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Christ And The Church

Text: Colossians 1:18

Paul gave attention to presenting Jesus in His special relationship with the Church.

“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

1. “The Church”

a) The human body was used as an analogy for the church (Greek “soma”).

b) This was Paul’s description of the church in Ephesians 1:23.

c) The idea of the existence of the church began with Christ.

i) He introduced the idea (Matthew 16:18).

ii) He also gave a strong commitment to build the Church (Matthew 16:18).

d) Christ Jesus is presented as the Head of the body, the Head of the Church.

2. Further descriptions of Jesus

a) He was there in the beginning.

i) Paul presents Jesus as One who eternally existed.

ii) This is in full agreement with what the apostle John wrote in John 1:1.

b) The firstborn from the dead.

i) The firstborn in terms of honour and position.

ii) The firstborn in terms of being the first to have a Resurrection Body.

3. The preeminence of Christ

a) Paul presented Christ as One who deserved due honour.

b) Jesus must always have “the preeminence”.

i) This is correct because of who Christ is.

ii) This is also correct because of all that He has done with special reference to our redemption.

4. A special challenge to the church

a) To accord due honour to the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) To ensure that Christ is always regarded as the exalted Head of the Church in very practical terms.

c) To prevent departure from this Christo-centric theology.