The Headship Of Christ

by J. DORRICOTT | Category: The Purpose Of The Ages - Christ And The Church | Sept 1932

"And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave

HIM TO BE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all."-Ephesians 1.22,28. For the husband is the Head of the wife, as Christ also is THE HEAD of the Church, being Himself the Saviour of the Body."-Ephesians 5. 28.

"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."-Colossians 1. 18.

"And not holding fast the Head, FROM WHOM all the Body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God."-Colossians 2. 19.

The death, resurrection, and glorification of Christ at God's right hand, and the sending forth of the Spirit constitute the necessary antecedent to the revelation of the secret of the eternal ages, and the counsels and purposes of His will, both as to the present dispensation and the future dispensation of the fulness of the times, "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up (to head up) all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth" (Ephesians 1. 10). The secret of God's will, of Ephesians 1. 9, is, we understand, concerning this Headship of Christ as the glorified Man; as God, He ever was over all, but Divine purpose is, that Christ as Man, the last Adam, should have universal Headship.

1.Head of all invisible things, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities or powers.

2.Head of all visible things, for all have been through the Cross subjected unto Him (though "now we see not yet all things subjected to Him ").

3.Head of the Body, the Church.

For the foregoing see and compare Colossians 1. 14-22; 2. 9; Ephesians 1. 9-23. Thus we see from Colossians I. that not only were all things created through Him, but also UNTO Him; for God ever had the glory of His Son in view; the entire universe with its invisible thrones, dominions, principalities and powers, were created unto Him. Universal Headship belongs to Him. This Headship He receives on redemption ground, "through Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. And you... hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death" (Colossians 1. 20-22). Future manifested glory will be his in all places of His dominion-the entire universe, as the Man whom God hath delighted to honour. Now note Ephesians 1. 17-23 and especially verses 22, 23-"Gave Him to be HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH WHICH IS His BODY." It is not here stated, Head of the Church, "which is His body" as elsewhere, but

HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY.

Christ's glorified and exalted position is, that He is Head over all things in relation to the Church which is His Body, the complement of Him that filleth all in all.

The first Adam was made lord of all creation (on earth), and before sin entered, Eve was made flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone; his wife, his co-heir, sharer with him of all his glory; Companion with him of this vast heritage committed unto him. She obtained this inheritance in him. We know that Adam is a figure of Him who was to come; Eve is a figure of the Church. See Romans 5. 14 (last part); 1 Corinthians 15. 45; Ephesians 5. 32.

The first Adam fell and lost all; the last Adam has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and has restored to God that which He took not away. He having glorified God through the Cross, God has glorified HIM, and given him the highest place and the highest Name. Headship is his, with glories, untold glories, and He is "Head over all things, to the Church, which is His Body"; companion with Him in his dominion.

Meet companion then for Jesus,

From Him, for Him made,

Glory of God's grace for ever,

There in us displayed.

CHRIST'S PRESENT HEADSHIP.

We will now refer particularly to Christ as the Head of the Church which is His Body (Colossians 1. 18; Ephesians 5. 23). This Headship was given to Him, as before stated, upon his glorification at the Father's right hand, and not before.

Son of Man! His incarnation

Opened first the tale of grace,

Son of Man, IN NEW CREATION

LEADER OF A CHOSEN RACE.

Well may glory

Own Him in the highest place.

The purpose of the ages was now to be manifested and the work begun, therefore the Holy Spirit was sent to make good the purposes of God concerning Christ and the Church (John 14. 16, 17; Acts 2.; 1 Corinthians 12. 13). A new dispensation was begun at Pentecost (Acts 2.); the great parenthesis in the chart of time was inaugurated; the period in Daniel 9. 24-27, between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel's prophecy; a space of time (unrevealed then) for the great ingathering of the Church which is Christ's Body, between the time when Messiah was cut off and had nothing, until the time when God's dealings with Israel nationally commence again (Acts 15. 14-18). This period was reserved with Divine intent to bring about the purpose of the ages concerning Christ and the Church, "...that He might create in himself of the twain (Jew and Gentile believers) ONE NEW MAN,... and might reconcile them both in ONE BODY unto God through the Cross "(Ephesians 2. 15, 16).

