This content concludes a summer-long study of Christology, focusing on the Ascension and Enthronement of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that this theological study should not be merely academic but should deepen love, service, and proclamation of Christ, culminating in His current exalted position and future return.
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well um even though it's over 100°
outside and it feels like a literal oven
out there um the reality is that with
kids back in school and the Huskers
kicking off their undefeated season next
weekend and
leaves already falling on my front lawn
at least um summer is basically over um
but but with fall around the corner it
is time to to wind down our summerlong
study of systematic theology and
specifically the discipline of
christology the doctrine of of Jesus
Christ um I do not know I've lost count
how many hundreds of slides uh we have
worked our way through this summer I
know it's been Fast and Furious I know
it's been an ambitious attempt to work
through the entire uh discipline of
christology in one summer I've seen the
looks in your eyes I've SE I've heard
the the fingers scribbling I've heard
that the keypads uh
clattering I've heard about the hand
cramps um after Sunday evening service
and we have been speeding our way
through we've been speeding our way
through topics like the pre-existence of
Christ and the deity of Christ and the
humanity of Christ the two Natures of
Christ the Incarnation of Christ The
Life of Christ The Obedience of Christ
the death of Christ the resurrection of
Christ and those have been our main
topics but it has been my hope and
prayer uh throughout this series and I
mean this sincerely as your pastor that
I hope this has not merely been an
academic exercise for you all summer
long and to use Dr lofquist line this
morning that we're not just filling up
our notebooks all summer long we were
warned against that this morning as we
worked through Hebrews 13 but rather
it's been my prayer that as we've
considered All Summer Long these many
different dimensions of the the Glorious
person and work of Jesus Christ Our Lord
that our love and our affections for our
savior really have been stirred truly
stirred to to love him more deeply uh to
serve him more diligently and to
Proclaim his name more faithfully and
I'm going to keep praying that that this
Series has that lasting effect in our
lives and then tonight with our our 10th
lesson we're going to cover this the the
exaltation of Christ and that simply
refers to the the place and the position
in which our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ sits today you know going back a
few lessons recall that that God the son
humbled himself in his Incarnation
Philippians 2:7 says he emptied himself
by taking the form of a slave being made
in the likeness of men that's called the
kosis we're not going to revisit the
entire canotic Theory tonight um but
that kosis theory refers to to the
empting The self- Ting of Christ as we
defined it in that message on the the
Incarnation and that's gentle Jesus
that's the the meek and Mild Jesus the
the Jesus the world likes to think of
and the Jesus that so many liberal
denominations and pastors TR like like
to focus in on as they preach about
Christ but Christ's period of
humbling is over the one who emptied
himself has now returned to his place on
high it's all come full circle Christ
has gone think about this from his state
of of pre-existent Glory to his
Incarnation to the Earthly suffering he
faced to now being back in glory where
he sits and he Reigns in the Majestic
Splendor of Heaven in this place in this
position of of his exaltation
today we have just two points tonight uh
we're going to handle this matter of
Christ exaltation along these two broad
and general lines and it was brought to
my attention earlier that your
worksheets have a number one on one side
and a number five on the back side don't
worry you're not missing another work
sheeet there's just two points should
say one and two right there so just two
points tonight first we're going to look
at the Ascension of Christ that literal
historical event which took place soon
after our Lord's Resurrection by which
he became seated in his position of
exaltation today and then second we'll
look at the enthronement of Christ those
are your two headings the Ascension of
Christ and the enthronement of Christ
and the enthronement refers to what our
Lord has done and continues to do in his
position in the Heavenly today as the
Risen ascended and exalted Lord of all
so so we'll start with the Ascension of
Christ and when it comes to the study of
christology this topic the topic of the
Ascension is actually often
overlooked and and why is that well it
could have something to do with the fact
that certain Wayward churches and
certain apostate churches like the Roman
Catholic church or the Eastern Orthodox
Church Celebrate what they call
Ascension Day and in our Zeal to sniff
out any unsound doctrines in a church
like ours we tend to out the baby with
the bath water thinking that if the
Catholic Church celebrates Ascension Day
and that's a lurgical holiday for that
church well we're not lurgical people so
out the window goes any serious thought
about the actual biblical event of the
Ascension or along a similar line it
could be that we associate words about
Christ's Ascension with the Apostles
Creed and many of you heard the Apostles
Creed growing up and it mentions that
Christ on the third day rose again then
he ascended into heaven you see it up
here is seated at the right hand of the
father and will come again to the judge
the living and the dead and we may think
well we're not Creeds and confessions
people we're Bible people and again so
out with the bath water the baby goes
and we end up deemphasizing or devaluing
