0:02 well um even though it's over 100°
0:04 outside and it feels like a literal oven
0:07 out there um the reality is that with
0:09 kids back in school and the Huskers
0:11 kicking off their undefeated season next
0:13 weekend and
0:15 leaves already falling on my front lawn
0:20 at least um summer is basically over um
0:22 but but with fall around the corner it
0:25 is time to to wind down our summerlong
0:27 study of systematic theology and
0:29 specifically the discipline of
0:31 christology the doctrine of of Jesus
0:34 Christ um I do not know I've lost count
0:37 how many hundreds of slides uh we have
0:39 worked our way through this summer I
0:40 know it's been Fast and Furious I know
0:42 it's been an ambitious attempt to work
0:44 through the entire uh discipline of
0:47 christology in one summer I've seen the
0:50 looks in your eyes I've SE I've heard
0:52 the the fingers scribbling I've heard
0:55 that the keypads uh
0:57 clattering I've heard about the hand
1:00 cramps um after Sunday evening service
1:01 and we have been speeding our way
1:03 through we've been speeding our way
1:05 through topics like the pre-existence of
1:08 Christ and the deity of Christ and the
1:10 humanity of Christ the two Natures of
1:13 Christ the Incarnation of Christ The
1:15 Life of Christ The Obedience of Christ
1:17 the death of Christ the resurrection of
1:20 Christ and those have been our main
1:22 topics but it has been my hope and
1:24 prayer uh throughout this series and I
1:27 mean this sincerely as your pastor that
1:29 I hope this has not merely been an
1:31 academic exercise for you all summer
1:34 long and to use Dr lofquist line this
1:35 morning that we're not just filling up
1:38 our notebooks all summer long we were
1:40 warned against that this morning as we
1:42 worked through Hebrews 13 but rather
1:43 it's been my prayer that as we've
1:45 considered All Summer Long these many
1:47 different dimensions of the the Glorious
1:50 person and work of Jesus Christ Our Lord
1:52 that our love and our affections for our
1:55 savior really have been stirred truly
1:57 stirred to to love him more deeply uh to
2:00 serve him more diligently and to
2:02 Proclaim his name more faithfully and
2:03 I'm going to keep praying that that this
2:06 Series has that lasting effect in our
2:09 lives and then tonight with our our 10th
2:12 lesson we're going to cover this the the
2:14 exaltation of Christ and that simply
2:18 refers to the the place and the position
2:20 in which our Lord and Savior Jesus
2:23 Christ sits today you know going back a
2:26 few lessons recall that that God the son
2:28 humbled himself in his Incarnation
2:31 Philippians 2:7 says he emptied himself
2:33 by taking the form of a slave being made
2:35 in the likeness of men that's called the
2:37 kosis we're not going to revisit the
2:40 entire canotic Theory tonight um but
2:44 that kosis theory refers to to the
2:46 empting The self- Ting of Christ as we
2:49 defined it in that message on the the
2:53 Incarnation and that's gentle Jesus
2:55 that's the the meek and Mild Jesus the
2:57 the Jesus the world likes to think of
3:00 and the Jesus that so many liberal
3:02 denominations and pastors TR like like
3:05 to focus in on as they preach about
3:08 Christ but Christ's period of
3:12 humbling is over the one who emptied
3:15 himself has now returned to his place on
3:18 high it's all come full circle Christ
3:20 has gone think about this from his state
3:23 of of pre-existent Glory to his
3:26 Incarnation to the Earthly suffering he
3:28 faced to now being back in glory where
3:30 he sits and he Reigns in the Majestic
3:34 Splendor of Heaven in this place in this
3:38 position of of his exaltation
3:41 today we have just two points tonight uh
3:42 we're going to handle this matter of
3:45 Christ exaltation along these two broad
3:47 and general lines and it was brought to
3:48 my attention earlier that your
3:50 worksheets have a number one on one side
3:52 and a number five on the back side don't
3:53 worry you're not missing another work
3:55 sheeet there's just two points should
3:57 say one and two right there so just two
3:58 points tonight first we're going to look
4:02 at the Ascension of Christ that literal
4:04 historical event which took place soon
4:06 after our Lord's Resurrection by which
4:09 he became seated in his position of
4:11 exaltation today and then second we'll
4:14 look at the enthronement of Christ those
4:16 are your two headings the Ascension of
4:18 Christ and the enthronement of Christ
4:20 and the enthronement refers to what our
4:22 Lord has done and continues to do in his
4:25 position in the Heavenly today as the
4:29 Risen ascended and exalted Lord of all
4:32 so so we'll start with the Ascension of
4:34 Christ and when it comes to the study of
4:36 christology this topic the topic of the
4:39 Ascension is actually often
4:42 overlooked and and why is that well it
4:43 could have something to do with the fact
4:46 that certain Wayward churches and
4:48 certain apostate churches like the Roman
4:50 Catholic church or the Eastern Orthodox
4:52 Church Celebrate what they call
4:55 Ascension Day and in our Zeal to sniff
4:58 out any unsound doctrines in a church
5:00 like ours we tend to out the baby with
5:02 the bath water thinking that if the
5:04 Catholic Church celebrates Ascension Day
5:06 and that's a lurgical holiday for that
5:08 church well we're not lurgical people so
5:11 out the window goes any serious thought
5:13 about the actual biblical event of the
5:15 Ascension or along a similar line it
5:18 could be that we associate words about
5:21 Christ's Ascension with the Apostles
5:24 Creed and many of you heard the Apostles
5:26 Creed growing up and it mentions that
5:29 Christ on the third day rose again then
5:31 he ascended into heaven you see it up
5:32 here is seated at the right hand of the
5:34 father and will come again to the judge
5:36 the living and the dead and we may think
5:38 well we're not Creeds and confessions
5:41 people we're Bible people and again so
5:43 out with the bath water the baby goes
5:46 and we end up deemphasizing or devaluing
5:49 the Ascension but this shouldn't be so
5:52 because the scriptures clearly testify
5:53 that not only did Jesus rise from the
5:56 grave but after spending 40 days here on
5:58 Earth in his resurrected body he
6:00 ascended to the father
6:01 and as we're going to see in the second
6:04 part of the message he now sits in glory
6:07 in his exalted State at his father's
6:09 right hand now getting to the heart of
6:12 our study about what the Bible teaches
6:13 about the Ascension it is important to
6:16 note at the outset that the Ascension
