Eternal Headship

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Chapter 12 - Headship of the Eternal Church - Doctrinal

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Headship refers to the position or office of a leader. One in headship provides representative leadership for the collective members of a body. For example, the president of a university is often referred to as its head. It is implied that the students enrolled at the university comprise one body under his headship or representative leadership. Hence, they are called the “student body.” Generally speaking, the head and body of the university are related through a mutually agreed-upon purpose and mission.

The United States of America provides another example of an entity that exists in the form of head and body. The federal government serves in the role of headship. It provides representative leadership for the 50 states that constitute its body.

Collectively, the United States of America is a federation. The word “federation” refers to constituents united under centralized “federal” government oversight. Under the legal direction of federal headship, the constituents agree to abide by a mutually beneficial system of laws and principles known as a constitution. Constitutional law dictates the nature, function, and limits of the federal government. Its oversight is enforced by a legally appointed government that serves in the role of headship.

God created the New Testament church in the form of a “federation” comprised of both head and body. It is both a theological truth and a practical reality.

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Theological Truth

Jesus Christ is the head of the real New Testament church (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:15-16, 5:23; Colossians 1:18-19, 2:18-19). It is His body (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:13-27; Ephesians 1:23; 2:16, 3:6; 4:4; 4:12; 4:16; 5:23; 5:30; Colossians 1:24; 2:19; 3:15).

The redemptive Eternal Covenant provided the basis for the eternal union of ecclesiastical head and body. It was initiated in eternity and fulfilled in time by the death and resurrection of its mediator, Jesus Christ. Congruent with the benefit of the Eternal Covenant, the covenantal headship of Christ over the real New Testament church is both federal and natural.

Federal headship refers to a relationship that is prescribed and protected by law. The fundamental benefits of federal headship are as follows:

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Eternal Covenant: Federal Headship of Jesus Christ

Covenantal Benefit – Legal Justification:

Forgiven of all sin; past, present and future.
Divine righteousness imputed and declared.
Made legally suitable with God in Christ.

Covenantal Benefit - Legal Adoption:

Identified with the legal status of Christ - sons of God.
Positioned under the federal or legal headship of Christ.
Awarded the full legal privileges of citizenship in the kingdom of God (the divine realm of authority).

Covenantal Benefit - Legal Release:

By measure of the law, holy and blameless.
Released from the rule of law.

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In contrast to federal headship, natural headship is indicative of an organic or life relationship. The fundamental benefits of natural headship are as follows:

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Eternal Covenant: Natural Headship of Jesus Christ

Covenantal Benefit - Organic Regeneration:

Degenerated human life recreated in a new and improved state accommodative of divine life (zoe).
Made organically compatible with God.

Covenantal Benefit - Organic Birth:

Through spiritual birth, indwelt by the “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”
Organically joined to God in Christ, the mediator of the Eternal Covenant.
Identified with the natural status of Christ - children of God.
Assurance of future inheritance.

Covenantal Benefit - Life (zoe):

New, eternal life.
By measure of life (zoe); perfection.
Obligated to God by the rule of life (zoe) (Referred to in the New Testament as the “law of faith”, the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”, the “law of Christ” and the “law of liberty” (Romans 3:27; 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25; 2:12).

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By stipulation of the Eternal Covenant, the real New Testament church is utterly privileged to be positioned forever under the federal and natural headship of Jesus Christ. As a consequence, it is representative of divine righteousness and representational of divine life (zoe) on earth.

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