He (Jesus) ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God
What does the Bible say about the ascension?
“When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”
Mark 16:19-20
“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.”
Luke 24:51-53
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:8-9
Christ’s Exaltation
“(God) raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”
Ephesians 1:20-23
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”
Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11
“Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
Colossians 1:18-20
The Giving of the Holy Spirit
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”
John 16:7
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”
John 16:13-14
The Eternal Dwelling of God’s People
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
John 14:1-4
What does the ascension means to us?
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Mark 1:15
The Reality of Heaven
“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”
1 Peter 5:10
Our Union with Christ
“Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”
Romans 6:5
“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-6
Take Home:
Our Salvation is Certain
We must Live Boldly
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:16
“Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Romans 8:34
“...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:20
On the Third Day He Rose From the Dead
Apostle’s Creed - Week 6
ON THE THIRD DAY HE (JESUS) ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD
“FOR IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, THEN CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED EITHER. AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, THEN ALL OUR PREACHING IS USELESS, AND YOUR FAITH IS USELESS. AND WE APOSTLES WOULD ALL BE LYING ABOUT GOD – FOR WE HAVE SAID THAT GOD RAISED CHRIST FROM THE GRAVE. BUT THAT CAN’T BE TRUE IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. AND IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, THEN CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED. AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, THEN YOUR FAITH IS USELESS AND YOU ARE STILL GUILTY OF YOUR SINS. IN THAT CASE, ALL WHO HAVE DIED BELIEVING IN CHRIST ARE LOST! AND IF OUR HOPE IN CHRIST IS ONLY FOR THIS LIFE, WE ARE MORE TO BE PITIED THAN ANYONE IN THE WORLD.” 1 CORINTHIANS 15:13-19
WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION THERE IS NO CHRISTIANITY
“AND IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN, THEN OUR PREACHING IS USELESS” – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:14
“NOW I WOULD REMIND YOU, BROTHERS, OF THE GOSPEL I PREACHED TO YOU, WHICH YOU RECEIVED, IN WHICH YOU STAND, AND BY WHICH YOU ARE BEING SAVED” – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-2
A DEAD SAVIOR CAN’T SAVE ANYONE
“…AND YOUR FAITH IS USELESS…” 1 CORINTHIANS 15:14
“AND IF CHRIST HAS NOT BEEN RAISED, THEN YOUR FAITH IS USELESS AND YOU ARE STILL GUILTY OF YOUR SINS” – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:17
“IF THE DEAD ARE NOT RAISED, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE” 1 Corinthians 15:32
“BUT IN FACT, CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD. HE IS THE FIRST OF A GREAT HARVEST OF ALL WHO HAVE DIED.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20
“IF I WERE AN ENEMY OF CHRISTIANITY, I’D AIM RIGHT AT THE RESURRECTION, BECAUSE THAT’S THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY” – BILLY GRAHAM
“…HE WAS RASIED FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY, JUST AS THE SCRIPTURES SAID. HE WAS SEEN BY PETER AND THEN BY THE TWELVE. AFTER THAT HE WAS SEEN BY MORE THAN 500 OF HIS FOLLOWERS AT ONE TIME, MOST OF WHOM ARE STILL ALIVE, THOUGH SOME HAVE DIED. THEN HE WAS SEEN BY JAMES AND LATER BY ALL OF THE APOSTLES. LAST OF ALL, AS THOUGH I HAD BEEN BORN AT THE WRONG TIME, I ALSO SAW HIM.” – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:4-9
“BUT ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, AT EARLY DAWN, THEY WENT TO THE TOMB, TAKING THE SPICES THEY HAD PREPARED. AND THEY FOUND THE STONE ROLLED AWAY FROM THE TOMB, BUT WHEN THEY WENT IN THEY DID NOT FIND THE BODY OF THE LORD JESUS. WHILE THEY WERE PERPLEXED ABOUT THIS, BEHOLD, TWO MEN STOOD BY THEM IN DAZZLING APPAREL. AND AS THEY WERE FRIGHTENED AND BOWED THEIR FACES TO THE GROUND, THE MEN SAID TO THEM, “WHY DO YOU SEEK THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD? HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HAS RISEN. REMEMBER HOW HE TOLD YOU…” LUKE 24:1-6
“WE’RE GOING UP TO JERUSALEM, WHERE THE SON OF MAN WILL BE BETRAYED TO THE LEADING PRIESTS AND THE TEACHERS OF RELIGIOUS LAW. THEY WILL SENTENCE HIM TO DIE. THEN THEY WILL HAND HIM OVER TO THE ROMANS TO BE MOCKED, FLOGGED WITH A WHIP, AND CRUCIFIED. BUT ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD.” – MATTHEW 20:18-19
“LET ME NOW REMIND YOU, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OF THE GOOD NEWS I PREACHED TO YOU BEFORE. YOU WELCOMED IT THEN, AND YOU STILL STAND FIRM IN IT. IT IS THIS GOOD NEWS THAT SAVES YOU IF YOU CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THE MESSAGE I TOLD YOU – UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU BELIEVED SOMETHING THAT WAS NEVER TRUE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I PASSED ON TO YOU WHAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT AND WHAT HAD ALSO BEEN PASSED ON TO ME. CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, JUST AS THE SCRIPTURES SAID. HE WAS BURIED, AND HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY, JUST AS THE SCRIPTURES SAID.” 1 CORINTHIANS 1-4
The resurrection promises 4 things:
“WHEN JESUS CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED, HE PAID SIN’S PENALTY; HIS RISING FROM THE GRAVE REVEALED HIS DEATH’S SUFFICIENCY” – ????
THE RESURRECTION IS THE FATHER’S “AMEN” TO THE SON’S “IT IS FINISHED” Our Daily Bread
THE RESURRECTION SECURES THE PROMISE OF OUR SALVATION.
“HE (JESUS) WAS DELIVERED UP FOR OUR SINS, AND ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION” – ROMANS 4:25
“BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! ACCORDING TO HIS GREAT MERCY, HE HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE THOUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD, TO AN INHERITANCE THAT IS IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, AND UNFADING…” 1 PETER 1:3-4
“THE SPIRIT OF GOD, WHO RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, LIVES IN YOU…” ROMANS 8:11