6:18 didn't happen randomly it didn't happen
6:21 with no prior warning or or indication
6:24 not at all rather during his Earthly
6:25 Ministry Jesus predicted not only that
6:27 he would suffer and die and predicted
6:28 not only that he would rise from the grave
6:30 grave
6:32 which we looked at last week but he also
6:34 indicated that he would eventually
6:35 return to the father and that when that
6:38 when he did so he would return to his
6:40 previous glorified
6:43 State some of his statements were more
6:46 indirect like these and Jesus answered
6:47 them saying the hour has come for the
6:49 son of man to be
6:53 glorified or John 17 now father glorify
6:55 me together with yourself with the glory
6:57 which which I had with you before the
7:00 world was or Luke
7:02 426 was it not necessary for the Christ
7:05 to suffer these things and to enter into
7:07 his glory you can pick up on the pattern
7:11 there Christ was in glory then came this
7:13 phase of his Earthly life during his
7:16 Incarnation when he left Glory but then
7:18 the days of his Earthly Ministry were
7:21 never thought to have gone on forever
7:22 that he wasn't going to be on Earth
7:24 forever rather a day would come on which
7:27 he would return to his glorious position
7:29 in the heavenlies which he once held an
7:33 eternity past in the presence of God the
7:36 father now admittedly the passages I've
7:39 just shown you uh have no direct mention
7:40 of the Ascension you don't see the words
7:43 Ascension in those three verses I just
7:46 threw up here but there are other places
7:47 in the New Testament where the
7:50 references get more direct and closer to
7:52 what we understand as the doctrine of
7:56 the Ascension for instance John 7:33 The
7:58 Words of Christ for a little while
8:01 longer I am with you then I go to him
8:05 who sent me John 8:21 I am going away
8:08 where I am going you cannot come then in
8:10 the upper room now I'm am going to him
8:13 who sent me again though we don't have
8:15 Christ directly using the word ascension
8:17 here but the Ascension clearly is in
8:19 view I'm I'm going and I'm going to him
8:22 meaning God the father but even then
8:24 make no mistake that there were times
8:27 when Jesus our lord did make mention of
8:29 the Ascension directly and plainly the
8:32 Ascension that was to come for instance John
8:33 John
8:37 662 refers to the son of man ascending
8:40 there's our term where he was before and
8:42 then soon after his resurrection he
8:45 appears to Mary and charges her to tell
8:48 the disciples here I Ascend to my father
8:51 and your father and my God and your God
8:53 and he's speaking futuristically there
8:56 this could be taken to say I will Ascend
8:59 to my father in other words Christ PR
9:03 predicted his own Ascension now I've
9:04 kind of gotten ahead of myself here we
9:07 need to Define certain terms what does
9:10 that term ascension mean and and who or
9:12 or what was involved in the Ascension we
9:15 know the who uh well by Ascension we
9:17 mean this we mean that after the tomb
9:20 was discovered empty and and after as it
9:23 says here in Acts 1:3 he meaning Jesus
9:25 appeared to them over 40 days and was
9:26 speaking about the things concerning the
9:29 kingdom of God we know that he then
9:32 depart Ed physically invisibly from the
9:35 earth and was immediately received into
9:38 heaven and it's important to say this
9:39 because just as there there will be
9:41 people who were will spiritualize the
9:43 resurrection they will also spiritualize
9:46 the Ascension as though wasn't a bodily
9:48 Ascension but the Ascension wasn't a
9:51 state of mind it wasn't some mere
9:53 philosophical abstraction it wasn't a
9:56 metaphor or or a myth rather just as
10:00 Jesus rose resurrected physically and B
10:08 bodily that's a Demorest he he
10:10 highlights that here the Ascension did
10:13 involve a real exit of the god man from
10:16 this material world and a real entrance
10:20 into God's spiritual world now in terms
10:23 of more direct biblical evidence of the
10:25 event of the Ascension itself the
10:28 Ascension as a as a recorded historical
10:30 event is mentioned three times in the
10:31 New Testament and I'm going to write I'm
10:33 going to run through them right here
10:36 Mark 16 so then the Lord Jesus after he
10:38 had spoken to them was taken up into
10:42 heaven and sat down at the right hand of
10:44 God Luke also records it and it happened
10:46 that while he was blessing them he
10:49 parted from them and was carried up into
10:50 heaven and then the one we're all
10:53 thinking of Acts chapter 1 and after he
10:55 had said these things he was lifted up
10:57 while they were looking on and a cloud
10:59 received him out of their sight and as
11:01 they were gazing intently into the sky
11:02 while he was going behold two men in
11:04 white clothing Stood Beside them they
11:07 also said men of Galilee why do you
11:09 stand looking toward Heaven this Jesus
11:11 who has been taking up been taken up
11:14 from you into heaven will come in just
11:17 the way in just the same way as you have
11:19 watched him going into heaven that's
11:21 that's pretty cut and dry the Ascension
11:23 was not only attested to it was
11:25 witnessed as we see there in Acts
11:28 chapter 1 and as Rand mchu notes the
11:29 only alternative to accepting this
11:32 miracle is to impune the power of God
11:34 and the testimony of those who heard his
11:37 parting words and watched him Ascend to the
11:38 the
11:39 clouds so those are some of the
11:42 historical records of the Ascension and
11:45 some might say well that's it just three
11:47 verses that's all you got to prove the
11:48 Ascension well number one that would be
11:50 enough just having three verses having
11:52 one verse would be enough but the
11:54 reality is there are details concerning
11:57 the Ascension of Christ all over the
12:00 scriptures for inst since we learn from
12:03 the scriptures that the Ascension wasn't
12:06 merely a a physical disappearance it's
12:08 not like he Jesus disappeared like a
12:10 ghost Into The Ether and it wasn't
12:13 merely a changed physical state it was
12:16 an actual physical passing from Earth to
12:18 heaven where where God the son at the
12:21 end of his 40 days post Resurrection
12:24 here on Earth was received by the father
12:25 and here's where you're going to your
12:27 hand going to cramp a bit because I'm
12:29 going to give you various references to
12:32 this event here therefore says the
12:34 author of Hebrews since we have a great
12:36 high priest who has passed through the
12:39 heavens Jesus the son of God let us take
