The Headship Of Christ

Have you ever wondered what it truly means when we say Christ is the "head" of the Church? It's one of those phrases we hear often in Christian circles, but what does it actually look like in practice? Today, we're diving deep into this beautiful and transformative concept that sits at the very heart of our faith.

When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, he once made a rather sobering statement to a would-be follower: "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (Matthew 8:20). It's fascinating how this verse about Christ having nowhere to rest His physical head connects to the profound spiritual truth of His headship over the Church. From having no earthly place to lay His head, Christ has become the eternal Head of His body, the Church.

Christ In The Epistles

To really understand Christ's headship, we need to see it as part of a beautiful three-part picture that emerges from Paul's epistles. Think of it like a three-act play where each act reveals something crucial about who Christ is and how He relates to us:

Acts One - Ephesians: The Body of Christ
Here we see the Church as Christ's physical expression in the world - His hands, feet, voice, and presence made manifest through believers.

Acts Two - Philippians: The Mind of Christ
This reveals the attitude and mindset that should characterize every believer - the same humble, selfless spirit that drove Jesus to the cross.

Acts Three - Colossians: The Headship of Christ
The culmination where we see Christ's supreme authority and leadership over everything, especially His Church.

These three aspects aren't separate concepts - they're beautifully interconnected, like facets of a diamond that all reflect the same brilliant light.

Christ In Two Dimensions

Before we dive into the headship specifically, it's crucial to understand that Scripture presents Christ to us in two complementary dimensions:

The Individual Christ

This is Jesus as a person - the one Peter recognized when he declared, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). This wasn't Peter having a moment of human insight; Jesus made it clear that "flesh and blood" didn't reveal this truth to him, but the Father in heaven did.

This individual dimension encompasses everything about Jesus' identity: His divine nature, His role as Messiah, His work of salvation, and His personal relationship with each believer. It's the Christ you meet in prayer, the one who walks with you through your daily struggles, the friend who never leaves nor forsakes you.

The Corporate Christ

But here's where it gets really exciting - and sometimes challenging for our individualistic minds to grasp. Christ isn't just an individual; He's also corporate. Paul puts it beautifully: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Did you catch that? Paul doesn't just say the Church is like a body - he says it is Christ's body. When the Church functions as it should, Christ is literally expressed through His people collectively. You and I aren't just followers of Christ; we're parts of Christ Himself!

This corporate dimension means that Christ's presence in the world isn't limited to our individual experiences with Him. He's present and active through the unified body of believers working together, serving together, and growing together.

The Body of Christ

Let's start with Ephesians, where Paul lays out this incredible vision of the Church as Christ's body. He writes, "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Think about that phrase: "the fullness of Him who fills all in all." The Church isn't just an organization Christ leads; it's the very expression of His fullness on earth. When the Church operates in unity and love, Christ Himself is made visible to the world.

This body metaphor is incredibly rich:

Unity in the midst of diversity - "There is one body and one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4). Despite our different backgrounds, personalities, and giftings, we're all part of the same living organism.

Diversity with purpose - "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:7). Your unique gifts aren't accidents; they're Christ's specific gifts to His body, distributed exactly where they're needed.

Organic growth - "...the whole body, joined and knit together...causes growth of the body" (Ephesians 4:16). When each part does its work, the entire body grows naturally and healthily.

Shared mission - "...for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12). We're not just called to be blessed; we're called to be a blessing, equipped for service.

The Mind of Christ: Our Attitude

Now, having a body is one thing, but what drives that body? The mind. This is where Philippians comes in with its famous call: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).

What was Christ's mindset like? Paul gives us a breathtaking description: "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant" (Philippians 2:6-7).

The mind of Christ is characterized by four key qualities:

Humility - Christ "emptied Himself." He didn't cling to His divine privileges but willingly set them aside for our sake. This isn't self-deprecation or thinking poorly of ourselves; it's the security that comes from knowing who you are in God, which frees you to serve others without needing to prove yourself.

Selflessness - He consistently put others' needs before His own comfort or convenience. Think about it: the Creator of the universe washing His disciples' feet, healing the sick when He was tired, and ultimately dying for people who rejected Him.

Obedience - "He became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8). Christ's obedience wasn't grudging compliance but loving submission to the Father's will, even when it was costly.

Unity - The mind of Christ naturally promotes "being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2:2). When we think like Christ, we stop fighting for our own agenda and start working toward God's purposes.