the Ascension but this shouldn't be so
because the scriptures clearly testify
that not only did Jesus rise from the
grave but after spending 40 days here on
Earth in his resurrected body he
ascended to the father
and as we're going to see in the second
part of the message he now sits in glory
in his exalted State at his father's
right hand now getting to the heart of
our study about what the Bible teaches
about the Ascension it is important to
note at the outset that the Ascension
didn't happen randomly it didn't happen
with no prior warning or or indication
not at all rather during his Earthly
Ministry Jesus predicted not only that
he would suffer and die and predicted
not only that he would rise from the grave
grave
which we looked at last week but he also
indicated that he would eventually
return to the father and that when that
when he did so he would return to his
previous glorified
State some of his statements were more
indirect like these and Jesus answered
them saying the hour has come for the
son of man to be
glorified or John 17 now father glorify
me together with yourself with the glory
which which I had with you before the
world was or Luke
426 was it not necessary for the Christ
to suffer these things and to enter into
his glory you can pick up on the pattern
there Christ was in glory then came this
phase of his Earthly life during his
Incarnation when he left Glory but then
the days of his Earthly Ministry were
never thought to have gone on forever
that he wasn't going to be on Earth
forever rather a day would come on which
he would return to his glorious position
in the heavenlies which he once held an
eternity past in the presence of God the
father now admittedly the passages I've
just shown you uh have no direct mention
of the Ascension you don't see the words
Ascension in those three verses I just
threw up here but there are other places
in the New Testament where the
references get more direct and closer to
what we understand as the doctrine of
the Ascension for instance John 7:33 The
Words of Christ for a little while
longer I am with you then I go to him
who sent me John 8:21 I am going away
where I am going you cannot come then in
the upper room now I'm am going to him
who sent me again though we don't have
Christ directly using the word ascension
here but the Ascension clearly is in
view I'm I'm going and I'm going to him
meaning God the father but even then
make no mistake that there were times
when Jesus our lord did make mention of
the Ascension directly and plainly the
Ascension that was to come for instance John
John
662 refers to the son of man ascending
there's our term where he was before and
then soon after his resurrection he
appears to Mary and charges her to tell
the disciples here I Ascend to my father
and your father and my God and your God
and he's speaking futuristically there
this could be taken to say I will Ascend
to my father in other words Christ PR
predicted his own Ascension now I've
kind of gotten ahead of myself here we
need to Define certain terms what does
that term ascension mean and and who or
or what was involved in the Ascension we
know the who uh well by Ascension we
mean this we mean that after the tomb
was discovered empty and and after as it
says here in Acts 1:3 he meaning Jesus
appeared to them over 40 days and was
speaking about the things concerning the
kingdom of God we know that he then
depart Ed physically invisibly from the
earth and was immediately received into
heaven and it's important to say this
because just as there there will be
people who were will spiritualize the
resurrection they will also spiritualize
the Ascension as though wasn't a bodily
Ascension but the Ascension wasn't a
state of mind it wasn't some mere
philosophical abstraction it wasn't a
metaphor or or a myth rather just as
Jesus rose resurrected physically and B
bodily that's a Demorest he he
highlights that here the Ascension did
involve a real exit of the god man from
this material world and a real entrance
into God's spiritual world now in terms
of more direct biblical evidence of the
event of the Ascension itself the
Ascension as a as a recorded historical
event is mentioned three times in the
New Testament and I'm going to write I'm
going to run through them right here
Mark 16 so then the Lord Jesus after he
had spoken to them was taken up into
heaven and sat down at the right hand of
God Luke also records it and it happened
that while he was blessing them he
parted from them and was carried up into
heaven and then the one we're all
thinking of Acts chapter 1 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 and as
they were gazing intently into the sky
while he was going behold two men in
white clothing Stood Beside them they
also said men of Galilee why do you
stand looking toward Heaven this Jesus
who has been taking up been taken up
from you into heaven will come in just
the way in just the same way as you have
watched him going into heaven that's
that's pretty cut and dry the Ascension
was not only attested to it was
witnessed as we see there in Acts
chapter 1 and as Rand mchu notes the
only alternative to accepting this
miracle is to impune the power of God
and the testimony of those who heard his
parting words and watched him Ascend to the
the
clouds so those are some of the
historical records of the Ascension and
some might say well that's it just three
verses that's all you got to prove the
Ascension well number one that would be
enough just having three verses having
one verse would be enough but the
reality is there are details concerning
the Ascension of Christ all over the
scriptures for inst since we learn from
the scriptures that the Ascension wasn't
merely a a physical disappearance it's
not like he Jesus disappeared like a
ghost Into The Ether and it wasn't
merely a changed physical state it was
