Who is the Head of the Church?
Who has authority over the church?
The Bible makes this very clear.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in 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 may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18)
Who is the “He” in these passages?
It’s none other than “the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). Jesus is “head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
The Pope has no authority to be head of the church - that belongs to Jesus Christ exclusively. No board or organization has the authority to be head of the church.
There is one body - one church (Ephesians 4:4). Therefore, there is only one head of the one body. Jesus is the head of His church.
This means that the church must listen to and follow Jesus Christ. He is the “Good Shepherd” who gave His life for His sheep (John 10:11). Jesus’ sheep - His church - will listen only to His voice (John 10:4-5).
The Bible is clear; Jesus - and no one else - is the head of His church.
Who are we listening to? Who are we following?