"He has put all things under Christ's feet and has made Him the head over all things for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."
Ephesians 2: 22, 23
"It is a basic doctrine of the New Testament that after His resurrection the man Jesus was declared by God to be both Lord and Christ, and that He was invested by the Father with absolute lordship over the church which is His body. All authority is His in heaven and in earth."
A.W. Tozer
"In Ephesians Paul gives these instructions to the church: fulfill your calling, don't deviate from the divine strategy, obey your orders, follow your Head. For the church is not a human institution. It is not expected to devise its own strategy and set its own goals. It is not an independent organization, existing by means of the strength of its numbers. The church is a body under the control of its head. The church is also a temple, for the exclusive habitation and use of a person who dwells within and has the right to do with that temple whatever He wills. The church is an army under the command of a king. An army that will not obey its leaders is useless as a fighting force. If Christians are to give intelligent obedience to their lord, they must give highest priority to understanding what it is He wants them to be and do."
Ray Stedman
Is Jesus the Head of the church today? Of your church? Most Christians have never asked this question!
"We accept the Christianity of our group as being identical with that of Christ and His apostles. The beliefs, the practices, the ethics, the activities of our group are equated with the Christianity of the New Testament. Whatever the group thinks or says or does is scriptural, no questions asked. It is assumed that all our Lord expects of us is that we busy ourselves with the activities of the group. In so doing we are keeping the commandments of Jesus."
A.W. Tozer
Is Jesus Christ the authority in your church? Or has someone rebelled against Him and taken over the leadership? Does He decide or only help to carry out the plans of the board, the Sunday school committee, the youth and outreach leaders, the pastor or the central committee?
"'Woe to the rebellious children,' declared the Lord, 'who execute a plan but not Mine.'"
Isaiah 30: 1