an actual physical passing from Earth to
heaven where where God the son at the
end of his 40 days post Resurrection
here on Earth was received by the father
and here's where you're going to your
hand going to cramp a bit because I'm
going to give you various references to
this event here therefore says the
author of Hebrews since we have a great
high priest who has passed through the
heavens Jesus the son of God let us take
hold of our
confession acts three therefore repent
and return so that your sins may be
wiped away in order that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of
the Lord and that he may send Jesus the
Christ appointed for you whom Heaven
Must receive until the period of
restoration of all things about which
God spoke by the mouth of his holy
prophets from ancient time acts 7 here's
Steven of course but being full of the
spirit he gazed intently into heaven and
saw the glory of God and Jesus standing
at the right hand of God and he said
behold I see the heavens opened up and
the son of man standing at the right
hand of God these are all verses that
tie into the Ascension and Christ's
placement his passing through the
Heavens to God's right hand Ephesians
1:17 the god of our Lord Jesus Christ
the father of Glory may give to you the
spirit of wisdom and of Revelation in
the full knowledge of him so that you
the eyes of your heart having been
enlightened will know what is the hope
of his calling what are the riches of
the glory of his inheritance and the
Saints and what is the surpassing
greatness of his power toward us who
believe according to the working of the
might of his strength which he worked in
Christ by raising him from the dead and
seating him at his right hand in the Heavenly
Heavenly
places 1 Timothy 3 and by Common conf
confession great is the mystery of
godliness he who was manifested in the
flesh that's incarnational was
Vindicated in the spirit seen by Angels
proclaimed among the Nations believed on
in the world taken up in
glory Hebrews 8:1 now the main point in
what is being said is this we have such
a high priest who sat down at the right
hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the
heavens Hebrews 9:24 for Christ did not
enter holy places made with hands mere
copies of the true ones but into heaven
itself now to appear in the presence of
God for us one more Hebrews 10:12 he
having offered one sacrifice for sins
for all time sat down at the right hand
of God waiting for that time until his
enemies are put as a foot stol for his
feet and then Ju Just to sort of put a
color commentary exclamation point in
this we have ryar saying Christ actually
traveled up as as if supported by the
cloud he's in the acts 1:9 reference
here the ascent was not a sudden
disappearance but a gradual though not
long movement upward he's taking all of
the scriptures that speak of the
Ascension and coming up with that
summary thought there in other words
though the Ascension of Christ was you
could say it this way a complete
reversal of the Incarnation of Christ in
the the in the Incarnation of Christ
Christ came down leaving glory in the
Ascension Christ went up returning to
Glory so the Ascension did happen it did
occur it's part of the biblical record
it's historically verifiable next we
want to spend some time looking at a few
other truths concerning the Ascension
like like what was its purpose what did
it accomplish those sorts of things well for
for
starters the Ascension marked the end of
our L our Lord's life here on Earth his
Earthly Mission John 17 I glorified you
on the earth having finished the work
which you have given me to do put
another way in accomplishing what he did
through his death and Resurrection the
Lord accomplished all he came to do um
second the Ascension made possible
Christ's present work in heaven what he
does for believers on behalf of
Believers today in
heaven I'm going to give you a few
examples here before I do
so I think we're all familiar with the
basic concept ccept that that Christ
does Minister on Believers behalf today
I think we know that as a truth and
we're comforted by that truth but I
don't think we ever really think too
much about where like where is he doing
that Ministry on our behalf where is he
um representing us from where is he
representing us it's not not a thought
at least I give much thought to to my
shame like this one Christ is head of
the church we know that truth think of
Ephesians 5 22 and 23 but from where
does he serve as the head of the church
from Heaven uh Christ rules and and
governs his church does he not he sure
does Ephesians 1 he put all things in
subjection under his feet and gave him
his head over all things to the church
which is his body where does he do that
from from Heaven Christ is building his
church is he not he sure is m Matthew
16:18 1 Corinthians 6 do you not know
that you are bodies uh your bodies are
members of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:27
now you are Christ's body and
individually members of it of course
Ephesians 4:11 and 12 speaks of the the
building up of the body of Christ well
from where is Christ doing this from
Heaven uh Christ is interceding for
advocating on behalf of Believers is he
not he sure is Hebrews 7:25 he always
lives to make intercession for them 1
John 2:1 my little children I writing
these things to you so that you may not
sin and if anyone sins we have an
advocate with the father Jesus Christ
the righteous now where is he doing that
from from where is he interceding from
where is he advocating from Heaven
Christ is communicating his spiritual
life to his people through the Holy
Spirit today does he not sure is Christ
is our life as Colossians 3:4 notes and
and from where is he doing that and and
purposing that Ministry from heaven so
to summarize Christ ministers to to