12:40 hold of our
12:43 confession acts three therefore repent
12:45 and return so that your sins may be
12:47 wiped away in order that times of
12:48 refreshing may come from the presence of
12:51 the Lord and that he may send Jesus the
12:54 Christ appointed for you whom Heaven
12:56 Must receive until the period of
12:58 restoration of all things about which
12:59 God spoke by the mouth of his holy
13:03 prophets from ancient time acts 7 here's
13:06 Steven of course but being full of the
13:08 spirit he gazed intently into heaven and
13:09 saw the glory of God and Jesus standing
13:12 at the right hand of God and he said
13:14 behold I see the heavens opened up and
13:16 the son of man standing at the right
13:18 hand of God these are all verses that
13:21 tie into the Ascension and Christ's
13:23 placement his passing through the
13:27 Heavens to God's right hand Ephesians
13:29 1:17 the god of our Lord Jesus Christ
13:31 the father of Glory may give to you the
13:33 spirit of wisdom and of Revelation in
13:35 the full knowledge of him so that you
13:36 the eyes of your heart having been
13:38 enlightened will know what is the hope
13:40 of his calling what are the riches of
13:41 the glory of his inheritance and the
13:43 Saints and what is the surpassing
13:45 greatness of his power toward us who
13:46 believe according to the working of the
13:48 might of his strength which he worked in
13:51 Christ by raising him from the dead and
13:53 seating him at his right hand in the Heavenly
13:55 Heavenly
13:59 places 1 Timothy 3 and by Common conf
14:01 confession great is the mystery of
14:04 godliness he who was manifested in the
14:06 flesh that's incarnational was
14:09 Vindicated in the spirit seen by Angels
14:11 proclaimed among the Nations believed on
14:15 in the world taken up in
14:18 glory Hebrews 8:1 now the main point in
14:20 what is being said is this we have such
14:23 a high priest who sat down at the right
14:25 hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the
14:29 heavens Hebrews 9:24 for Christ did not
14:31 enter holy places made with hands mere
14:33 copies of the true ones but into heaven
14:36 itself now to appear in the presence of
14:40 God for us one more Hebrews 10:12 he
14:42 having offered one sacrifice for sins
14:45 for all time sat down at the right hand
14:47 of God waiting for that time until his
14:50 enemies are put as a foot stol for his
14:53 feet and then Ju Just to sort of put a
14:55 color commentary exclamation point in
14:58 this we have ryar saying Christ actually
14:59 traveled up as as if supported by the
15:02 cloud he's in the acts 1:9 reference
15:04 here the ascent was not a sudden
15:06 disappearance but a gradual though not
15:08 long movement upward he's taking all of
15:10 the scriptures that speak of the
15:11 Ascension and coming up with that
15:14 summary thought there in other words
15:17 though the Ascension of Christ was you
15:19 could say it this way a complete
15:22 reversal of the Incarnation of Christ in
15:24 the the in the Incarnation of Christ
15:28 Christ came down leaving glory in the
15:32 Ascension Christ went up returning to
15:35 Glory so the Ascension did happen it did
15:37 occur it's part of the biblical record
15:40 it's historically verifiable next we
15:42 want to spend some time looking at a few
15:44 other truths concerning the Ascension
15:46 like like what was its purpose what did
15:49 it accomplish those sorts of things well for
15:50 for
15:53 starters the Ascension marked the end of
15:55 our L our Lord's life here on Earth his
15:59 Earthly Mission John 17 I glorified you
16:01 on the earth having finished the work
16:03 which you have given me to do put
16:06 another way in accomplishing what he did
16:07 through his death and Resurrection the
16:11 Lord accomplished all he came to do um
16:14 second the Ascension made possible
16:17 Christ's present work in heaven what he
16:19 does for believers on behalf of
16:21 Believers today in
16:23 heaven I'm going to give you a few
16:25 examples here before I do
16:28 so I think we're all familiar with the
16:30 basic concept ccept that that Christ
16:33 does Minister on Believers behalf today
16:36 I think we know that as a truth and
16:38 we're comforted by that truth but I
16:40 don't think we ever really think too
16:43 much about where like where is he doing
16:46 that Ministry on our behalf where is he
16:48 um representing us from where is he
16:50 representing us it's not not a thought
16:54 at least I give much thought to to my
16:56 shame like this one Christ is head of
16:59 the church we know that truth think of
17:03 Ephesians 5 22 and 23 but from where
17:06 does he serve as the head of the church
17:09 from Heaven uh Christ rules and and
17:12 governs his church does he not he sure
17:15 does Ephesians 1 he put all things in
17:17 subjection under his feet and gave him
17:19 his head over all things to the church
17:21 which is his body where does he do that
17:25 from from Heaven Christ is building his
17:30 church is he not he sure is m Matthew
17:33 16:18 1 Corinthians 6 do you not know
17:34 that you are bodies uh your bodies are
17:38 members of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:27
17:39 now you are Christ's body and
17:41 individually members of it of course
17:44 Ephesians 4:11 and 12 speaks of the the
17:47 building up of the body of Christ well
17:49 from where is Christ doing this from
17:53 Heaven uh Christ is interceding for
17:56 advocating on behalf of Believers is he
18:01 not he sure is Hebrews 7:25 he always
18:04 lives to make intercession for them 1
18:06 John 2:1 my little children I writing
18:07 these things to you so that you may not
18:10 sin and if anyone sins we have an
18:12 advocate with the father Jesus Christ
18:14 the righteous now where is he doing that
18:16 from from where is he interceding from
18:20 where is he advocating from Heaven
18:24 Christ is communicating his spiritual
18:26 life to his people through the Holy
18:30 Spirit today does he not sure is Christ
18:34 is our life as Colossians 3:4 notes and
18:36 and from where is he doing that and and
18:39 purposing that Ministry from heaven so
18:42 to summarize Christ ministers to to
18:44 individual Believers and to his churches
18:48 today and he does so from
18:50 Heaven here's
18:52 another function of the Ascension you
18:55 could put it that way the the Ascension
18:57 opened the door to the Holy Spirit
18:59 performing his work in our current Church
19:00 Church
19:03 age we remember these words from Christ
19:06 in John 16 I tell you the truth it is to
19:08 your advantage that I go away for if I
19:11 do not go away The Advocate speaking of
