Sunday, November 24, 2024
Glory of the Head of the Church (reflecting on Ps Susan Hoover’s sermon).
Our view of Jesus will impact every area of our lives. As we grow in our understanding of Jesus, our lives will be more fulfilling and meaningful. With some of the loftiest language the book of Colossians show the “glory of Jesus”, focusing on Christ’s pre-eminence and sufficiency in all things.
Essentially Jesus is the (1) head of the church; (2) while we are the body.
He is the cerebral matter that wires up the whole body. Jesus is the software that runs the bodily hardware. While the Holy Spirit is akin to life-blood of the body. He gives unique spiritual gifts to each person so they can carry out their vital functions in the body. Me and you all have our unique roles in the body of Christ.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy (Colossians 1:18).
Anatomy of the Church
These anatomical analogy are repeated in the letter to the Ephesians. Both letters were written by Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. Both churches were under attack from false teachings. It is like some cybercriminals had attacked our software with malware. There were cancerous elements to the body that Paul felt compelled to correct. It is precisely why Ps Peter Sze stressed there is a need to RESTORE all things as God intended before He enlarges us. He does not want cancerous elements to enlarge and metastasize to other part of the body.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (Ephesian 4:15).
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior (Ephesians 5:23).
Jesus has supremacy over all things, and as we submit to the head which is Christ, we will be sufficient in all things. Yes I have not seen the manifestation of many things I have prayed years for, but only Jesus can give me all things and restore all things. The truth is that one else can if He does not!
There will always be conflicts even within the church as the body is diverse. Some may have stepped on your toes and we certainly don’t have to take a liking to every soul that walks into TNCC. But we all need each other, like the different body parts all plays an important role to maintain a functioning body. In such situations, not only we must have a forgiving heart, but as an organ in the body of believers to look at Jesus, aka the head, as the unifying answer. Human DNA bases are 99% the same in all people, it’s the 1% that makes us unique, so we have more things in common than differences.
This perspective will transform the relationships we have in every area of our lives—in our homes, in our church, and our world.
How do we live and function?
There is nothing esoteric in how we play our role in the “body”. “The foundation of who we are is rooted in Christ” Ps Susan. Abound in Him and Him in you, with overflowing gratitude and thankfulness. I want to enjoy, savour every magical moment in Him, and this makes my life worth living.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7).
Just as malware come to your computer to steal (data), damage and destroy your computers, the Devil is forever lurking around to steal, kill and destroy the body of Christ with mutated truths. Paul warns against such deceptive philosophies and false teachings that downplay the centrality of Christ. Mutated genes can give rise to cancers. Likewise in today’s church lets “function well together” Ps Susan. We stick and grow in the Truth which is Christ, otherwise if disease spreads the body will be ill and dysfunctional.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ (Colossians 2:8).
Paul goes on to say “for in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:9-10). So we as the body just follow the head. He is the head of not only the church, but over every power and authority (ie your enemies, principality and powers in dark places). When we wake up in the morning, our (brain) head dictates and directs our every steps and movements. Likewise the Bible says that the steps of a godly man is directed by the Lord.
Yes indeed in Jesus there is fullness in all that we have ever wanted. He is my all in all. He is complete! Soak in His fullness of love, power and wisdom. In Him there is no lack and I won’t be found wanting.
In Christ, I have everything. In Christ I have been brought to fullness. Amen.
