“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)

The church today goes by many names. No matter the name, the real church is the church which is the body of Christ and has God the Son, Jesus Christ as its head. When Peter announces his confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Jesus responds by saying “I will build my church.” If the church is being built, then Jesus is the architect, the foreman, the engineer, the laborer, and the boss. If the church is a body, then He is the head. Everything is to respond, react, move, and do with directions from the head. As the church, we are to respond to the direction of the head. 

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked His Disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)

The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of the church. From his resurrection, life is now offered to all who will, by faith, trust in the power offered by the risen Christ. This includes those who looked forward to this day by faith, and those of us who, by faith, looked back to what God has done in Jesus Christ. Therefore, sin is forgiven, and peace is offered to all who will be the church.

“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. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:18-20)

The Head is leading all in the body to be organized so that everyone may grow and mature as believers and as functioning parts of the body. The body can be strong, developing in truth, and acting in love. Each one will do their part and support all the other parts. And each part is vital to the growth and strength of the church.

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 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. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Those from throughout the world make up the church, each one is chosen and called to be a part of the body and is to be treated with forgiveness and love. In order that the body is filled with peace, wisdom, joy and gratitude, knowing that everything they do is in the name of Jesus Christ demonstrating who God is and what He can do.

Each part of the body must stay in contact with the Head. Each believer must stay connected to Jesus through prayer. Each part must be listening to Him through His Word, then, they can fill the church with the fullness of His presence. The world can know that Jesus is the Christ. “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)

All to the Glory of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block