Who Is The Head Of Christ's Church?

"^23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, ^23:2 Saying, The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: ^23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not [see Hypocrites]. ^23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. ^23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries [see Frontlets and Phylacteries], and enlarge the borders of their garments, ^23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, ^23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. ^23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. ^23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. ^23:10 Neither be ye called masters [note: those who have replaced the term "Reverend" with "Mister" should realize that the word mister is merely a different pronunciation of the word master - it's the same word; Christ commanded His people to not do that - it's a sin, because it violates Christ's command]: for one is your Master, even Christ." (Matthew 23:1-10 KJV)

What about Christians? Was Christ's command any different? What else did He say about Christians who lusted to make themselves "Pharisees" over their Christian brothers and sisters?

"^22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. ^22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. ^22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve" (Luke 22:24-26 KJV).

"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"

Jesus Christ is the only Head of His Church. No one is in His place, no one speaks for Him.

"^1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ^1:16 For by him were all things created [see Christ The Creator], that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ^1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ^1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church [see What Is The Church? and Church of God]: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead [listen to the Sermon Christ's Passover: The Death And Birth Of The Saviour from our Sermons page]; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ^1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ^1:20 And, having made peace through the blood [see Why Blood?] of his cross [see Crossing The T], by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

^1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ^1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (Colossians 1:15-22 KJV)

There is only one Christ. There is only one true Christian church (church means people), a reality that Christians (Christian means servant of Christ - see Christianos) have had to be reminded of right from the earliest times.

"^1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; ^1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; ^1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: ^1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [see Could Christ Return Tonight?]: ^1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ [see When Will You Be Judged?]. ^1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

^1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind [see The Cure For The Carnal Mind] and in the same judgment. ^1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. ^1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

^1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:9-13 KJV)

Christ's teachings about entering through the "narrow gate," bearing "good fruit," building one's Christianity upon the "Rock," who is Christ - and a stark warning that claiming to be a Christian, while flagrantly not doing what He commanded, is the way to damnation, not salvation, all made plain, to those who were of a truly repentant mind, that Christ's Way is the only way to eternal life. Christ never left it up to humans to decide how to obey Him, only if (see I Did It My Way).

"^7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ^7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it [a reference to how the first resurrection will be relatively small, when compared to the second resurrection - see Resurrections].

^7:15 Beware of False Prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ^7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ^7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ^7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ^7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ^7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

^7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ^7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ^7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [again, see I Did It My Way].

^7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man [see God's Wisdom], which built his house upon a rock: ^7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. ^7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man [see Evil Means Fool], which built his house upon the sand: ^7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:13-27 KJV)

Fact Finder: What sort of "mansion" is Christ building for His people?
See Mansions