Christ: The Head of the Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-14-2026

Matthew 16:13-23
 

Introduction:

A. While preaching a series on the local church, I feel the need to deal with the Church, the Body of Christ. Many preachers deny that doctrine while defaming those of us who believe it. While they defame us, they have no answers to specific Bible verses dealing with Christ’s Church.

 

B. In the context of my message for this morning, we find the proper identification of the Christ, the “Rock” upon which the church is built. “Thou art Peter (Petros - a little piece of rock), and upon this “rock” (petra – bedrock, a massive rock) I will build my church.” The foundation of the Church is not the confession of Peter, but the Person of Christ. Peter fully understood what Christ said to him and recorded it in 1 Peter.

 

1 Peter 2:4-6 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

 

1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

C. What the Church is not. (I am speaking of the Body of Christ)

 

1. The Church is not man-made but is divinely given.

 

2. The Church is not Christendom in general. It is not universal: the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. It is the totality of the saved in this dispensation; every born-again believer makes up the entirety of the Church.

 

D. Exactly what is the Church? There is much confusion and contention concerning what the Church is or is not. God is certainly not the Author of confusion, and the Word of God is clear concerning the Church and its meaning. The word "church " in the New Testament has a dual meaning, with context differentiating between the two.

 

1. The Holy Spirit baptizes the believer into the Body, the Church. The word “Spirit” is capitalized, referring to the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

2. A glorious church is not the local church as it contains both saved and lost at times. To name a few: Diotrephes, Hymenaeus, Alexander the Coppersmith, etc. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

3. In the local church, we have Jew and Gentile, bond and free, male and female. In the Body of Christ, also called the Church, we are all equal. Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Church defined - ἐκκλησία ekklēsia ek-klay-see'-ah From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, relative to a specific time and place.

 

1. The Church, the “Body of Christ,” is made up of every born-again believer in this dispensation. The “Body of Christ” is not the local church! The collective body of believers, or of those who have turned to Christ in repentance and faith, makes up the Body of Christ.

 

2. The Church, the Body of Christ, will be called out at the right time to the right place. The Body of Christ belongs to Him!

 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 

a) The right time for our assembly. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17a For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air…

 

b) The right place of our assembly. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

c) The right reason for our assembly. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

E. Having seen what the Church is not and what the Church is, let us return to our text and see what Christ Himself says concerning His Church.

 

1. The Church is built upon Christ. “Upon this rock” The Rock that cannot be moved!

 

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

1 Peter 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 

2. The Church is built by Christ ("I will build"). It is Christ who died for and saves us! Salvation is an act of God that takes place when the believer comes to God in repentance and faith.

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

 

Acts 2:6-7 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

 

Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

 

3. The Church belongs to Christ ("I will build my church"). As the Body of Christ belongs to Christ, so does the local church. The local church is not mine, nor is it yours. It is a place to be respected and cherished.

 

Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

 

Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

 

Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 

Colossians 1:17-18 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And 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.

 

4. The Church is loved by Christ (“my church”). Christ loves the Church, His Body, and also what we are doing here this morning!

 

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

 

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

5. The Church is not merely something Christ owns and loves; it is also something Christ uses. ("And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."). The dispensation of the Gospel has been given to both the believer and the local church.

 

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.