individual Believers and to his churches
today and he does so from
Heaven here's
another function of the Ascension you
could put it that way the the Ascension
opened the door to the Holy Spirit
performing his work in our current Church
Church
age we remember these words from Christ
in John 16 I tell you the truth it is to
your advantage that I go away for if I
do not go away The Advocate speaking of
the spirit there will not come to you
but if I go I will send him to
you and we know that the spirit has
governed the process by which New
Testament Revelation was given we see
that alluded to here in John 16 I still
have many more things to say to you
but you cannot bear them now but when he
the spirit of truth comes he will guide
you into all the truth for he will not
speak for himself but whatever he hears
he will speak and he will disclose to
you what is to come and of course the
spirit's Ministry to Believers today
includes convicting uh regenerating
baptizing into the body of Believers
indwelling followers of Christ we see in
a few of these passages the the spirit's
work in Believers lives in light of the
asion and he when he comes will convict
the world concerning sin and
righteousness and judgment that's a
reference to the spirit Acts 1:8 you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you this is right before the
the
Ascension John 1416 I will ask the
father and he will give you another
Advocate that he may be with you forever
so Christ goes away the spirit comes
John 16:13 but when he the spirit of
truth comes he will guide you into all
the truth truth which we saw just a few moments
moments
ago all right so we have looked so far
at Christ's prediction of his Ascension
we've looked at the fact of his
Ascension we've looked at a few of the
purposes of his Ascension what we're
going to do now is consider the impact
of the Ascension namely the impact the
Ascension had on Jesus's disciples after
the event of the Ascension took place we
have to remember that that many of them
spoke spoke boldly to the fact after the
Ascension not only to the fact that
Jesus rose but that he ascended to the
father for instance when we think of
Stephen the Jewish leaders of the day
are are casting the stones in his
direction that would eventually take his
life he sees this vision of the Lord
Jesus in his ascended State and it says
here he gazed intent into heaven saw the
glory of God and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God and he said I went too
far behold I see the heavens opened up
and the son of man standing at the right
hand of God so that's Stephen with his
vision of the ascended Christ and then
there's of course Saul of
Tarsus an extreme persecutor of the
church he's making his way to Damascus
he's knocked off his horse by the the
brilliant Glory of that same ascended
Lord and so significant was his vision
of the ascended Christ on that day when
he was on his way to Damascus
that later when he goes on trial for
proclaiming the name of that same Christ
Saul Now Paul as he details the
experience the Ascension the the
ascended status of Christ plays a part
in it acts 22 but it happened this is
him standing at one of his tribunals one
of his trials it says but it happened
that as I was on my way approaching
Damascus about noon time a very bright
light suddenly flashed from Heaven all
around me and I fell to the ground and
Heard a Voice always saying to me Saul
Saul why are you persecuting me and I
answered who are you Lord and he said to
me I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are
persecuting he's testifying here to the
ascended this vision of the ascended
Christ or Acts 26 later in his appeal
process he says at midday O King I saw
in the way a light from Heaven brighter
than the sun shining all around me and
those who were journeying with me and
when we had all Fallen to the ground I
Heard a Voice saying to me in the Hebrew
language Saul Saul why are you
persecuting me it is hard for you to
kick against the goats and I said who
are you Lord and the Lord said I am
Jesus whom you are persecuting the one
that was presenting himself in that
light from heaven was the ascended Lord
and then even later that same man Paul
would go on to declare here in 1 Timothy
3:16 that Christ was manifested In the
Flesh and taken up that's Ascension
language in glory
and of course we can't forget the vision
of the ascended glorified Christ that
the Apostle John received while he was
imprisoned on the aisle of Patmos he
says then I turned to see the voice that
was speaking with me and having turned I
saw seven golden lampstands and in the
middle of the lampstands I saw one like
a son of man clothed in a robe reaching
to the feet and girded across his chest
with a golden Sash and his head and his
hair were white like white wool like
snow and his eyes were like a flame of
fire his feet were like burnished bronze
when it has been made to Glow in a
furnace and his voice was like the sound
of many Waters and having in his right
hand Seven Stars and a sharp two-edged
sword which comes out of his mouth and
his face was like the sun shining in its
power and when I saw him I fell at his
feet like a dead
man that's not Jesus meek and Mild from
our storybook Bibles in childhood this
is the all glorious supremely exalted
today well we've
considered some of the biblical data
surrounding the Ascension of Christ that
was our first point we're not going to
go ahead and you can turn the page in
your worksheet if you're a notetaker to
look at the enthronement of Christ now
that term
enthronement I mean the definition I'm
giving to that term is is what happened
once Christ ascended what happened once
he ascended some theologians will call
this his present session his session
that that period following his his
resurrection from the grave and his
Ascension into the Heavenly realm where