19:13 the spirit there will not come to you
19:16 but if I go I will send him to
19:19 you and we know that the spirit has
19:22 governed the process by which New
19:24 Testament Revelation was given we see
19:27 that alluded to here in John 16 I still
19:29 have many more things to say to you
19:31 but you cannot bear them now but when he
19:33 the spirit of truth comes he will guide
19:35 you into all the truth for he will not
19:37 speak for himself but whatever he hears
19:39 he will speak and he will disclose to
19:42 you what is to come and of course the
19:44 spirit's Ministry to Believers today
19:47 includes convicting uh regenerating
19:49 baptizing into the body of Believers
19:53 indwelling followers of Christ we see in
19:55 a few of these passages the the spirit's
19:59 work in Believers lives in light of the
20:01 asion and he when he comes will convict
20:03 the world concerning sin and
20:05 righteousness and judgment that's a
20:08 reference to the spirit Acts 1:8 you
20:10 will receive power when the Holy Spirit
20:12 has come upon you this is right before the
20:12 the
20:16 Ascension John 1416 I will ask the
20:17 father and he will give you another
20:20 Advocate that he may be with you forever
20:23 so Christ goes away the spirit comes
20:26 John 16:13 but when he the spirit of
20:28 truth comes he will guide you into all
20:30 the truth truth which we saw just a few moments
20:32 moments
20:35 ago all right so we have looked so far
20:38 at Christ's prediction of his Ascension
20:40 we've looked at the fact of his
20:42 Ascension we've looked at a few of the
20:44 purposes of his Ascension what we're
20:47 going to do now is consider the impact
20:50 of the Ascension namely the impact the
20:53 Ascension had on Jesus's disciples after
20:56 the event of the Ascension took place we
20:58 have to remember that that many of them
21:01 spoke spoke boldly to the fact after the
21:03 Ascension not only to the fact that
21:06 Jesus rose but that he ascended to the
21:09 father for instance when we think of
21:12 Stephen the Jewish leaders of the day
21:14 are are casting the stones in his
21:16 direction that would eventually take his
21:18 life he sees this vision of the Lord
21:21 Jesus in his ascended State and it says
21:24 here he gazed intent into heaven saw the
21:26 glory of God and Jesus standing at the
21:29 right hand of God and he said I went too
21:33 far behold I see the heavens opened up
21:35 and the son of man standing at the right
21:38 hand of God so that's Stephen with his
21:40 vision of the ascended Christ and then
21:42 there's of course Saul of
21:44 Tarsus an extreme persecutor of the
21:47 church he's making his way to Damascus
21:50 he's knocked off his horse by the the
21:52 brilliant Glory of that same ascended
21:55 Lord and so significant was his vision
21:57 of the ascended Christ on that day when
21:59 he was on his way to Damascus
22:01 that later when he goes on trial for
22:04 proclaiming the name of that same Christ
22:07 Saul Now Paul as he details the
22:09 experience the Ascension the the
22:12 ascended status of Christ plays a part
22:15 in it acts 22 but it happened this is
22:17 him standing at one of his tribunals one
22:19 of his trials it says but it happened
22:21 that as I was on my way approaching
22:23 Damascus about noon time a very bright
22:26 light suddenly flashed from Heaven all
22:28 around me and I fell to the ground and
22:30 Heard a Voice always saying to me Saul
22:33 Saul why are you persecuting me and I
22:35 answered who are you Lord and he said to
22:38 me I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are
22:41 persecuting he's testifying here to the
22:43 ascended this vision of the ascended
22:48 Christ or Acts 26 later in his appeal
22:50 process he says at midday O King I saw
22:52 in the way a light from Heaven brighter
22:54 than the sun shining all around me and
22:56 those who were journeying with me and
22:57 when we had all Fallen to the ground I
22:59 Heard a Voice saying to me in the Hebrew
23:02 language Saul Saul why are you
23:03 persecuting me it is hard for you to
23:05 kick against the goats and I said who
23:08 are you Lord and the Lord said I am
23:10 Jesus whom you are persecuting the one
23:12 that was presenting himself in that
23:15 light from heaven was the ascended Lord
23:19 and then even later that same man Paul
23:21 would go on to declare here in 1 Timothy
23:24 3:16 that Christ was manifested In the
23:27 Flesh and taken up that's Ascension
23:29 language in glory
23:32 and of course we can't forget the vision
23:35 of the ascended glorified Christ that
23:37 the Apostle John received while he was
23:40 imprisoned on the aisle of Patmos he
23:41 says then I turned to see the voice that
23:44 was speaking with me and having turned I
23:46 saw seven golden lampstands and in the
23:48 middle of the lampstands I saw one like
23:50 a son of man clothed in a robe reaching
23:53 to the feet and girded across his chest
23:55 with a golden Sash and his head and his
23:57 hair were white like white wool like
24:00 snow and his eyes were like a flame of
24:03 fire his feet were like burnished bronze
24:04 when it has been made to Glow in a
24:07 furnace and his voice was like the sound
24:09 of many Waters and having in his right
24:11 hand Seven Stars and a sharp two-edged
24:14 sword which comes out of his mouth and
24:16 his face was like the sun shining in its
24:19 power and when I saw him I fell at his
24:22 feet like a dead
24:25 man that's not Jesus meek and Mild from
24:28 our storybook Bibles in childhood this
24:31 is the all glorious supremely exalted
24:37 today well we've
24:40 considered some of the biblical data
24:42 surrounding the Ascension of Christ that
24:44 was our first point we're not going to
24:45 go ahead and you can turn the page in
24:47 your worksheet if you're a notetaker to
24:51 look at the enthronement of Christ now
24:53 that term
24:55 enthronement I mean the definition I'm
24:59 giving to that term is is what happened
25:03 once Christ ascended what happened once
25:05 he ascended some theologians will call
25:08 this his present session his session
25:10 that that period following his his
25:12 resurrection from the grave and his
25:14 Ascension into the Heavenly realm where
25:16 he took his seat at the father's right
25:18 hand that position of of highest rank
25:21 and Authority far above all things and
25:23 people and and rulers and authorities and
25:24 and
25:28 creatures and what has Christ been doing
25:30 doing if I can put it that way what's
25:33 our savior been doing since that moment
25:34 of his
25:36 Ascension well before we can get into
