Jesus has all authority both in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). He is head over all things to the
church (Eph. 1:22-23) and holds the preeminence in everything (Col. 1:18). His kingdom is a
spiritual one (Luke 17:20-21) and, therefore, has a spiritual king only. Jesus did not appoint any
man or group of men to preside over His church. The function of the apostles and prophets was
to deliver His will concerning the church and not to personally devise laws and regulations for it.
His church has no earthly president or headquarters because He Himself is its only head.
Jesus is now reigning from heaven. He was promised the throne of His father David (Luke
1:31-33) and was raised up to sit on it (Acts 2:29-31). Jesus sat down on the throne after He
ascended into heaven (Heb. 8:1; Rev. 3:21). He would be priest at the same time He sat and ruled
upon His throne (Zech. 6:12-13). He became the high priest when He sat down on the right hand
of God (Heb. 3:1; 10:11-12). He was to receive the kingdom when He received dominion and
glory (Dan. 7:13-14). He received dominion and glory when He went into heaven and was placed
on the right hand of God (1 Pet. 1:21; 3:22). Christ, therefore, is now reigning over His kingdom
at the right hand of the Father.
The Scriptures use numerous terms which reveal Christ's exalted relationship to the church. With
reference to the structure of the church, He is its foundation (1 Cor. 3:11). Regarding its
construction, He is its builder (Matt. 16:18). Concerning its glorious end, He is its savior (Eph.
5:23). With reference to its ownership, He is its purchaser (Acts 20:28). Regarding its
completeness, He is its fulness (Eph. 1:22-23).
Christ alone is the foundation and head of His church; He has full and absolute dominion over it.
He has all authority both in heaven and on earth. Man's responsibility is to humbly submit to His
will. James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, in his book, "The Faith of Our Fathers,
on page 82 says, "Jesus, our Lord, founded but one Church, which he was pleased to build on
Peter. Therefore, any church that does not recognize Peter as it foundation stone is not the
Church of Christ, and therefore cannot stand, for it is not the work of God."
As we have shown, the Word of God declares plainly that Jesus Christ is the only foundation on which the church is built. It ordains no other; it allows no other. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11). Thus, any church which does not recognize Christ as its only foundation cannot be the church of Christ.