Category: Ascension Of Christ

The Ascension of Christ: Part 3 - The Second Ascension

1/20/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Ascension Of Christ: Part 3 - The Second Ascension

The second ascension of Christ occurred forty days after the resurrection.

So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. - Mark 16:19
While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. - Luke 24:51
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. - Acts 1:9

This ascension was fulfillment of Psalm 110:1 — sit at My right hand. The ascension marked the end of Christ’s earthly ministry. With His earthly ministry ended, the time of His humiliation was over. His glory, that was previously veiled, was no longer veiled.

Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. - John 17:5
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; […] And he said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, - Acts 9:3, 5

Once ascended into Heaven, Christ began His new work as the believer’s High Priest.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:14-16

As High Priest, Christ continually makes intercession for believers.

who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. - Romans 8:34

0 Comments

The Ascension of Christ: Part 2 - The Holy Spirit and Christ's Gifts

1/20/2021

0 Comments

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Ascension Of Christ: Part 2 - The Holy Spirit And Christ’s Gifts

Following His first ascension, Christ appeared the evening in the upper room, He commissioned the Apostles to their future ministry. John 20:21-23 states, “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Immediately, this reception of the Holy Spirit sparks debate. Did not Christ command the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit? Yes, He did. Did the Holy Spirit come on the Day of Pentecost? Yes, He did. What then is this giving of the Holy Spirit? It was a unique gifting of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the Apostles for the preparation of those things which would transpire on the Day of Pentecost, namely the founding of the Church. This giving of the Holy Spirit was similar to the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament ministry, which explains the transformation of the disciples between the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.

Paul sheds further light on the gifts of Christ when he says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The He in Ephesians 4:11 refers to Christ Himself as the giver of these gifts. The disciples in the upper room that evening were equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, and pastor-teachers. Scripture itself testifies that these gifts were foundational to the Church.

for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:12-13

0 Comments

The Ascension of Christ: Part 1 - The First Ascension

1/16/2021

0 Comments

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Ascension Of Christ: Part 1 - The First Ascension

On the first day of the week, following the Passover, the women came to Christ tomb and found it empty. When they saw Him, they fell at His feet and worshipped Him. He responded by telling them, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father…” (John 20:17). Christ’s command to not touch Him till He ascended is troubling in light of the fact that eight days later He commanded Thomas to touch Him and His ascension was still some thirty-two days off. Was Jesus referring to another ascension? In short, yes, He was.

According to Isaiah 42:6-7, Christ descended into Sheol/Hades “to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.” Paradise was, in a sense, a prison to those saints who died before Christ’s death and resurrection. Ephesians 4:8 states that “when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Paul’s statement in Ephesians 4:8 is a quote from Psalm 68:18, a victory song of David. When a conquering general returned from battle, he triumphantly paraded through his hometown with his prisoners in tow and bearing gifts. When Christ ascended into Heaven on the heels of His resurrection, He returned triumphantly to His home with His prisoners (i.e., the saints of Paradise) and bore gifts unto men.

The first day of the week, after the Passover, is also significant. It is the Feast of First-fruits, when the High Priest presented the wave offering before God, thus dedicating the whole harvest to Him. On the first day of the week, after Passover, Christ presented Himself to the Father as the First-fruits offering. As the First-fruit offering, Christ gave notice of a more substantial harvest to follow, which includes the Church Age saints at the Rapture as well as the Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints at the Return of Christ. By presenting these Old Testament saints as a First-fruits offering to the Lord, they represent a more substantial harvest of Israelites, which Christ will harvest (i.e., save) at the end of the Tribulation.

0 Comments

The Ascension of Christ: Part 3 - The Second Ascension

The Ascension of Christ: Part 2 - The Holy Spirit and Christ's Gifts

The Ascension of Christ: Part 1 - The First Ascension

WHY TWO MINUTES?

Categories