25:40 that let's consider an important nuance
25:42 and detail concerning Christ's
25:45 enthronement which is this when we speak
25:47 of his enthronement we're speaking of
25:50 the Lord's enthronement in his
25:53 Humanity see we have to remember Jesus
25:57 as Eternal God has always been enthroned
25:59 in his deity
26:00 he's never stepped off that
26:03 throne but recall that in his
26:05 Incarnation he took on Humanity he he
26:08 took on a human nature that's that's
26:11 Philippians 2:7 that's John 1:14 the
26:14 word became flesh and indwelt Among Us
26:16 he assumed a position that was lower
26:18 even than the angels that he himself
26:22 created Hebrews 2:9 but we do see him
26:24 who was made for a little while lower
26:26 than the Angels Jesus because of the
26:28 suffering of death crowned with Glory
26:30 and Honor so that by the grace of God he
26:33 might taste death for everyone but look
26:35 he was made for a little while lower
26:37 than the Angels well with his
26:40 enthronement now at his father's right
26:41 hand and we're still speaking of him in
26:44 his Humanity the Lord Jesus was exalted
26:48 to this this highest position far above
26:51 all Angelic beings human beings and any other
26:53 other
26:56 authority that's Ephesians 1:19 and what
26:58 is the surpassing greatness of his his
27:00 power toward us who believe according to
27:02 the working of the might of his strength
27:04 which he worked in Christ by raising him
27:06 from the dead and seating him at his
27:09 right hand in the Heavenly places far
27:11 above all Rule and authority and power
27:13 and dominion and every name that is
27:15 named not only in this age but also in
27:17 the one to
27:21 come Colossians 2:10 is similar says in
27:23 him you have been filled who is the head
27:27 over all Rule and authority meaning
27:30 Christ is now not only glorified in his
27:32 deity but in his humanity and he
27:35 occupies this place of of supreme
27:37 authority ultimate Authority exalted
27:40 Authority in both Natures both the
27:42 Divine and the
27:44 human now let's consider if we may a
27:48 couple different aspects of uh our
27:50 Lord's post Ascension Ministry getting
27:52 back to that question that seems so
27:54 irreverent when I say it but what has he
27:56 what has he been doing since his his
27:59 Ascension well first he's
28:00 he's
28:02 seated our Lord
28:05 sits and he is seated at the right hand
28:08 of God which indicates his honor and his
28:11 prominence and his equality ultimately
28:14 with God the father and here's another
28:17 long list of the scriptures that testify
28:19 to the fact that Jesus is now sitting at
28:24 the right hand of God the Father acts
28:26 2:33 having been exalted to the right
28:29 hand of God and and having received from
28:30 the Father the promise of the Holy
28:32 Spirit he has poured out this which you
28:34 both see and
28:37 hear acts 5 this one God exalted to his
28:40 right hand as a leader and a savior to
28:42 to Grant repentance to Israel and
28:44 forgiveness of sins the this one here is
28:48 referring to Jesus this one God exalted
28:51 acts 7 the Steven referen again but
28:53 being full of the spirit he gazed
28:55 intently into heaven and saw the glory
28:57 of God and Jesus standing at the right
28:59 hand of God
29:02 Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus is he who died
29:04 yes rather who was raised who is at the
29:07 right hand of God who also intercedes
29:11 for us Ephesians 1:19 and 20 what is the
29:13 surpassing greatness of his power toward
29:14 us who believe according to the working
29:16 of the might of his strength which he
29:18 worked in Christ by raising him from the
29:21 dead and seating him at his right hand
29:24 in the Heavenly places Colossians 3:1
29:26 therefore if you've been raised up with
29:28 Christ keep seeking the things of o
29:30 where Christ is seated at the right hand
29:34 of God Hebrews 10 every priest stands
29:35 daily ministering and offering Time
29:38 After Time the same sacrifices which can
29:41 never take away sins but he meaning
29:43 Christ having offered one sacrifice for
29:46 sins for all time sat down at the right
29:48 hand of God waiting from that time until
29:50 his enemies are put as a foot stol for
29:54 his feet one more Hebrews 12:2 therefore
29:56 since we have so great a cloud of
29:58 witnesses surrounding us laying aside
29:59 beside every weight and the sin which so
30:03 easily entangles us let us run with
30:05 endurance the race that is set before us
30:08 fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and
30:10 perfector of Faith who for the joy set
30:13 before him endured the cross despising
30:16 the shame and has sat down at the right
30:19 hand of the Throne of God reference
30:21 after reference to Jesus sitting at
30:24 God's right hand reference and reference
30:27 that that confirm the ontological
30:29 meaning the essential equality of God
30:31 the father and God the son these
30:35 references confirm Jesus's divine nature
30:37 that he is going back several lessons
30:43 God
30:46 now back to this question what is he
30:48 doing at the right hand of
30:51 God makes it sound like I'm like like
30:52 we're a supervisor checking on what he's
30:54 doing we don't have that right to check
30:56 in on what Jesus the exalted Lord of all
30:58 is doing we're just trying to mind this
30:59 scriptures to see what they reveal about
31:01 what he's doing and one thing we know is
31:03 he's ruling over the entire
31:05 universe we've already read this one
31:09 from Ephesians 1: 19 and 20 speaking of
31:12 the the greatness of his power and the
31:15 might of his strength he is working out
31:16 the might of his strength as he rules
31:19 over the entire universe we know from
31:22 Hebrews uh 1:3 that he's upholding
31:25 everything from the father's right hand
31:27 by the word of his power in these last
31:29 days he spoke to us in his son whom he
31:31 appointed heir of all things through
31:33 whom he also made the worlds who is the
31:35 radiance of his glory and the exact
31:38 representation of his nature and upholds
31:40 all things by the word of his
31:42 power we know that he is
31:45 subjecting today all angels and
31:48 authorities and powers to himself 1 Peter
31:49 Peter
31:51 3:22 he's at the right hand of God
31:53 there's that reference again having gone
31:56 into heaven after angels and authorities
31:58 and Powers had been subjected to him we
32:01 know he's crowned with Glory and Honor
32:04 Hebrews 2:9 but we do see him who is
32:05 made for a little while lower than the
32:08 Angels Jesus because of the suffering of