Here's the beautiful thing: this isn't just about trying harder to be like Jesus. As believers, we actually have Christ's mind (1 Corinthians 2:16)! It's already in us; we just need to learn to think from that renewed mind rather than our old patterns.

The Headship of Christ: Our Authority (Colossians)

Now we come to the heart of our topic - Christ's headship as revealed in Colossians. Paul declares, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18).

The word "preeminence" here is crucial. It means to be first in rank, influence, and honor. Christ isn't just a head among many heads; He's THE head, the supreme authority over everything.

Christ's headship encompasses four vital aspects:

Authority

Christ has supreme authority over all creation, not just the Church. This isn't a democracy where we vote on which of Christ's teachings we'll follow. He's the King, and His word is final. But here's what's beautiful about His authority - it's not the oppressive rule of a tyrant but the loving leadership of a perfect Father who always has our best interests at heart.

Source

Just as a physical head contains the brain that sends life-giving signals throughout the body, Christ is the source of the Church's spiritual life and growth. We don't generate spiritual life on our own; it flows from our connection to Him. "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5) isn't a threat - it's simply a fact about how spiritual life works.

Direction

A body without direction from the head is either paralyzed or convulsing chaotically. Christ provides the vision, the mission, and the specific guidance His Church needs to fulfill its purpose in the world. This happens through Scripture, prayer, the Holy Spirit's leading, and the collective wisdom of the body when it's submitted to His headship.

Unity

Perhaps most importantly, Christ's headship creates and maintains unity among believers. When every part of the body is responding to the same head, natural coordination results. It's when parts of the body start trying to direct themselves that we get the kind of dysfunction and division that sadly characterizes much of the modern Church.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Understanding these concepts intellectually is one thing, but how do they work out in our day-to-day lives? Let's get practical.

In Church Leadership

Recognizing Christ's headship revolutionizes how we approach church leadership. It means:

• All decisions flow from Christ's authority, not from human wisdom, tradition, or popular opinion alone. This doesn't mean leaders don't use wisdom or consider context, but that everything is filtered through the question: "What does Christ want for His Church?"

• Leadership models Christ's servant-leadership style. The head serves the body, not the other way around. Christian leaders lead by example, by empowering others, and by laying down their lives for those they serve.

• Ministry activities align with Christ's mission and values. Churches under Christ's headship don't chase every new trend or program; they ask whether their activities actually serve Christ's purposes of making disciples and loving the world.

In Personal Application

On an individual level, living under Christ's headship means:

Submitting to Christ's authority in all areas of life - not just the "spiritual" parts. Christ as head means He has something to say about your career choices, your relationships, your entertainment, your finances, and your daily schedule.

Cultivating the mind of Christ through Scripture and prayer - Regularly feeding your mind with God's truth and staying in constant communication with your Head. Just as your physical body needs constant signals from your brain to function properly, your spiritual life needs constant connection with Christ.

Functioning as a healthy member of Christ's body - Using your spiritual gifts, supporting other believers, participating in the life of the Church, and contributing to the collective mission of making Christ known.

Maintaining unity with other believers - When we're all submitted to the same Head, unity becomes natural rather than forced. We can disagree on secondary issues while remaining united on the essentials.

The Complete Picture

Here's the beautiful thing about these three aspects - they work together to create a complete picture of our life in Christ:

As members of His body (Ephesians), we recognize that we're part of something bigger than ourselves. We're not lone-ranger Christians; we're interconnected parts of a living organism.

With His mind (Philippians), we approach life with the same attitude that drove Christ - humble, selfless, obedient, and unity-focused. We think differently because we have a new operating system.

Under His headship (Colossians), we live with clear authority, direction, and purpose. We know who's in charge, where we're going, and how all the pieces fit together.

Your Identity Declaration

This understanding of Christ's headship isn't just theological theory - it transforms how you see yourself and your place in God's story. As believers living under Christ's headship, we can confidently declare:

"I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old has passed away; behold, all things have become new. I live under the authority and rulership of Christ, who is the Head over all things. I have been transferred from the domain of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of the Son of God.

Christ is my King, reigning supreme in my heart, thoughts, and decisions. I am one with Him, joined to the Lord as one spirit. As He is in heaven, so am I on the earth - representing His nature, His authority, and His Kingdom wherever I go."