Faith In Jesus' Ascension

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Hebrews 9; Lord's Day 18
Psalters: 309, 337, 183, 303
  1. The history.
    1. When Jesus ascended a cloud actively received Him out of the disciples’ sight (Acts 1:9).
    2. This change of the location of His human nature marks progress in Jesus’ exaltation.
      1. His human nature had been earthly and humbled, but at His resurrection it became heavenly and exalted.
      2. The ascension took His heavenly human nature from the earthly realm into the heaven (Heb. 9:24).
    3. The ascension marks Jesus is the High Priest presenting His perfect sacrifice to the Father.
    4. In His human nature Jesus began an exalted (heavenly) existence in heaven.
  2. In heaven Jesus is active.
    1. First, He is our advocate before the Father (Heb. 9:11,12,24,28).
      1. He is as a defense lawyer presenting the Judge with the evidence of our justification.
      2. He presents His sacrificial death to the judgment seat.
    2. Second, He is our intercessor (Heb. 7:25).
      1. He pleads on the basis of His perfect work.
      2. Also He presents our prayers to God perfected.
    3. Third, He is able to be with us in a much close sense.
      1. His presence is more real than when He walked with the disciples.
      2. Now He is with each of the elect on earth, even to the end of the world (Matt. 28:20).
  3. His ascension brings spiritual benefits to us.
    1. It is a cause of great joy.
    2. In essence the church ascended with Him (our Head) and sits with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).
    3. Practical benefits for us.
      1. Our human nature (exalted in Christ) is as a magnet drawing us there (Heb. 6:19,20).
      2. The presence of the Spirit of our ascended Lord within each believer.
      3. Concerning our prayers.
      4. As Jesus was other-worldly, so now those who believe in Christ are in this world, but are not of it.