32:11 death crowned with Glory and Honor so
32:13 that by the grace of God he might taste
32:15 death for everyone we know he's received
32:17 a a body of
32:20 Glory Philippians 3 our citizenship is
32:23 in heaven from which also we eagerly
32:26 wait for a savior the Lord Jesus Christ
32:29 who will transform the body of our
32:31 humble State into Conformity with the
32:34 body of his glory his his glorious
32:37 glorified body by his working through
32:40 which he is able e to even subject all
32:43 things to himself and we
32:46 know he has received from God a glorious
32:48 name in fact a name that is above all
32:51 names this is the incarnational verse
32:53 here but it says God has also highly
32:55 exalted him and bestowed on him the name
32:57 which is above every name so that the
33:00 the name of Jesus every knee will bow of
33:02 those who are in heaven and on Earth and
33:03 under the
33:07 earth now while the ascended
33:09 Christ is in
33:12 heaven we want to use that reference
33:15 he's he sits from what God calls his his
33:17 throne room and and the Earth is his
33:21 foot stol it's not as though Jesus is
33:25 only in heaven today or or that he is
33:28 spatially restricted in any way no he is
33:31 in a very real sense present
33:33 everywhere Ephesians 4:10 he who
33:37 descended is himself also he who
33:40 ascended far above all the heavens so
33:43 that he might fill all things he he
33:47 fills all and is in all and he is truly
33:52 Lord of all acts two and as Lord of all
33:55 he's worthy of of highest honor all will
33:57 honor the son even as they honor the
33:59 father he who does not honor the son
34:03 does not honor the father who sent him
34:07 now many when they they think of Christ
34:09 even in his current post-resurrection
34:13 post Ascension State think of him only
34:16 as our savior and and he is our savior
34:19 if we put our faith and our trust in his
34:21 his death and his resurrection but he is
34:24 also our Lord yes if we have put our
34:26 faith in Christ we have been
34:28 positionally Justified based on what he
34:30 has already done for us on the cross but
34:33 we are still yet being being practically
34:35 Sanctified as we submit ourselves to
34:38 Christ's lordship doing what he says
34:40 doing what he has revealed for us to do
34:41 in his
34:44 word and that's never changed I mean
34:45 wasn't that exactly what
34:49 Jesus pushed on his disciples with in in
34:52 Luke 6:46 when when he says why do you
34:54 call me Lord Lord and yet what not do
34:59 what I say lordship has always has been
35:00 at the heart of what it means to follow
35:02 Jesus Christ whether you're one of the
35:04 first century disciples or whether
35:06 you're a member of his church today uh
35:10 the Risen Christ the ascended Christ is
35:12 not only Lord of all creation as he sits
35:14 in his ascended
35:17 exalted uh place in the heavenlies today
35:20 he us to be the Lord Of Our
35:24 Lives now it takes us to an
35:27 interesting fork in the road
35:30 in our discussion tonight because so far
35:33 what we've seen is that Christ is
35:35 ascended and we've seen that he is in a
35:38 state of his his glorified Humanity he's
35:42 always been in a glorious state of deity
35:44 we've seen that he's exalted we've seen
35:46 that he's enthroned we've seen in
35:48 multiple scriptures that he sits at his
35:51 father's right hand so since he's
35:54 enthroned and since he is exalted does
35:58 that mean that Christ is King
36:00 that's a catchy phrase today if you
36:03 haven't noticed Christ is
36:05 King and especially it's it's used in a
36:07 lot of the the Christian nationalist
36:11 movements you know Caesar's not King
36:13 Trump's not King Biden's not King Christ is
36:14 is
36:21 King but is he and if so king of
36:24 what now there is a sense in
36:27 which I will say I think it's we can
36:29 confidently say based on scripture that
36:32 Christ is King over all the
36:37 Earth he's God after all going back many
36:40 lessons in this series Psalm 931 says god
36:42 god
36:46 reigns that's kingly language he he is
36:48 clothed with Majesty says that same
36:52 Psalm so God Yahweh is King he is The
36:55 Sovereign ruler over all he reigns over
36:58 all the Earth and to the EXT ENT that
37:01 God Yahweh exercises Universal Dominion
37:04 Reign power over all the Earth and can
37:06 be said to be king of all the Earth so
37:10 too can Christ himself being eternally
37:13 God we're we're on secure biblical
37:15 footing with that
37:17 statement but where things get
37:20 complicated is that the scriptures also
37:23 indicate that Christ will one day rule
37:26 as king over this Earth in a very
37:29 specific in literal and physical way as
37:32 he sits on David's
37:34 Throne here's what it says about that in
37:37 2 Samuel 7 speaking prophetically says
37:38 when your days are fulfilled and you lie
37:40 down with your fathers I will raise up
37:43 one of your seed after you who will come
37:44 forth from your own body and I will
37:47 establish his kingdom he shall build a
37:50 house for my name and I will establish
37:53 the Throne of his kingdom
37:55 forever now here's the
37:59 rub there are uh certain theologians and
38:01 certain Traditions who will argue that
38:04 what Christ is doing right now as
38:06 Sovereign Lord with power and authority
38:09 over all in that Psalm 93 sense of our
38:12 god reigns they'll say that right now as
38:14 he does that as he rules over the Earth
38:16 he's fulfilling the promise that was
38:19 made to David by by God to Nathan to
38:22 David to the Future Messiah here in 2
38:25 Samuel 7 regarding the one who would one
38:27 day sit on David's throne other words
38:28 there are some who believe that the
38:31 throne that Christ is sitting on now and
38:34 occupying when the scriptures speak of
38:35 Christ sitting at the right hand of God
38:38 all those scriptures we went through is
38:40 the Throne of
38:42 David but as I've just
38:45 expressed well well I can I can agree
38:47 with that statement that that the
38:50 ascended Christ the exalted Christ the
38:52 seated Christ as he sits at the right
38:54 hand of God the father he does Rule and
38:56 Reign Over The World At Large our god reigns
38:58 reigns
39:01 he is the the the head over all Rule and
39:05 Authority Colossians 2:9 and10 uh he has
39:08 disarmed Colossians 2:15 the rulers and
39:10 authorities and made a public display of
39:13 them having triumphed over them in him
39:16 but the throne that Christ is sitting on
39:18 today is not the davidic
39:21 throne in fact it's not an Earthly
39:23 Throne of any sort where he's sitting
39:26 today is a Heavenly Throne a Heavenly