he took his seat at the father's right
hand that position of of highest rank
and Authority far above all things and
people and and rulers and authorities and
and
creatures and what has Christ been doing
doing if I can put it that way what's
our savior been doing since that moment
of his
Ascension well before we can get into
that let's consider an important nuance
and detail concerning Christ's
enthronement which is this when we speak
of his enthronement we're speaking of
the Lord's enthronement in his
Humanity see we have to remember Jesus
as Eternal God has always been enthroned
in his deity
he's never stepped off that
throne but recall that in his
Incarnation he took on Humanity he he
took on a human nature that's that's
Philippians 2:7 that's John 1:14 the
word became flesh and indwelt Among Us
he assumed a position that was lower
even than the angels that he himself
created Hebrews 2:9 but we do see him
who was made for a little while lower
than the Angels Jesus because of the
suffering of death crowned with Glory
and Honor so that by the grace of God he
might taste death for everyone but look
he was made for a little while lower
than the Angels well with his
enthronement now at his father's right
hand and we're still speaking of him in
his Humanity the Lord Jesus was exalted
to this this highest position far above
all Angelic beings human beings and any other
other
authority that's Ephesians 1:19 and what
is the surpassing greatness of his his
power toward us who believe according to
the working of the might of his strength
which he worked in Christ by raising him
from the dead and seating him at his
right hand in the Heavenly places far
above all Rule and authority and power
and dominion and every name that is
named not only in this age but also in
the one to
come Colossians 2:10 is similar says in
him you have been filled who is the head
over all Rule and authority meaning
Christ is now not only glorified in his
deity but in his humanity and he
occupies this place of of supreme
authority ultimate Authority exalted
Authority in both Natures both the
Divine and the
human now let's consider if we may a
couple different aspects of uh our
Lord's post Ascension Ministry getting
back to that question that seems so
irreverent when I say it but what has he
what has he been doing since his his
Ascension well first he's
he's
seated our Lord
sits and he is seated at the right hand
of God which indicates his honor and his
prominence and his equality ultimately
with God the father and here's another
long list of the scriptures that testify
to the fact that Jesus is now sitting at
the right hand of God the Father acts
2:33 having been exalted to the right
hand of God and and having received from
the Father the promise of the Holy
Spirit he has poured out this which you
both see and
hear acts 5 this one God exalted to his
right hand as a leader and a savior to
to Grant repentance to Israel and
forgiveness of sins the this one here is
referring to Jesus this one God exalted
acts 7 the Steven referen again but
being full of the spirit he gazed
intently into heaven and saw the glory
of God and Jesus standing at the right
hand of God
Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus is he who died
yes rather who was raised who is at the
right hand of God who also intercedes
for us Ephesians 1:19 and 20 what is the
surpassing greatness of his power toward
us who believe according to the working
of the might of his strength which he
worked in Christ by raising him from the
dead and seating him at his right hand
in the Heavenly places Colossians 3:1
therefore if you've been raised up with
Christ keep seeking the things of o
where Christ is seated at the right hand
of God Hebrews 10 every priest stands
daily ministering and offering Time
After Time the same sacrifices which can
never take away sins but he meaning
Christ having offered one sacrifice for
sins for all time sat down at the right
hand of God waiting from that time until
his enemies are put as a foot stol for
his feet one more Hebrews 12:2 therefore
since we have so great a cloud of
witnesses surrounding us laying aside
beside every weight and the sin which so
easily entangles us let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us
fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and
perfector of Faith who for the joy set
before him endured the cross despising
the shame and has sat down at the right
hand of the Throne of God reference
after reference to Jesus sitting at
God's right hand reference and reference
that that confirm the ontological
meaning the essential equality of God
the father and God the son these
references confirm Jesus's divine nature
that he is going back several lessons
God
now back to this question what is he
doing at the right hand of
God makes it sound like I'm like like
we're a supervisor checking on what he's
doing we don't have that right to check
in on what Jesus the exalted Lord of all
is doing we're just trying to mind this
scriptures to see what they reveal about
what he's doing and one thing we know is
he's ruling over the entire
universe we've already read this one
from Ephesians 1: 19 and 20 speaking of
the the greatness of his power and the
might of his strength he is working out
the might of his strength as he rules
over the entire universe we know from
Hebrews uh 1:3 that he's upholding
everything from the father's right hand
by the word of his power in these last
days he spoke to us in his son whom he
appointed heir of all things through
whom he also made the worlds who is the
radiance of his glory and the exact
representation of his nature and upholds
all things by the word of his
power we know that he is
subjecting today all angels and
authorities and powers to himself 1 Peter
Peter
3:22 he's at the right hand of God
there's that reference again having gone