The Church of which Christ is Head, is not an adjunct of Israel, it is not a development of Judaism; it is that which is entirely new, "one new man," composed of those who have been quickened, raised, and seated together with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2. 1-10). A heavenly people (1 Corinthians 15. 48), with a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3. 1), with heavenly hopes all centred in Christ, and a heavenly destiny (Philippians 3. 20). This, in contrast to Israel-an earthly people, with earthly hopes of Messiah.

In the present, believers are members of Christ's Body, united to the Head in indivisible union; He can speak of members on earth as "ME" (Acts 9. 4); and again. "so also is the Christ" (1 Corinthians 12. 12, where the article is present in the original). Of this Body God has made Him Head-a blessed, glorious, present reality. Well indeed may we sing:

Head of the Church triumphant,

Now seated in the glory!

Till He appear

His members here,

0 God, would bow before Thee.

Head of the Church triumphant!

We lift our hearts and voices

In blest anticipation,

And cry aloud,

And give to God

The praise of our salvation.

Do we really believe that Christ is our Head? We do not mean as a doctrine, but from our hearts, with full acceptance of what this glorious truth involves.

If this is so, then as members of Christ it follows that the Head must direct us in everything; and every relationship and department of our lives must be moulded by this fact. It is for the Head to control the Body, and not the Body, nor any member, to control itself. Ephesians 5. 23, 24, clearly shows after what manner of relationship we should contemplate this, and the loving subjection that should flow therefrom. 0 that this might be learned by every member of Christ ! This is God's intent and present purpose (yes, present purpose, we repeat). When Christ presents the Church to himself, glorious, all will gladly and adoringly be subject, but now-in the present now, subjection should be shown. This is one of the objects in this truth as revealed to us; therefore the truth of Christ being now Head of the Body, the Church, should act powerfully upon the heart and conscience of every member of Christ's Body upon earth.

If Christ is Head, then members of the Body must not acknowledge any other Head in the spiritual sphere. (We are not now speaking of the subjection which is required of us as stated in Romans 13. 1, 2, nor of that referred to in Ephesians 5. 22; 6. 1, 5; and Hebrews 13. 17; but even in these cases, all that is in the will of God is in harmony with subjection to the Head).

As united to the Head, we should not belong to any association where the will of man obtains; for this would be a denial of the Headship of Christ. Indeed, if this truth has its full effect upon our souls it will cut at the root of everything wrong, whether of a religious, or worldly kind. There will not be any unequal yoke, or any spiritual fornication, by union with this present evil world, on the part of any member of Christ who holds fast the Head. The present Headship of Christ, and the willing and loving subjection of the members of Christ, is a great practical issue to-day.

Again, He and He only is the source of supply for spiritual gifts, ministry, and nourishment; whatever it may be that affects the Body of Christ for good, all flows down from Him "FROM WHOM all the Body, being supplied (ministered to) and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God" (Colossians 2. 19). Therefore we are called upon to deal truly with one another in love, that we may GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM, WHICH IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST (see Ephesians 4. 15).

Alas, other sources of supply have been accepted by many (for where human responsibility comes in there is failure), clerisy, man's wisdom, carnal knowledge, and vain philosophy, have largely taken the place of the blessed supply which comes from the Head, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Paul warned the saints in Colossae, of this departure to which they were tending, in the words, "NOT HOLDING FAST THE HEAD " (Colossians 2. 19). They were departing from the fulness and the directing power of the Head, and were turning to worldly wisdom.

May we as members of Christ, and as being also in Churches of God, take warning from these solemn words, and may it be ours TO IIOLD FAST THE HEAD; to learn truly that everything flows from Christ for nourishment and upbuilding, and that the Lord requires from us loving subjection to the control and guidance of the Head, by the Spirit, through the Word. This leads us on to the truth of "One Body, one Spirit," which, God willing, we will deal with later.

J. DORRICOTT | Sept 1932
The Purpose Of The Ages - Christ And The Church