Dear Jaime,
Why do you think that our Lord Jesus Christ is replaced by "spiritual leaders"? We are told throughout the prison epistles that Christ is THE Head of the church which is His body today. The church is made up of members from all over the world who are faithful and who believe in Christ Jesus. We are given understanding and renewed in the spirit of our mind by putting on the new man. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, so we need to search the scriptures and worship in spirit and in truth. Christ knows who are His because only He can search the heart.
Christ is Head of the church (one body, not many):
Eph 1:17-23
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
Eph 4:14,15
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by 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 of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Eph 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body."
Christ is the Head of a church which is invisible in the eyes of the world. It needs no building or membership role or man as it's head. We as believers are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph 2:18-22)
We are to "worship God in spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh." (Php 3:3)We are His workmanship.
Col 1:18, "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 pre-eminence."
What is Christ doing? He is working in us to give us understanding and hope and knowledge and the whole church which is His body grows with a growth from God. He listens to our prayers, He loves us, He has chosen us for a special calling. He has forgiven us and considers us buried and raised with Him through a baptism made without hands by Him when we believe.
Col 2:18,19
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Lynn |