into heaven after angels and authorities
and Powers had been subjected to him we
know he's crowned with Glory and Honor
Hebrews 2:9 but we do see him who is
made for a little while lower than the
Angels Jesus because of the suffering of
death crowned with Glory and Honor so
that by the grace of God he might taste
death for everyone we know he's received
a a body of
Glory Philippians 3 our citizenship is
in heaven from which also we eagerly
wait for a savior the Lord Jesus Christ
who will transform the body of our
humble State into Conformity with the
body of his glory his his glorious
glorified body by his working through
which he is able e to even subject all
things to himself and we
know he has received from God a glorious
name in fact a name that is above all
names this is the incarnational verse
here but it says God has also highly
exalted him and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name so that the
the name of Jesus every knee will bow of
those who are in heaven and on Earth and
under the
earth now while the ascended
Christ is in
heaven we want to use that reference
he's he sits from what God calls his his
throne room and and the Earth is his
foot stol it's not as though Jesus is
only in heaven today or or that he is
spatially restricted in any way no he is
in a very real sense present
everywhere Ephesians 4:10 he who
descended is himself also he who
ascended far above all the heavens so
that he might fill all things he he
fills all and is in all and he is truly
Lord of all acts two and as Lord of all
he's worthy of of highest honor all will
honor the son even as they honor the
father he who does not honor the son
does not honor the father who sent him
now many when they they think of Christ
even in his current post-resurrection
post Ascension State think of him only
as our savior and and he is our savior
if we put our faith and our trust in his
his death and his resurrection but he is
also our Lord yes if we have put our
faith in Christ we have been
positionally Justified based on what he
has already done for us on the cross but
we are still yet being being practically
Sanctified as we submit ourselves to
Christ's lordship doing what he says
doing what he has revealed for us to do
in his
word and that's never changed I mean
wasn't that exactly what
Jesus pushed on his disciples with in in
Luke 6:46 when when he says why do you
call me Lord Lord and yet what not do
what I say lordship has always has been
at the heart of what it means to follow
Jesus Christ whether you're one of the
first century disciples or whether
you're a member of his church today uh
the Risen Christ the ascended Christ is
not only Lord of all creation as he sits
in his ascended
exalted uh place in the heavenlies today
he us to be the Lord Of Our
Lives now it takes us to an
interesting fork in the road
in our discussion tonight because so far
what we've seen is that Christ is
ascended and we've seen that he is in a
state of his his glorified Humanity he's
always been in a glorious state of deity
we've seen that he's exalted we've seen
that he's enthroned we've seen in
multiple scriptures that he sits at his
father's right hand so since he's
enthroned and since he is exalted does
that mean that Christ is King
that's a catchy phrase today if you
haven't noticed Christ is
King and especially it's it's used in a
lot of the the Christian nationalist
movements you know Caesar's not King
Trump's not King Biden's not King Christ is
is
King but is he and if so king of
what now there is a sense in
which I will say I think it's we can
confidently say based on scripture that
Christ is King over all the
Earth he's God after all going back many
lessons in this series Psalm 931 says god
god
reigns that's kingly language he he is
clothed with Majesty says that same
Psalm so God Yahweh is King he is The
Sovereign ruler over all he reigns over
all the Earth and to the EXT ENT that
God Yahweh exercises Universal Dominion
Reign power over all the Earth and can
be said to be king of all the Earth so
too can Christ himself being eternally
God we're we're on secure biblical
footing with that
statement but where things get
complicated is that the scriptures also
indicate that Christ will one day rule
as king over this Earth in a very
specific in literal and physical way as
he sits on David's
Throne here's what it says about that in
2 Samuel 7 speaking prophetically says
when your days are fulfilled and you lie
down with your fathers I will raise up
one of your seed after you who will come
forth from your own body and I will
establish his kingdom he shall build a
house for my name and I will establish
the Throne of his kingdom
forever now here's the
rub there are uh certain theologians and
certain Traditions who will argue that
what Christ is doing right now as
Sovereign Lord with power and authority
over all in that Psalm 93 sense of our
god reigns they'll say that right now as
he does that as he rules over the Earth
he's fulfilling the promise that was
made to David by by God to Nathan to
David to the Future Messiah here in 2
Samuel 7 regarding the one who would one
day sit on David's throne other words
there are some who believe that the
throne that Christ is sitting on now and
occupying when the scriptures speak of
Christ sitting at the right hand of God
all those scriptures we went through is
the Throne of
David but as I've just
expressed well well I can I can agree
with that statement that that the
ascended Christ the exalted Christ the
seated Christ as he sits at the right
hand of God the father he does Rule and
Reign Over The World At Large our god reigns
reigns
he is the the the head over all Rule and
Authority Colossians 2:9 and10 uh he has
disarmed Colossians 2:15 the rulers and
authorities and made a public display of
them having triumphed over them in him
