Christ, Our Head

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ….

Ephesians 4:15

Between Christ and His people there is an organic unity.  This unity is the result of an indissoluble union.  The union is so vital and integral to all that it means to be Christs’ that Paul describes it in very graphic terms.  He refers to Christ as ‘the Head.’  In the next verse he refers to us who are Christs’ as ‘the whole body.’  As Paul is discussing spiritual maturity, he speaks of the purpose of God that we ‘may grow up in all things, into Him which is the head, even Christ.’  To this purpose, God has given the gifts to which he referred earlier to build up the Body that there may be ‘the unity of the faith and…the knowledge of the Son of God.’  This advance of spiritual maturity will enable us to ‘be no longer children’ and will preserve us from deceptions.  It will enable us to speak ‘the truth in love.’  All these things taken together indicate that Christ our Head is developing us as His Body to perform all He intends to accomplish by us.  This is good for the Body, good for the world, good for the advancement of the Gospel, and good for the growth of the Kingdom of God.  We only ever profit by our relationship to Christ, Our Head.  He is the reason we have spiritual life and gain spiritual strength.

O God of Grace and Truth,
we rejoice in Your manifold wisdom.
We praise You that in that wisdom,
You have united us to Christ our Head,
and that by Your power, You will develop us as His Body.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning