Jesus Ascended Hebrews1:1-4; Acts1:9-11; 1Timothy3:16; Acts5:30-32; Acts2:22-33;

Last week, as we considered the resurrection of Jesus, an effort was made to emphasize that Jesus was raised with a physical body. He likewise ascended in a physical body. I want to make this point because, sometimes we adopt the Greek philosophy that creation is divided into material and spiritual with the material being bad and the spiritual or immaterial being bad. And some would use that to indict God of making a mistake in creation and excuse the acts of their own physical body as beyond control since they are part of the faulty and wicked material realm.

However, the bodily resurrection and the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ, as well as the Biblical descriptions of Heaven as a material place (redeemed creation) remind us that God makes no mistakes, that the redemption in Jesus is a total redemption, that those who have departed this life having trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior are now physically with Him, and Jesus will physically (“in the same way” Acts1:11) return.

Jesus is now ascended:

EXALTED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER Hebrews1:3; Acts5:31; Acts7:55-60; Philippians2:9

• hupsoō = to be lifted up literally or figuratively John 3:14, 12:32

• Right Hand = Place of righteousness and strength Psalm48:10, 80:17

  • Jesus said He would be there Matthew26:64

  • Steven saw Jesus there Acts7:55-60

• Ruling Ephesians 1:20-22; 1Corinthian15:27

  • His rule is our hope Ephesians1:17-20 That is what Steven saw that enable him to -

    • testify ... and to forgive

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHO CALL ON HIS NAME Hebrews 4:13-16, 7:25, 13:6

• Not now limited to a locality as He was when on earth. Hebrews 9:24

• Able to save and to keep those who call on His name. Hebrews 7:25 [Name = authority, character John17:6(Jesus showed the character -name-of God the Father.]

• Able to help and He is sympathetic Heb.4:13-16

• It honors Jesus to call on Him – it gives recognition to His holding all things and knowing all things and being able to do all things and meet all needs. Hebrews1:3

• Jesus is with us as we carry the gospel to the world. Matthew 28:20

HE IS WITH BELIEVERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THIS WORLD

• He took some with Him (Old Testament believers) Ephesians 4:8

• He has prepared a place for all believers since He ascended John 14:1-3

All PART OF THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS 1Tim.3:16

• Mystery – not something hidden or unrevealed, rather something sacred and therefore appreciated only by those “on the inside,” in this case, those interested in godliness – pleasing God. In verse 9, the reference is to the gospel.

1. Jesus was manifested in the flesh – indicating that He was in existence before He was incarnate

2. Vindicated by the Spirit - Romans1:4 – “by His resurrection from the dead”

3. Seen by angels – Acts 1:10-11 at His ascension – giving them insight into the plan of God for man's redemption. 1Peter1:12

4. Proclaimed among the nations (“ethnos”) Repentance is available even to the Gentiles

5. Taken up in glory

THE WAY WE ACT AND LIVE SHOULD TESTIFY TO TRUTH OR JESUS BEING RISEN AND ASCENDED TO GLORY 1Timothy3:15

• The church of the living Savior needs to have credibility as the “pillar and buttress of truth.”(ESV)