39:28 Throne at God's right hand from which he
39:31 rules over all the universe and over all
39:33 of God's creatures David's Throne
39:35 pertained to the Earth to the land of
39:38 Israel to to the people of Israel it was
39:39 never contemplated to mean anything
39:41 other than an Earthly throne in a
39:44 specific context the ascended Christ as
39:46 he sits today doesn't sit on David's
39:48 Throne rather he sits at the right hand
39:50 of God the Father this heavenly Throne
39:53 this eternal Throne one that existed
39:55 long before David was born and one that
39:57 existed long before any promise was made
40:00 to David about one sitting on on his
40:03 throne so if I can just boil that
40:06 down Christ's current
40:09 position is at his father's right hand
40:11 in heaven on his Heavenly Throne you
40:14 could say it's not the same thing as the
40:16 davidic throne that he'll occupy on a
40:20 later day in the Kingdom they're
40:22 different Thrones they're not the same
40:25 wver teases out the distinctions here
40:27 saying it much more artfully than I
40:28 could he says the throne in heaven on
40:31 which Christ is now seated is obviously
40:34 one of supreme honor glory Victory power
40:36 and authority no power on Earth or in
40:38 heaven could possibly have a higher
40:40 position nor could there be one of more
40:42 honor and privilege than what the Lord
40:44 Jesus Christ now possesses the Throne of
40:46 God is in keeping with the Divine
40:48 attributes of the Eternal God and is
40:50 supported by infinite power and
40:51 authority in keeping with the position
40:54 and work of the second person of the
40:56 Trinity because he is on the throne in
40:59 glory Saints are able to have victory in
41:00 this world and can be assured that
41:02 though the power of Satan and The
41:04 Temptations of this world are real and
41:05 though they experience weakness because
41:08 of their sin nature it is still true
41:10 that Christ is on the throne and thus he
41:13 is able to sustain them in their hour of
41:15 need he's speaking of the Heavenly
41:17 throne here by
41:20 contrast these factors cannot be said of
41:22 the Throne of David the church has no
41:25 relationship to the throne of David nor
41:26 was the Throne of David one of infinite
41:30 power an authority conceivably it could
41:32 be lost and destroyed though David was
41:35 assured that it would not be so he's
41:37 distinguishing the Heavenly Throne the
41:41 psalm 93 Throne versus the coming davidic
41:43 davidic
41:45 throne and then he notes to confuse such
41:48 dissimilar positions is to bring
41:50 confusion to the word of God and I
41:52 brought that quote in because someone
41:53 might say why are you spending so much
41:56 time on Two Thrones who cares aren't you
41:57 just splitting hairs here here but I
41:59 appreciate the guidance walber gives
42:01 here because this comes down to not
42:04 wanting to confuse and ultimately tamper
42:06 with the word of
42:09 God so that's a little detour just to
42:12 explain how we can say that Christ
42:14 Reigns today he he reigns from the
42:16 heavens he's seated at the father's
42:19 right hand but not from David's Throne
42:21 on Earth as other theological
42:24 theological tribes or camps will
42:27 articulate all right a few more details
42:29 about what Christ has been doing since
42:31 his Ascension in his enthroned state in
42:35 his exalted State uh for
42:37 starters he's directing the Affairs of
42:39 the church we looked at that a little
42:42 earlier too he's head over all things to
42:44 the church his
42:47 body we are to grow up in all respects
42:50 into him who is the head of the church
42:51 that is
42:55 Christ Ephesians 5 Christ also is the
42:56 head of the church the husband's the
42:58 head of the wife as Christ Christ also
43:00 is the head of the church he himself
43:02 being the savior of the body but as the
43:04 church is subject to Christ so also
43:06 wives to be ought to be subject to their
43:09 husbands and everything so Christ in his
43:12 exalted state is directing the Affairs
43:15 of the church that would include his
43:16 sending of the spirit as we looked
43:19 earlier to indwell those who would make
43:22 up the church John 14 I will ask the
43:24 father he will give you another Advocate
43:27 that he may be with you forever John
43:29 John 16 I tell you the truth it is to
43:31 your advantage that I go away for if I
43:33 do not go away The Advocate will not
43:35 come to you but if I go I will send him
43:39 to you it was only after Christ's
43:40 exaltation to his throne in the
43:42 heavenlies that the ministry of the
43:46 spirit began in the church and we know
43:48 that with the sending of his Spirit he
43:51 gives gifts to the church Ephesians 4 11
43:54 and 12 uh for the building up of the
43:56 body of Christ and he knows we know he
43:59 gives us to one another so that as
44:02 Believers we can can attain mutually the
44:04 measure of the stature which belongs to
44:08 the fullness of Christ so he rules over
44:11 the church he sends his Spirit not only
44:13 that we know his Ascension with his
44:16 Ascension it inaugurated his high
44:20 Priestly work in heaven we remember how
44:22 the priest in Israel they would pass
44:24 within the veil of the temple they would
44:25 intercede for the people through the
44:28 shedding of blood we know from actually
44:30 Hebrews this morning that Christ is the
44:33 better priest and he is the perfect
44:36 fulfillment of the old priesthood he
44:38 serves as our great high priest that was
44:40 Hebrews 4 we have a great high priest
44:42 who has passed through the heavens Jesus
44:46 the son of God or Hebrews 9 Christ did
44:48 not enter holy places made with hands
44:51 mere copies of the true ones but into heaven
44:57 itself and we know that while those in
44:59 the Old Testament priesthood were
45:02 required to stand while they performed
45:04 their their ritual uh service we know
45:08 that from Hebrews 10 Christ through his
45:10 effective and effectual sacrifice a
45:14 single sacrifice sat down and is now
45:17 seated once again at the right hand of
45:20 God and as he sits at the right hand of
45:22 God there is still some more things the
45:24 Lord does in his enthroned exalted
45:27 position uh for instance he intercedes for
45:28 for
45:31 us during his Earthly Ministry he prayed
45:34 for others he prayed for small children
45:37 we see here in Matthew 19 he prayed for his
45:38 his
45:40 disciples uh like Peter here I have
45:42 prayed earnestly for you that you your
45:44 faith may not fail he even prayed for
45:46 his enemies this is during his Earthly
