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Christ as the organic Head of the invisible Church. They realized that the two could not be
separated, but, since the Pope and the King could hardly claim to be the organic head of the
invisible Church, this was not really the point in question. Respecting the Scottish teachers
Walker says: “They meant that Christ is the real King and Head of the Church, as a visible
organisation, ruling it by His statutes, and ordinances, and officers, and forces, as truly and
literally as David or Solomon ruled the covenant people of old.”[Scottish Theology and
Theologians, p. 130.]
The Bible teaches us that Christ is Head over all things: He is the Lord of the universe, not
merely as the second person of the Trinity, but in His mediatorial capacity, Matt. 28:18; Eph.
1:20-22; Phil. 2:10,11; Rev. 17:14; 19:16. In a very special sense, however, He is the Head of the
Church, which is His body. He stands in a vital and organic relation to it, fills it with His life, and
controls it spiritually, John 15:1-8; Eph. 1:10,22,23; 2:20-22; 4:15; 5:30; Col. 1:18; 2:19; 3:11.
Premillenarians claim that this is the only sense in which Christ is the Head of the Church, for
they deny the very point for which our Reformed Fathers contended, namely, that Christ is the
King of the Church, and therefore the only supreme authority to be recognized in it. Scripture
plainly teaches, however, that Christ is the Head of the Church, not only in virtue of His vital
relationship to it, but also as its Legislator and King. In the organic and vital sense He is the
Head primarily, though not exclusively, of the invisible Church, which constitutes His spiritual
body. But He is also the Head of the visible Church, not only in the organic sense, but also in the
sense that He has authority and rule over it, Matt. 16:18,19; 23:8,10; John 13:13; I Cor. 12:5;
Eph. 1:20-23; 4:4,5,11,12; 5:23,24. This Headship of Christ over the visible Church is the
principal part of the dominion bestowed upon Him as the result of His sufferings. His authority
is manifested in the following points: (a) He instituted the Church of the New Testament, Matt.
16:18, so that it is not, as many regard it in our day, a mere voluntary society, which has its only
warrant in the consent of its members. (b) He instituted the means of grace which the Church
must administer, namely, the Word and the sacraments, Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16; Luke
22:17-20; I Cor. 11:23-29. In these matters no one else has the right to legislate. (c) He gave to
the Church its constitution and officers, and clothed them with divine authority, so that they
can speak and act in His name, Matt. 10:1; 16:19; John 20:21-23; Eph. 4:11,12. (d) He is ever
present in the Church when it meets for worship, and speaks and acts through its officers. It is
Christ as King that warrants them in speaking and acting with authority, Matt. 10:40; II Cor.
13:3.
2. CHRIST EXERCISES HIS AUTHORITY BY MEANS OF HIS ROYAL WORD.
The reign of Christ is
not in all respects similar to that of earthly kings. He does not rule the Church by force, but
subjectively by His Spirit, which is operative in the Church, and objectively by the Word of God
as the standard of authority. All believers are unconditionally bound to obey the word of the