be cast down. Christ alone through his headship even through mediated leadership.

Governs his church by word and spirit. What does this mean? Jeff Johnson's very helpful here. He says the church does not have permission to create its own objectives. The church does not have permission to carry out its own desires.

Sometimes I come across these articles where they're talking about what some of the big Eva churches are up to and Having like Super Mario themed worship services, and I'm just crying into my coffee mug.

Why.

That's not our prerogative. Jesus didn't die so that Princess Peach could be in the pulpit.

You know.

The church does not have permission to carry out its own desires to function by its own Self-made rules. The church has no right to bind the conscience of believers by manufactured rules or objectives.

This is how we do things. This is what the church needs now in the 21st century. No. We simply make known his word his will. We declare it we apply it we steward it we serve it. It's Christ's authority over his body.

Now we do that imperfectly as imperfect men and As as parts of the body and sheep in the fold as well. We're wholly dependent upon him who alone is sufficient. And recognizing that we become far more humble far more capable.

Because we recognize it's not our working because it's not our ability. It's the supernatural authority of Christ having been delegated and confirmed in calling that is administered and working in the body.

It's despite those.

Rather than because of them. It's Christ working in them and through them.

So.

There's no place to Lord it over a flock. But rather as servants and as stewards that John Murray the great theologian said elders are not Lords over God's heritage. They themselves are part of the flock.

In.

Fact, they are themselves of the flock that they are examples to. Never a better example as a shepherd than when you're a sheep following the chief shepherd. Elders are members of the body of Christ and subject to the very things which of which they are administrators.

When you hear of these tragic and catastrophic falls of Good and godly men there was a disconnect at some point somehow. I thought this gift of gab. I thought this way that I had constructed and established my my office or my realm or my Congregation that that I had padded and built up enough that it just wouldn't apply to me the same way.

But there's ever a need to practice what we preach. Who is the famous preacher who said he's simply a beggar. Trying to show other beggars where to find bread. That's the right way to view it. And so the authority that elders have which is an authority.

Paul when he's dealing with a rather fretful young minister in Timothy Appraised him don't let anyone despise you for your youth Timothy. Rather seek to be an example to them. And part of that example is in wisdom and in righteousness and in love.

Be an example. But. But Timothy.

Exhort.

Rebuke with all authority.

Timothy.

Don't you recognize you're doing this on behalf of Christ and yet that authority extends only as far as Christ has made his will known. Why. Because Christ alone is the head of the church. Christ alone has all authority over the body.

And so shepherds are called to feed the flock of God. They can only do that because there is a chief shepherd and overseer over their souls. Paul says this first In Acts 20. Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you Overseers to do what to feed the Church of God.

He purchased it with his own blood. What's the whole point there? It's simply what Jesus did when he reinstated Peter. Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep. Paul says take great care. Take great caution.

Don't just look at the flock look at yourselves. Remember what you've been called to and feed them. Why. Because not only does Christ have all authority over the body, but Christ Exercises that authority that leading that ruling through word and spirit.

For that reason leaders Cannot lord it over the flock. It's a delegated designated authority but it is authority and a body the body of Christ by virtue of that same authority of Christ is called to submit to those who rule over her.

In fact, the writer of Hebrews says. When that doesn't happen, it usually ends up going poorly for the one who doesn't want to submit the problem is it's it's all too easy for elders to chafe and just want to pull out the Submission card.

You don't have to ask questions and I don't have to labor. I don't have to be long-suffering. I certainly have to be gracious. You just need to submit. It's also far too easy for members to say I Don't have to listen.

I don't have to understand. I don't have to Find this passage that calls me to understand something of the delegation of Christ's authority. I Can figure it out for myself. I have no need of this delegated leadership.

Again, both of these are failures to recognize Christ's authority over his body. An elder lording over as it were extending beyond the scope of his own ministry because he's going beyond the Word of God or Unwisely unhelpfully binding members consciences.

This is someone who has not rightly understood the authority of Christ over his body. Likewise a member Who doesn't really care that Christ has designated authorities in the church. It doesn't esteem them or look to them as designated.

Authorities has also failed to understand the authority of Christ as it is in a marriage. So it is in the church.

You don't.

Encourage a wife to submit to her husband because he's been a perfect man. Otherwise, there would never be any submission whatsoever. What scripture does is it encourages a wife to submit to her husband as unto the Lord?

Even that is encourages the husband to love your wives. Walk in an understanding way with her. Remember that You're not the king of your castle because your model in paradigm is the one who gave his own life for his bride.

Did all that he could to purify her. Make her spotless present her glorious to himself. And so we have this in Ephesians 5 22 and following wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.

For.

The husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. You see what Paul's doing here. He's about to reveal this great mystery in verse 25 of Christ's in the church wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.

Why should a wife do that? How can a wife afford to do that? That doesn't sound very good in the year 2026 does it? And Paul says you don't understand. The husband is the head of the wife in this unique one-flesh union.