but the throne that Christ is sitting on
today is not the davidic
throne in fact it's not an Earthly
Throne of any sort where he's sitting
today is a Heavenly Throne a Heavenly
Throne at God's right hand from which he
rules over all the universe and over all
of God's creatures David's Throne
pertained to the Earth to the land of
Israel to to the people of Israel it was
never contemplated to mean anything
other than an Earthly throne in a
specific context the ascended Christ as
he sits today doesn't sit on David's
Throne rather he sits at the right hand
of God the Father this heavenly Throne
this eternal Throne one that existed
long before David was born and one that
existed long before any promise was made
to David about one sitting on on his
throne so if I can just boil that
down Christ's current
position is at his father's right hand
in heaven on his Heavenly Throne you
could say it's not the same thing as the
davidic throne that he'll occupy on a
later day in the Kingdom they're
different Thrones they're not the same
wver teases out the distinctions here
saying it much more artfully than I
could he says the throne in heaven on
which Christ is now seated is obviously
one of supreme honor glory Victory power
and authority no power on Earth or in
heaven could possibly have a higher
position nor could there be one of more
honor and privilege than what the Lord
Jesus Christ now possesses the Throne of
God is in keeping with the Divine
attributes of the Eternal God and is
supported by infinite power and
authority in keeping with the position
and work of the second person of the
Trinity because he is on the throne in
glory Saints are able to have victory in
this world and can be assured that
though the power of Satan and The
Temptations of this world are real and
though they experience weakness because
of their sin nature it is still true
that Christ is on the throne and thus he
is able to sustain them in their hour of
need he's speaking of the Heavenly
throne here by
contrast these factors cannot be said of
the Throne of David the church has no
relationship to the throne of David nor
was the Throne of David one of infinite
power an authority conceivably it could
be lost and destroyed though David was
assured that it would not be so he's
distinguishing the Heavenly Throne the
psalm 93 Throne versus the coming davidic
davidic
throne and then he notes to confuse such
dissimilar positions is to bring
confusion to the word of God and I
brought that quote in because someone
might say why are you spending so much
time on Two Thrones who cares aren't you
just splitting hairs here here but I
appreciate the guidance walber gives
here because this comes down to not
wanting to confuse and ultimately tamper
with the word of
God so that's a little detour just to
explain how we can say that Christ
Reigns today he he reigns from the
heavens he's seated at the father's
right hand but not from David's Throne
on Earth as other theological
theological tribes or camps will
articulate all right a few more details
about what Christ has been doing since
his Ascension in his enthroned state in
his exalted State uh for
starters he's directing the Affairs of
the church we looked at that a little
earlier too he's head over all things to
the church his
body we are to grow up in all respects
into him who is the head of the church
that is
Christ Ephesians 5 Christ also is the
head of the church the husband's the
head of the wife as Christ Christ also
is the head of the church he himself
being the savior of the body but as the
church is subject to Christ so also
wives to be ought to be subject to their
husbands and everything so Christ in his
exalted state is directing the Affairs
of the church that would include his
sending of the spirit as we looked
earlier to indwell those who would make
up the church John 14 I will ask the
father he will give you another Advocate
that he may be with you forever John
John 16 I tell you the truth it is to
your advantage that I go away for if I
do not go away The Advocate will not
come to you but if I go I will send him
to you it was only after Christ's
exaltation to his throne in the
heavenlies that the ministry of the
spirit began in the church and we know
that with the sending of his Spirit he
gives gifts to the church Ephesians 4 11
and 12 uh for the building up of the
body of Christ and he knows we know he
gives us to one another so that as
Believers we can can attain mutually the
measure of the stature which belongs to
the fullness of Christ so he rules over
the church he sends his Spirit not only
that we know his Ascension with his
Ascension it inaugurated his high
Priestly work in heaven we remember how
the priest in Israel they would pass
within the veil of the temple they would
intercede for the people through the
shedding of blood we know from actually
Hebrews this morning that Christ is the
better priest and he is the perfect
fulfillment of the old priesthood he
serves as our great high priest that was
Hebrews 4 we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens Jesus
the son of God or Hebrews 9 Christ did
not enter holy places made with hands
mere copies of the true ones but into heaven
itself and we know that while those in
the Old Testament priesthood were
required to stand while they performed
their their ritual uh service we know
that from Hebrews 10 Christ through his
effective and effectual sacrifice a
single sacrifice sat down and is now
seated once again at the right hand of
God and as he sits at the right hand of
God there is still some more things the
Lord does in his enthroned exalted
position uh for instance he intercedes for
for
us during his Earthly Ministry he prayed
for others he prayed for small children
we see here in Matthew 19 he prayed for his
his
disciples uh like Peter here I have
prayed earnestly for you that you your
