10/21/2012
“Who Is The Head of the
Church?”
Church?”
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:15-23 Please open your Bible with me to the Book of Colossians at chapter one. One primary reason for the Bible is to clarify for the human race what is true versus what is false. And the reason is obvious. Satan himself, since the Garden of Eden, has been sowing the seeds of deception. And so God, in His mercy and love, has given to us His Word as a Protector and as a Clarifier. God wants us to know and to believe the truth. And, of all the truths God wants us to rest upon, the greatest truths are the ones about Jesus Christ. Look with me at the Word of God at Colossians 1:15. (15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;…” I’ve titled today’s sermon: “Who Is The Head of the Church?” Shall we pray? According to the Bible, and as we’ve already discovered in this little NT Epistle to the Colossians, Jesus is: 1. The Image of the invisible God. 2. He is the Firstborn of every creature 3. He is the Creator of everything in the universe 4. He existed before all things 5. Everything “consists” by His power 6. And today, He is the Head of the Church. |
Today the truth that’s on my heart is the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Anyone who reads the Book of Colossians can easily see that Paul’s primary concern was that the Colossians let Jesus take center stage in the hearts, their homes, and in their Church. So, what do we find in Colossians but one of the clearest statements in the Bible on the doctrine of the Person of Jesus Christ.
Folks, we have no Church if we have no Christ or an unbiblical Christ. So, my hope today is to point you to Jesus. First, then, Jesus is the Cornerstone of the most majestic, magnificent and marvelous building in the universe; the Church. Throughout history when buildings were built out of stone, especially large buildings, there was always one essential stone. And that important stone was called the cornerstone. Now, I would like you to see that the Bible plainly teaches that Jesus Christ is “The Cornerstone.” There are lots of passages of Scripture that teach this; Psalm 118 for example. Please turn with me in your Bible to Psalm 118. Psalm 118 is what both Jews and Christians call a Messianic Psalm. It speaks directly to the Jews, showing them what their Messiah would be like. Here’s what we read in Psalm 118:22. Psalm 118:22 “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (23) This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” The Messiah, according to this Psalm is the Cornerstone. He’s actually called “the head stone of the corner.” Then we hear God’s prophet Isaiah delivering a sermon to the Jews in 800 B.C. Here’s what he said to the Jews in another word regarding their Messiah. Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion [the city of Jerusalem] for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste [to move away].” |