There is a delegated authority that somehow belongs to the headship of Christ even as God the Father in that state of Humiliation was head over the son. The son is head over the husband and the husband is head over the wife.

And as the husband is head of the wife, so also is Christ the head of the church. And then he says again, he's the Savior of the body. What does that headship look like. It's always salvific.

Redemptive and.

Paul says in case you're not understanding it. Let me really spell it out for you. Therefore just as the church is subject to Christ. So let wise be to their own husbands and then he doesn't stop there.

He says in everything. Really drives it home. Again in this passage, what is the wife's primary motive for submitting to her husband's authority? Well, the primary motive is according to Paul. He's the head.

He is the head. What does Paul connect that to in the church be reminded? He is an apostle with apostolic authority. But what does he point it to in Ephesians 5 he says the church ought to submit To Christ simply because he is the head of the body.

He is the head and as the head he bears all authority. So the implication is that a wife Who fails to submit to her husband unto the Lord is only going to cause disruption perhaps even dysfunction. If not in her marriage than in her family.

But positively a wife who lovingly responds to an imperfect husband in submission will not only honor her husband. But bear up her family in love and unity and do it unto the Lord trusting in him. What happens when a wife does that in a marriage she becomes a testimony to the world of what Christ does in a person's heart and how he transforms relationships in first.

Peter 3 the logic is if if you're a wife in this way Wait till you see what God will do through that, but she's not just teaching the world something in her marriage. He's also demonstrating something to the church.

God loves images. We don't just gather here on Sunday. So that the men can talk. We gather in worship because God uses these images to reinforce spiritual realities. What are we when we are gathered? We are the body of Christ.

Gathering in his very presence to worship him. We pray in spirit and in truth to receive from him his own word and pray that that word is implanted Effectively in us by his spirit. And what is that supposed to look like the head?

Speaking his word to his bride washing her with the water of his word. Effectively transforming her from one degree of glory to the next that's what takes place when we come as a bride. How does that get reinforced?

Well, we all have our role to play for the men to speak the word whether that's done by leading worship or leading times of prayer and confession unto God or or preaching or sharing questions and discussions and applications during interaction time that is a Microcosmic picture of the head who is the husband ministering to the body, which is the wife.

Just as Christ as the head as the husband is ministering to the body, which is his bride. So that's one picture going on when the men are actively worshiping in this way. What about the women? What are they doing on a Sunday when we gather in worship?

They too are actively worshiping God. How are they doing that? There are a picture to every single person in this room that when we gather in the presence of Christ We are to revere him and submit to him because he is the head of the body.

So my active worship my role to reinforce is to minister the word as a microcosmic picture of Christ ministering to his bride and If you're a woman here this morning your microcosmic picture is To receive that word and seek to honor and submit to that word Unto the Lord unto Christ as a reminder to me to everyone in this room.

That's what I'm supposed to do Because I'm part of the bride. That's active worship men and women Together as a body in Christ showing forth this dynamic Christ. Ministering to his bride the bride submitting to and seeking to honor the headship of her husband.

That's what's taking place every Sunday.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Spurgeon asset in this way. Does not this make each of you ask if the entire church is to yield obedience to Christ in this way. Am I yielding obedience? Am I submitting to him who is my head. Am I honoring and bearing out the respect of a changed life to my husband?

Who is Christ the head of the body? See, it's it's never just about your marriage or your family. It's always about Christ and his gospel. It's this transformative display that really is salt and light to a dark and depraved world.

Maybe this is really hard. Spurgeon just presses it. Do you do you bring the difficult aspects of this to the word? Is this what's really there in Ephesians 5? Well, maybe it goes against your opinion.

Well, do you ever spend even a quarter of an hour weighing out that opinion against his word? This is Spurgeon again. If I'm a Christian am I in the habit of judging what I ought to do by my own whims and wishes?

No, I don't like that seems unnecessary. I don't really like that. Do I judge what I ought to do by my own whims and wishes or do I judge it by the book of him? Who is the head? Many say they do not like this and they do not like that as if that has anything to do with it.

Who cares about your likes and your dislikes. You are a servant and bound to give your will to the king. If Christ gives a command would you imagine to be hard because it does not chime in with your current love of ease my brother.

My sister will you not as a servant of the king put all your whims and likes aside and endeavor to follow him? That is a blessed life to lead no longer be a servant to the world or to the flesh or to the evil one.

But to go to Christ and say what I lack and what I do not know teach me and grant me the grace to come complete. That's Christ as the head bearing all authority so much more to say on that point but I think we're just gonna move on from that and come to the third point which is a little bit longer.

Christ as Our head is all of our unity. It's all of our unity. So Christ is the head of his own body. It's the first point. Secondly Christ as the head of the body bears all authority and thirdly Christ as the head of the body is all of our unity as a body.