45:48 Ministry father forgive them for they do
45:51 not know what they are doing but now in
45:54 his exalted state in his enthroned State
45:58 he intercedes for his own before the the
46:01 the god before God in heaven Christ
46:03 Jesus is he who died yes rather who is
46:05 raised who is at the right hand of God
46:08 who also intercedes for
46:11 us Hebrews
46:14 9:24 he appears in the presence of God
46:18 for us that intercessory Ministry and
46:20 more here Hebrews
46:24 7:25 he makes intercession for us two
46:28 more of these things he does in this
46:31 exalted and enthroned position uh one he
46:34 prepares an eternal home for
46:36 us for those who have believed upon him
46:39 we know this is a a a verse concerning the
46:40 the
46:42 Rapture but there's a there's also this
46:44 underlying truth that he has prepared a
46:47 place he's preparing a place for us I go
46:49 to prepare a place for you and if I go
46:50 and prepare a place for you I will come
46:52 again and receive you to myself that's a
46:55 Rapture reference that where I am there
46:58 you may be also
47:00 demerest notes that Christ by his own
47:02 blood has opened for us the Gates of
47:06 Heaven and now he is at work preparing a
47:08 place for all who love
47:12 him so the fact that
47:16 our ascended Lord has entered Heaven
47:18 bodily guarantees that those who have
47:21 believed upon him will one day do the
47:23 same there's Demorest again he says
47:26 Christ has blazed the trail to the
47:27 Heavenly world
47:30 and the Christian confidently follows in his
47:31 his
47:33 train and here's the last
47:37 one the ascended and enthroned Christ
47:39 has left us with a
47:42 promise we remember the words of Acts 1:
47:46 11 which tells us that as the disciples
47:48 watched the Lord Ascend those two angels
47:50 appear and they promis that that in the
47:52 same way that he had been taken from
47:55 them he would return in just the same
47:57 way men of Galilee
48:00 why do you stand looking toward Heaven
48:02 this Jesus who has been taken up from
48:04 you into heaven will come in just the
48:08 same way as you have watched him go into
48:11 heaven ton
48:14 notes the bodily Ascension of Christ is
48:18 a necessary historical presupposition to
48:21 belief in his bodily return since he is
48:23 to come back to earth as he went away
48:25 and to believe in our own bodily
48:28 Resurrection since we shall be like
48:31 him and Rand mun notes the bodily Ascent
48:32 of the Lord into heaven has a correlate
48:36 truth namely his personal corporeal
48:38 return to the Earth in other
48:42 words the Ascension of Christ secures
48:46 our eschatological hope our our future
48:49 hope that Christ is coming
48:53 again and all begins
48:56 here on this next event on the
48:59 catological timeline the end times
49:02 timeline an event known as The
49:05 Rapture 1 Thessalonians 4 for the Lord
49:07 himself will descend from heaven with a
49:09 shout with the voice of the Archangel
49:12 and with the trumpet of God and the dead
49:14 in Christ will rise
49:17 first then we who are alive and remain
49:18 will be caught up together with them in
49:21 the clouds to meet the Lord in the air
49:25 and so we shall always be with the Lord
49:29 therefore comfort one another with these
49:32 words and those are comforting words are
49:34 they not as we wrap up this whole series
49:37 on Christ and what he has done and who
49:39 he is I mean the one we've been studying
49:42 all summer along the Lord Jesus Christ
49:43 we have we have studyed the scriptures
49:46 and what they reveal about him being
49:49 Eternal and him being pre-existent and
49:52 him being fully God and him being fully
49:55 man and him being incarnate and him
49:57 walking in the Earth in perfect
49:58 obedience to God his
50:01 father this is the one who was the
50:03 Spotless lamb and the one who died and
50:05 and the one who Rose and then then the
50:07 one who appeared and then the one who
50:09 ascended and the one that we've seen
50:12 tonight is now enthroned and exalted and
50:15 that one is coming
50:20 back to which we cry maratha come
50:24 quickly Lord Jesus amen
50:28 amen well since we were there this
50:30 morning with Dr lofquist I'm going to
50:33 end our time together tonight and I'm
50:35 going to end this series on
50:38 christology uh with these words from the
50:40 doxology of Hebrews
50:43 13 Hebrews
50:47 13 Les took us through uh verses 1
50:49 through uh 21 this morning and I'm going
50:54 to read verses 20 and 21 to to
50:58 conclude Hebrews 13:20 now the God of
51:00 Peace who brought up from the dead the
51:02 great Shepherd of the sheep through the
51:04 blood of the Eternal Covenant our lord
51:08 Jesus equip you in every good thing to
51:11 do his will by doing in us what is
51:13 pleasing in his sight through Jesus
51:17 Christ to whom be the glory forever and
51:21 ever amen let's [Applause]
51:28 pray father we thank you for uh your
51:30 patience with
51:33 us we thank you for the study that we've
51:36 been able to embark on All Summer Long
51:37 God I thank you for the patience of
51:39 everybody here I know we have been going
51:42 at a fast speed all summer and and I
51:44 know it's sometimes hard to follow along
51:45 but I do
51:48 pray that that we would come away with a
51:51 with a higher view of of who you are Lord
51:52 Lord
51:55 Jesus the pre-existent one the Eternal
51:59 one the Incarnate one the God man the
52:01 the one who died the Spotless lamb the
52:03 one who Rose the one who appeared the
52:04 one who ascended and the one who sits
52:07 now enthroned and exalted and the one
52:09 who will one day come for
52:11 us God I pray that we will be and will
52:13 continue to be comforted with these
52:16 words that we will come away from this
52:18 study uh not with a a notebook full of
52:20 data but rather with a
52:24 heart full and a heart ready and a heart
52:26 prepared and equipped to to do your will
52:28 as revealed in your
52:31 word god may this study stir up in us a
52:33 a passion to see more souls one to
52:36 Christ may this study stir up in us a
52:38 desire to to engage with and read the
52:41 word of Christ and be conformed into the
52:42 image of
52:46 Christ God may we be known as much for
52:50 what we know excuse me may we be known
52:52 as much for who we are and what we do is
52:54 is what we know we know we are to speak
52:57 the truth in love we know we are to to
52:59 balance Doctrine and practice but God I
53:01 pray that those two would remain in in
53:03 good and healthy balance in this church
53:05 for many years to
53:07 come God thank you for your word thank
53:10 you for your sure promises thank you for
