Christ is not the King of the Church; He is the Head of the Body and believers are joint-heirs, not subjects.
The Apostle Paul never applies the title "King of the Church" to Christ. Instead, Scripture calls Him the Savior, the Redeemer, and the Head of the Body. Believers are members of His Body and joint-heirs with Him, so the relationship is far closer than subject to a king. He will one day rule as King of kings, but that is not His present role toward the Church.
Colossians 1:13 — Shows believers have been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son, yet Paul does not call Christ the King of the Church.
Ephesians 5:23 — Describes Christ as the head of the church and the saviour of the body, not as a King ruling over subjects.
In Ephesians 5:23, the Bible 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." In Colossians 1:12-13, Paul writes, "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." These are the titles and relationships Paul uses for Christ toward believers: Head, Savior, and the One who has translated us into His kingdom.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ is indeed King of kings and Lord of lords, and that His kingdom is presently in heaven because the King is in heaven. However, he stresses that Paul never refers to Christ as the King of the Church. Christ is the Head of the Body and the Savior of the Church. Les explains that calling Christ our King would make believers His subjects, but believers are joint-heirs and co-heirs with Him. We are members of His Body, part of Him, just as a wife is part of her husband. When Christ returns and sets up His earthly kingdom, believers will rule and reign with Him, not under Him.
Les points out that Paul uses the titles Savior, Redeemer, Head of the Body, and Lord for Christ's relationship to the Church. In the transcripts, he repeats that Paul never refers to Christ as the King of the Church. Calling Christ 'our King' is 'not scripturally correct,' even though Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
According to Les, a king rules over subjects, and if Christ were King of the Church, believers would be His subjects. Instead, Paul says believers are joint-heirs with Christ and members of His Body. This is why Les explains that the relationship is like a wife to a husband, part of Him, rather than an obedient subject to a monarch.
Les teaches that after His resurrection and ascension, the King went to heaven, so the Kingdom is presently in heaven. Believers are already citizens of that kingdom, having been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Colossians 1:13). When Christ returns, He will establish His Kingdom on this earth and believers will be part and parcel of it, ruling and reigning with Him rather than under Him.
What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17
Well, the veil was rent from the top to the bottom. Well, what did that indicate? That now the way into the very holiest of holies, the very presence of God, had been opened up and made available, not just to the high priest on the Day of Atonement, but to everybody, see.
Savior, Not King
Les explains that believers look for the Savior, not a King, and that Paul calls Christ only the Savior, Redeemer, and Head of the Body.
The Kingdom Where the King Is
Christ is King of the one kingdom, which is now in heaven; He is not the King of the Church, but the Church is part of that kingdom and will share in its earthly establishment.
The King Is in Heaven
Since the resurrected King is in heaven, the Kingdom is in heaven; Paul never tells believers to address Christ as their King because we are joint-heirs and part of His Body.
Joint-Heirs, Not Subjects
If Christ were King of the Church, believers would be subjects, but instead they are members of His Body, joint-heirs with Him.
Scripturally Correct Titles
It is not scripturally correct to call Christ our King; He is King of kings and Lord of lords, but to the Church He is the Head of the Body.
Paul's Silence on a King
You cannot find anywhere that Paul calls Christ the King of the Church; believers are joint-heirs who will rule and reign with Him.
The Kingdom of His Dear Son
Les quotes Colossians 1:12-13 to show believers have been translated into the Kingdom of God's dear Son, which is in heaven, and that they are co-heirs rather than subjects.
Colossians 1:12-13: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Les quotes these verses to show believers have been translated into Christ's kingdom, which he says is presently in heaven.
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.
This verse supports Les's teaching that Christ is the Head of the Body, not the King of the Church.
No. Les Feldick stresses that you cannot find anywhere in Paul's letters where Christ is called the King of the Church. Scripture uses Head of the Body, Savior, and Redeemer for Christ's relationship to the Church.
He is the Head of the Body, the Savior, and the Lord. Believers are joint-heirs with Him, not subjects, and will rule with Him in His coming Kingdom.
Yes. Les says Christ will absolutely be King of kings and Lord of lords. When He returns and sets up His Kingdom on earth, believers will be part of it and will rule and reign with Him.
Believers are co-heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, not subjects under a king. As members of His Body, they are part of Him; this is a more intimate relationship than that of a subject to a king.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Saved by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 1:16-17