Is Christ the King of the Church?

Direct Answer

No — Christ is not presented as the King of the Church; He is the Head of the Body, and believers are members of that Body, not subjects.

According to Paul, Christ is the Head of the Church and the Savior of the Body (Ephesians 5:23). Les Feldick teaches that Paul never refers to Christ as the King of the Church; believers are members of His Body and joint heirs with Him, which is a far closer relationship than being subjects under a King.

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 5:23 — Directly identifies Christ's relationship to the Church as Head of the Church and Savior of the Body, not as King.

Romans 7:4 — Shows believers are 'married to another' — the risen Christ — indicating a union like marriage, not a kingdom-subject relationship.

What Does the Bible Say?

Ephesians 5:22-24 connects the marriage relationship to Christ and the Church. Verse 23 says, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." Verse 24 adds, "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." Romans 7:4 teaches that believers "are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead." 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 speaks of the body of Christ: "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." Verse 27 then says, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." None of these passages describes Christ as the King of the Church. Instead, they present Him as the Head of the Body and the Savior of the Body.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Christ and the Church?

Les Feldick addresses this question directly by saying it is not scripturally correct to refer to Christ as our King. He says Paul never calls Christ the King of the Church; instead, Paul constantly refers to Him as the Head of the Body. Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and the whole world will one day be subject to Him, but He is not the King of the Church.

What Does Paul Call Christ in Relation to the Church?

In the transcripts, Les Feldick repeatedly says Paul never refers to Christ as the King of the Church. Instead, Paul calls Him the Head of the Body, the Savior of the Body, and the Redeemer. Paul also uses the marriage relationship, comparing the husband as the head of the wife to Christ as the Head of the Church.

If Christ Is Not King of the Church, What Is the Believer's Position?

Les explains that if Christ were the King of the Church, believers would be subjects. But instead, believers are members of the Body of Christ, part and parcel of Him, and joint heirs with Christ. Les says believers are not looking for a King but for the Savior, and they will be co-heirs, never subjects. He also describes the Church as the Bride of Christ, who will rule and reign with Christ.

How Does the Marriage Relationship Show Christ's Headship?

Paul uses the marriage relationship as an analogy for Christ and the Church. Just as the husband is the head of the wife, so Christ is the Head of the Church. Les notes that a wife is not the subject of her husband as a king; she submits to his headship. In the same way, the Church is not under Christ as King, but is connected to Him as the Body is connected to the Head. Romans 7:4 shows believers are 'married to another' — to the risen Christ.

From the Teaching

Marriage Union With Christ

Les uses the marriage relationship to show that believers are 'married' to Christ — joined to Him as a wife is joined to a husband. He says this is a positional union, not a physical one.

Christ Is Head of the Body, Not King of the Church

Les challenges anyone to show where Paul calls Christ the King of the Church, because Paul constantly calls Him the Head of the Body. A wife is not subject to her husband as a king, and the Church is not subject to Christ as a king.

Joint Heirs, Not Subjects

Les says if Christ were King of the Church, believers would be mere subjects. Instead, they are members of His Body and joint heirs with Christ.

Not Scripturally Correct to Call Christ Our King

Les says it is not scripturally correct to refer to Christ as our King. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, but to the Church He is the Head of the Body.

Looking for the Savior, Not a King

Les says believers look for the Savior, not a King, because Christ is not the King of the Church. He is the Head of the Body, and believers will be His co-heirs.

The King Is in Heaven, But He Is Not Our King

Les reminds that the Kingdom is where the King is, but Paul never alludes to Christ as the King of the Church. Members of the Body are part of Him, a far different relationship than being under a King.

Pauline Doctrine of the Body of Christ

Les shows from Ephesians 5:23 that Christ is the Head of the Church and the Savior of the Body. He also stresses that Jesus never called believers His body; 'Body of Christ' is Paul's term.

Bride of Christ and Joint Heirs

Les says the Church is the Bride of Christ, and believers are joint heirs who will rule and reign with Christ.

Bible Verses

Romans 7:4: Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Shows believers are joined to the risen Christ, pictured as a marriage union.

Ephesians 5:22: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Introduces Paul's marriage analogy that he uses to describe Christ and the Church.

Ephesians 5:23: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Directly says Christ is Head of the Church and Savior of the Body, not King of the Church.

Ephesians 5:24: Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

The Church is subject to Christ, but the analogy is marriage, not a subject-king relationship.

1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Pictures Christ and believers as one body with many members.

1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

All believers are baptized by one Spirit into the one body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Declares that believers are the body of Christ, individually members of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Christ the King of the Church?

No. Christ is not the King of the Church; He is the Head of the Body. Les Feldick says Paul never refers to Christ as the King of the Church, and believers are not His subjects but members of His Body and joint heirs with Him.

Does Paul ever call Jesus the King of the Church?

No. Les Feldick states that Paul never refers to Christ as the King of the Church. Instead, Paul calls Him the Head of the Body, the Savior, and the Redeemer.

What does it mean that Christ is Head of the Church?

It means Christ is connected to believers as the head is connected to the body. Les compares it to a husband and wife — a relationship of union and headship, not of a king ruling over subjects.

Are believers subjects of Christ?

In the Church, believers are not described as subjects under a King. They are members of the Body of Christ, joint heirs with Him, and will rule and reign with Him.

Will Christ ever be King of kings?

Yes. Les says Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, but that is not His relationship to the Church. Believers look for the Savior, not a King.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: Your Body Is the Temple of the Holy Spirit — 1 Corinthians 6:19