The Ascension of Christ

     After Christ's death and victorious resurrection, Christ must ascend into heavenly places to offer the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, in the tabernacle that God pitched and not man.  In Heb chapter 2 we see that Jesus was, "made for the suffering of death."  Because "in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren," and "forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, Christ also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."  For Jesus "by the grace of God tasted death for every man."  After all "both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one."

     Note Beloved, after the great all inclusive sacrifice, God in the flesh rested on His 7th day Sabbath rest day, and rose from the dead on the 1st day of the week, thus triumphing over the powers of darkness and death, and ascended taking captivity captive.  Now having all power in heaven and in earth, Christ begins His work at the right hand of His Father - which is our Father also, in the heavenly Sanctuary.  The complete work of being made all humanity, living righteousness for all humanity, dying and paying the debt for all humanity, and rising from the dead thus giving all humanity a new birth, is finished and perfect and complete.

   God in the flesh has finished His work in the earth, in offering one sacrifice for sin forever for all mankind. Now He must ascend to His next phase of redemption, in His role as the High Priest in the very presence of the Father.  Christ now, in a new way, in a deeper way, in a living way, in a more fulfilled way, applies what He accomplished for mankind while on earth, in the souls of all who believe.

     This work of Christ as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, was started in power and glory on the day of Pentecost.  That is why the Bible records "when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."  Ephes 4:8.

     Christ taught His disciples that it was very necessary for Him to go to His Father.  Yet, He promised "I am still with you all the way to the end."  Matt 28:20.  Christ could not have been glorified while among fallen humanity, for none could have endured His glory.  It would have been a consuming fire to fallen mankind.  So Christ ascended and "the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus".  Acts 3:13   As a result the promise that Jesus made just prior to His ascension was fulfilled.  For Jesus had promised, "Behold I send the promise of my Father upon you, and ye shall be endued with power from on high" Luke 24:49.  But Jesus also explained something to His disciples in John 16:5-7, the Master declared, "But now I go my way to him that sent me...but because I have said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart.  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you."  Jesus further explained in John 16:13-15, "When he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth...He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine and shall show it unto you for all things that the Father hath are mine."  

     So beloved, after the one who is the Sacrifice and High Priest ascended, and was glorified, His promise was gloriously fulfilled.  In Acts chapter 2 we read of the actual fulfillment of the promise, for as they were all with one accord, in one place, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other languages as the Spirit gave them clear expression and ability.  Peter stood up and declared that Jesus "being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this Holy Ghost upon them".  Then Peter said unto all his hearers "repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" also.  For said Peter, "the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call".

     Note here beloved, something very important.  What is the reason for the giving of the Holy Ghost?  The facts are the Saviour had to ascend and be glorified and began His High Priest work in the Heavenly Sanctuary, before the promised spirit and power could be given.  The power is given for one reason, according to the Holy Scripture, and that is to make us unequaled, indomitable, enlightened and holy witnesses.  It was not given solely, so we personally can just be so everlasting happy. Or just to show off, and exalt ourselves, as it is so widely practiced and claimed to be used by professed disciples who are but the disciples of Satan.  When one has the Holy Ghost their life is pure, holy, and righteous, and they are a constant witness twenty four hours a day.  Those claiming to be filled with the Holy Ghost while living to practice sin, and doing no witnessing for their Master are but liars and children destined for the fires of hell.  The power is given for service.  The power is given to actualize self denial and self sacrifice.  The power is given  for the ministry.  In Acts 1:8 the power is to "come upon you, and you will be a witness unto the uttermost part of the earth."

     Beloved Christ ascended, and though we are on earth, because we were created in Him, when He ascended we ascended in Him.  The Bible declares God, "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephes 2:6.  Further in Ephes. 1:3 we read, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."  Beloved we are to be as Heb 6:4-5 explains, "once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and of the powers of the world to come".

     Remember beloved, in Christ we are absolutely recreated.  1 Cor 15:49 declares to us, "as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."  In Phil 3:10 the Word speaks of , "the power of his resurrection," this is the same power that brought all of the universe into existence.  This creative, life giving power raised Jesus from the dead, and this same power will recreate us.  The gift of the fullness of this power is the result of Christ ascending having completed, being made humanity, constructing a robe of righteousness, paying the price of sin with His blood, and taking captivity captive by swallowing up death in life.  Now Christ stands glorified in the presence of the Father, ministering to all men, and especially to those who believe in faith, all the riches of heavenly spiritual blessing.  Our ascended and glorified Saviour is now our Advocate with my Father, and my Supplier of the riches of His grace.  My relationship and intercourse with my Saviour now is infinitely more intimate than what it could be when he walked among men.  When Jesus was on the earth He was with men, but now in the person of God the Holy Ghost He cannot only be with all men all over the earth at the same time, but in men everywhere at all times.  Christ is not just with us, but He lives in us in the person of God the Holy Ghost.  The Father, in the Son, in the Spirit, in us, - the fullness of the Godhead bodily in us, the fruit of the ascension.