449. COL 1:18. CHRIST THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

Col_1:18. Christ The Head Of The Church

"The head of the body, the church."’97Col_1:18.

The church of the Redeemer is beautifully likened to the human body. Like the human body, it is composed of various parts and members. Some of these resemble the hands, others the feet, all of which united, make one compact body. Of this body, Jesus is the head.

I. He is the Head exclusively.

Angels may minister to it, and highly gifted and holy men may have official stations, but there is but one head, that is Christ. The pope therefore may be the head of the church of Rome, but not of the church of Jesus. Kings, and ecclesiastical powers, may form the headship of religious communities, but Jesus only is the head of his body, the church. "One is your master, even Christ," and all ye are brethren.

II. As the Head. Christ is the Source of Vitality

From him, existence and energy are diffused through the whole system. There may be life without some of the inferior members, but separation from the head is immediate death Thus we have life from and by Christ. Out of him we are dead in him we are new-born creatures, and alive from the dead.

III. As the Head, Christ is the Source of Knowledge and Wisdom.

The head thinks, and devises, and plans for the body. The head is the seat of understanding and judgment. Thus Jesus is made unto his people wisdom, as well as sanctification and redemption. In Christ dwells all the fulness of wisdom and knowledge, and from this boundless source all the need of his people is supplied.

IV. As the Head, Christ is the Source of all Authority and Power.

The head directs and governs the body. All the members are subordinate to the head. As the head is the residence of the mind, and as the material man is influenced by the spiritual, so with Jesus only, is the right to exert power, and to rule over every believer, being head over all things to his church.

V. In reflecting on the Headship of the Church, we must be struck with its Dignity.

How glorious’97how illustrious’97how divine is the church’s head.

VI. We are reminded also of its All-sufficiency.

There can be no lack with such a head’97no perplexity nor imbecility: the head of the church is emphatically full of grace and truth.

VII. Neither ought we to forget the efficient Sympathy of this Head.

Jesus, as the head of the body, feels all that his members suffer. He is touched with a feeling of all their infirmities, and he knows well how to succor and to support in temptations and trials,

"For he hath felt the same."

In all their afflictions he is afflicted, and whatever is done to them he considers it as done to himself: the most insignificant member cannot suffer without the sympathizing consciousness of the head.

Application

The duties which devolve upon the members of the body to the head, obviously include,

1. Sacred reverence: to him belongs all honor and glory: we are to revere and honor him even as we revere and honor the Father: his glory we are to seek in all things, and whatever we do, we are to do it in his name 2. As the head, he also demands our subjection and obedience: we are his disciples only if we follow and obey him; if his grace influences our hearts, and if we rejoice to keep his commandments.

3. There must likewise be conformity and resemblance between the members and their head: as members of Jesus, we are partakers of his divine nature; "beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory unto glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord." As we once possessed the image of the earthy, by grace we are renewed, and bear the image of the heavenly. How endearing, interesting, precious, and everlastingly momentous, is the union between Christ and his church!

4. How presumptuous for any to arrogate power and authority over the church of Jesus. "One is your master, even Christ," &c.

XLIV.’97CHRIST THE BRIDEGROOM OF HIS CHURCH.

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom."’97Joh_3:29.

The Baptist was bearing testimony to Christ when he made use of the language of the text. And similar representations are given of the Redeemer in various parts of the holy scriptures. The parable of the Virgins evidently refers to the coming of Christ as the bridegroom. The apostle in speaking to the church at Corinth, remarks, "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ," 2Co_11:2. And John, in the visions of the Apocalypse, was invited by one of the seven angels to behold the bride, the Lamb’s wife, Rev_21:9. One of the most rich and striking parables of Jesus contains the same implied truth, where the gospel provision is represented as a feast, which a certain king made it the marriage of his son, Mat_22:1, &c. We just premise, that the bride of Jesus is his church, composed of all renewed spiritual persons. That in conversion they are espoused to Christ, and that the marriage ceremony will be consummated with his perfected and glorious bride, when he shall come the second time, without a sin-offering, to the salvation of his people Let us notice, then,

I. How Jesus became the Bridegroom of his Church.

Now he did so, both as the gift of the Father and as the voluntary act and choice of his infinitely blessed and benevolent mind. It was his own unbounded mercy and pity to man, which induced him to present himself as the bridegroom of his church. He so loved the church as to give himself up for its redemption, and to purchase it by the shedding of his precious blood. In accomplishing this great act of grace it behooved him,

1. To assume the nature of the intended bride.

Thus he became wedded to our humanity. He became of one flesh and blood with us, in being made of a woman, and in becoming in reality a child of man, and, according to the promise, of the seed of Abraham. "And the word was made flesh," &c.

2. To remove all difficulties to the union.

These were of a threefold kind. There was guilt, pollution, and the curse. Each and all of these prevented the union of the holy and blessed Son of God with mankind. These he effectually took out of the way. He became our substituted sacrifice. He bare our sins. Became a curse for us. And opened a fountain for sin and uncleanness. He opened a clear and honorable channel for the remission of sin, the sanctification of the sinner, and thus his elevation to a dignity, worthy of being united to the Son of God. O how great the cost of the union to Jesus! He had to redeem his bride from misery, pollution, and death. And he did this by the voluntary sacrifice of himself. "And thus it was written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer," &c. Well may the ransomed church in rapturous songs exclaim, Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins," &c., Rev_1:5. Notice,

II. What sort of Bridegroom Jesus is.

He is one,

1. Of peerless dignity.

The Son of the most high God. The Lord of life and glory. The prince of the kings of the earth. The eternal Word, of light and being, Joh_1:1-14. The prince of the kings of the earth. The joy of angels, and the Lord of all. God’s equal fellow and eternal delight. The governor of the universe, and proprietor of all things. Words utterly fail to describe his dignity or to reveal his glory.

2. Of matchless beauty.

All that is fair, and bright, and beautiful, as employed to show forth his loveliness. "Fairer than the children of men." "The desire of all nations." "Who is the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person." He is likened to the "rose of Sharon," and to the "bright and morning star."

3. Of boundless riches.

He is heir of all things. "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands." The treasures of nature, of grace, and glory, are all his. His riches are spread through immensity; they are infinite, exhaustless, and eternal 4. Of perfect goodness.

Every excellency is concentrated in him. His love passeth understanding. His tenderness is inexpressible. His compassion faileth not, and his mercy and loving-kind ness endure forever and ever.

5. Of inviolable faithfulness.

Truth is the girdle of his rens. He is faithful and true. All his excellencies are, like his divine nature, immutable; "the same yesterday," &c. His mind alters not. His heart knows no change.

"His love is as great as his power,

And neither knows measure nor end"

Such is the character of Christ as the bridegroom of his church. We observe, that he also does for his people what no other bridegroom can do. He removes all her diseases, purifies her from all her impurities, transforms her into all the beauties of his own holy image, preserves from all enemies and perils, and saves unto all the glories of a blissful immortality and eternal life.

Application

1. Let the church see its high and distinguished exaltation, and walk worthily before him. Let his love, and truth, and fidelity, be reciprocated. How believers should love, serve, and honor him!

2. Let sinners listen to the gracious invitations of the Saviour, and accept of his love. He invites them to be married to him. To partake of his grace, of his divine nature, of his immeasurable riches, and of his eternal glory. To this end, he has sent his word and his ministers to beseech and entreat them to be reconciled unto him.

3. None but those who have Christ as their bridegroom shall enter his kingdom or enjoy his salvation 4. Let backsliders return to Christ, their "first husband," for then it was better with them than now.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS