Christ the Head of the Church

February 3, 2013

Lesson: Colossians 1:15–23

Key Verse: Colossians 1:18

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Introduction

During the time of his first imprisonment, Paul wrote to the congregation at Colossae. His epistle can be divided into two parts, doctrine and practice. He sets forth the firm foundation of doctrine or truth, and then admonishes the people of God to walk in the truth. The first two chapters of Colossians deal with the doctrine or teaching of Christ as head of the Church: “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” (1:18); “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead” (2:9).  Chapters three and four emphasize our character and walk in Christ: “Set your affection things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God …Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (3:2–3, 12).

Paul desired to strengthen the Church by encouraging both their faith and walk in Christ: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9–10). Therefore Paul and Timothy preached the gospel of God, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13–14). God’s people are delivered from “the power of darkness.”  It is the power or authority of darkness from which man must be delivered.  When we think of our salvation, we must understand that our Savior has delivered us from that which had complete authority to do with us what it pleased.  The prince of darkness is Satan, “under whose tyranny we are held captive, until we are set free by Christ’s hand . . . the whole world, with all its pretended wisdom and righteousness, is regarded as nothing but darkness in the sight of God, because, apart from the kingdom of Christ, there is no light” (John Calvin).  Therefore, since the darkness of the kingdom of sin and transgression has such a hold on us, then we must have an authority greater than ourselves to deliver us from this darkness. Christ Jesus has that authority, he who is the “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” (Col. 1:18).

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The Head of the Church—Colossians 1:15–18

What does it mean that Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature”?  Scripture does not leave us in the dark. It says that “by him all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth.” This includes every office of dominion and authority. Everything, both the physical aspect of life and the government of people, has been created by Him. When we transgress the law of nature, God’s creation, or transgress the authority and power given to us, we go against Christ as Creator and King. Not only is Christ King and Creator over all things tangible and intangible, He is active in his providential care of all things. As he knows the robins and their nests, He knows the actions and thoughts of men. All are subject to His rule and will.

Within each congregation, the people must recognize that Christ is Head of the Body, his eternal Church (the people for whom he redeemed). When we claim to bear the name of Christ, to be a Christian, we claim to be members of his Church. We are responsible to him and to him alone. Every decision that is made in the Body must be conforming to Christ and his righteousness, to his word and will. We must never claim that a part of our decisions are material, and so of our will; and a part is spiritual, and so pertains to God. Our actions, thoughts, and decisions are measured by Christ and His good pleasure. John Calvin wrote that “it is Christ that alone has authority to govern the Church, that it is he to whom alone believers ought to have an eye, and on whom alone the unity of the body depends.”

It is not only that he is the Head of the Body that we look to him in all things, but that he is the Christ who is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,” to whom we must fervently look to in obedience and faith. Christ is the One who is our resurrection. It is Christ alone who has made us alive that we might be his chosen people. Therefore, it is Christ alone who shall have preeminence in all things!

Discussion: How is Christ both Head of the Church and our Creator?

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He is Our Redeemer!—Colossians 1:19–23

Paul is a minister of the Word of God, preaching the “hope of the gospel.” He admonishes the saints at Colossae, and also us, to continue “in the faith, grounded and steadfast,” not moving away from this hope. We are to remain steadfast in the faith because of Christ.

Our eyes must always be on Christ. Christ is our hope during a Bible study or in worship service, and also in all things, in the home, at work, and in the fellowship of believers. For, we must know this in our hearts, and remember, that “it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell.” In Christ we know God. Christ is “the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1); “For in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9).

Who is Christ?  He is the only Redeemer. The Father, the first person in the Godhead is the one who reconciles us to himself through the Son, our Redeemer. Scripture tells us that we have been reconciled to God our Father by Christ, who has made peace through his blood of his cross; “by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven.” We turn to the darkness of sin, which alienated us from God, and understand that we were his enemies. But it pleased God the Father to choose us as his children, and redeem us through the blood of the cross of Christ.

It is not God who alienated himself from us, but we from God. We, who once were “alienated and enemies” in our minds “by wicked works, yet now hath he (the Son) reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight.” In other words, the Christian cannot be condemned as being unworthy to come to God the Father, because Christ has taken our condemnation upon himself. As recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:30–31: “But of him (the Father) are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. That, according as it is written, he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

The Christian is one who has received a new nature in Christ at the good pleasure of God the Father. Let us give our Savior, the Son of God, the glory—with much thanksgiving—through all of our work and thoughts.

Discussion: How is Christ our Redeemer?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.