faith may not fail he even prayed for
his enemies this is during his Earthly
Ministry father forgive them for they do
not know what they are doing but now in
his exalted state in his enthroned State
he intercedes for his own before the the
the god before God in heaven Christ
Jesus is he who died yes rather who is
raised who is at the right hand of God
who also intercedes for
us Hebrews
9:24 he appears in the presence of God
for us that intercessory Ministry and
more here Hebrews
7:25 he makes intercession for us two
more of these things he does in this
exalted and enthroned position uh one he
prepares an eternal home for
us for those who have believed upon him
we know this is a a a verse concerning the
the
Rapture but there's a there's also this
underlying truth that he has prepared a
place he's preparing a place for us I go
to prepare a place for you and if I go
and prepare a place for you I will come
again and receive you to myself that's a
Rapture reference that where I am there
you may be also
demerest notes that Christ by his own
blood has opened for us the Gates of
Heaven and now he is at work preparing a
place for all who love
him so the fact that
our ascended Lord has entered Heaven
bodily guarantees that those who have
believed upon him will one day do the
same there's Demorest again he says
Christ has blazed the trail to the
Heavenly world
and the Christian confidently follows in his
his
train and here's the last
one the ascended and enthroned Christ
has left us with a
promise we remember the words of Acts 1:
11 which tells us that as the disciples
watched the Lord Ascend those two angels
appear and they promis that that in the
same way that he had been taken from
them he would return in just the same
way men of Galilee
why do you stand looking toward Heaven
this Jesus who has been taken up from
you into heaven will come in just the
same way as you have watched him go into
heaven ton
notes the bodily Ascension of Christ is
a necessary historical presupposition to
belief in his bodily return since he is
to come back to earth as he went away
and to believe in our own bodily
Resurrection since we shall be like
him and Rand mun notes the bodily Ascent
of the Lord into heaven has a correlate
truth namely his personal corporeal
return to the Earth in other
words the Ascension of Christ secures
our eschatological hope our our future
hope that Christ is coming
again and all begins
here on this next event on the
catological timeline the end times
timeline an event known as The
Rapture 1 Thessalonians 4 for the Lord
himself will descend from heaven with a
shout with the voice of the Archangel
and with the trumpet of God and the dead
in Christ will rise
first then we who are alive and remain
will be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air
and so we shall always be with the Lord
therefore comfort one another with these
words and those are comforting words are
they not as we wrap up this whole series
on Christ and what he has done and who
he is I mean the one we've been studying
all summer along the Lord Jesus Christ
we have we have studyed the scriptures
and what they reveal about him being
Eternal and him being pre-existent and
him being fully God and him being fully
man and him being incarnate and him
walking in the Earth in perfect
obedience to God his
father this is the one who was the
Spotless lamb and the one who died and
and the one who Rose and then then the
one who appeared and then the one who
ascended and the one that we've seen
tonight is now enthroned and exalted and
that one is coming
back to which we cry maratha come
quickly Lord Jesus amen
amen well since we were there this
morning with Dr lofquist I'm going to
end our time together tonight and I'm
going to end this series on
christology uh with these words from the
doxology of Hebrews
13 Hebrews
13 Les took us through uh verses 1
through uh 21 this morning and I'm going
to read verses 20 and 21 to to
conclude Hebrews 13:20 now the God of
Peace who brought up from the dead the
great Shepherd of the sheep through the
blood of the Eternal Covenant our lord
Jesus equip you in every good thing to
do his will by doing in us what is
pleasing in his sight through Jesus
Christ to whom be the glory forever and
ever amen let's [Applause]
pray father we thank you for uh your
patience with
us we thank you for the study that we've
been able to embark on All Summer Long
God I thank you for the patience of
everybody here I know we have been going
at a fast speed all summer and and I
know it's sometimes hard to follow along
but I do
pray that that we would come away with a
with a higher view of of who you are Lord
Lord
Jesus the pre-existent one the Eternal
one the Incarnate one the God man the
the one who died the Spotless lamb the
one who Rose the one who appeared the
one who ascended and the one who sits
now enthroned and exalted and the one
who will one day come for
us God I pray that we will be and will
continue to be comforted with these
words that we will come away from this
study uh not with a a notebook full of
data but rather with a
heart full and a heart ready and a heart
prepared and equipped to to do your will
as revealed in your
word god may this study stir up in us a
a passion to see more souls one to
Christ may this study stir up in us a
desire to to engage with and read the
word of Christ and be conformed into the
image of
Christ God may we be known as much for
what we know excuse me may we be known
as much for who we are and what we do is
is what we know we know we are to speak
the truth in love we know we are to to
balance Doctrine and practice but God I
pray that those two would remain in in
good and healthy balance in this church
for many years to
come God thank you for your word thank
you for your sure promises thank you for
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