The Church's One Foundation
As we roll into Reformation weekend, we pause to celebrate that Christ alone is head of his church! This has been the preoccupation of the Apostle throughout the book of Ephesians - [God the Father] raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:20–23).
That Christ is the head of the church (not popes or bishops, pastors or elders) is the source of so much confidence and comfort for the believer. It is Christ who has given himself over to death in order that we the church, his bride, may have life. It is Christ who gives gifts to his church. It is Christ who has placed his Spirit within the church.
This Sunday we will sing from the hymn The Church's One Foundation that pictures the love that Christ has for his church in terms of Ephesians 5 -- From heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died. We will also take up that portion of Ephesians 5 (especially v. 22-33) that highlights Christ sacrificial headship as the model for our marriages. Church, home, and as we will see in a couple of weeks, our work as well; all of our life flows from the headship of Christ.
Don't forget about our extra opportunity to worship with our broader West MI PCA family this coming Sunday evening (5:30pm at Hudsonville Reformed). I am excited for us as a congregation to exercise these ecclesiastical muscles. Worshipping our great God together with these sisters and brothers is one of the ways that we show our unity before the watching world and prepare ourselves for joint acts of mission and service.
Photo by Josh Eckstein on Unsplash