The sovereign head of the church (1) His sole supremacy

The benefits of the cross and the implications of the crown are inextricably woven together. The saints have been delivered from the power of darkness, and - in doing so - have been translated into the kingdom of Christ. He is our Redeemer and our Monarch.

As the one head of the one church, with whom we have an organic unity, Christ also possesses sole supremacy in his church. A two-headed body is a grotesque prospect excluded by Paul.

The implications are clear: it is preposterous and wicked to attempt in any way to restrict, rival or replace the Lord Christ in the affections and expectations of his church. The church is ruled not by popes or prelates; not by potentates and earthly monarchs; not by Prime Ministers or parliaments; not by pastors (whose rule in the church is a delegated one, administering but not usurping Christ's rule in his own church); not by powerful personalities.

There is one throne in the church, and Christ Jesus sits on it; one crown, and the Lord Christ alone wears it. To relinquish the sovereignty of the Saviour is to sound the death knell of the church.

We must settle it now in our minds and hearts: Christ Jesus is our Saviour and our sovereign, and has sole supremacy in the church which he purchased with his own blood.