Church?! Ownership and Headship.

I think we have confirmed who owns the church. It belongs to JESUS our LORD and our GOD. I have run across twelve times in the New Testament, where the phrase ‘church of GOD’ is used. If we believe that JESUS is indeed GOD as the Apostle Thomas declared, then we have even more confirmation of ownership. This fact should not cause us any confusion when it comes to the subject of headship. If HE owns it, HE is the HEAD. If HE is the HEAD, HE is in charge. JESUS is the only legislator of HIS church. HE made the rules, gave the commandments, and issued the precepts. HE tells us what we can and can’t do. I love what Paul said to the elders of the church from Ephesus in Acts 20:28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the HOLY SPIRIT has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of GOD which HE purchased with His own blood.” Notice, he said overseers not legislators. This passage gives more evidence that JESUS is GOD. Read it again, “To shepherd the church of GOD!” The church belongs to GOD. Why? Because HE purchased it with HIS own blood. Who shed HIS blood on the cross? JESUS! Writing to the Ephesians, chapter 1:15-22, he wrote of the GOD of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the Glorious FATHER. He wrote of the surpassing greatness of HIS power and HIS mighty strength, proved by raising JESUS from the dead. HE seated JESUS at HIS own right hand, “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Paul goes on to say that JESUS was made HEAD over everything to the church which is HIS BODY! You cannot get any more authority than that. Why any human would ever think they have the right to make new laws for the LORD’S church or to remove laws already established, is beyond my understanding. Such arrogance is incomprehensible. Isn’t it great that we don’t have to be subject to the whims of human wisdom?

Russell Ashby