He Ascended Into Heaven
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
10/31/2010 PM
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Text:
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Acts 1;
Lord's Day 18
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Psalters: |
258, 427, 183, 303 |
- The historical facts.
- Jesus ascended and a cloud actively received Him out of the sight of the disciples (Acts 1:9).
- There is progress in Jesus’ exaltation: a change of location.
- He changed locations going to a different created placed called heaven (cf. Gen. 1:1).
- The heart of heaven is that it is the house of God, i.e., the revelation of God’s throne and glory (Hebrews 9:24).
- In the ascension Jesus presented His perfect sacrifice to the Father.
- He now is active in heaven.
- In His ascension His human nature began an exalted (heavenly) existence in heaven.
- There He can be with us in a much closer sense.
- His presence is more real than when He was with the disciples.
- Now He is with each of us always, even to the end of the world (Matt. 28:20).
- What else does Jesus do in heaven?
- He is our advocate before the Father (Heb. 9:11,12,24,28).
- And He is our intercessor (Heb. 7:25).
- The spiritual benefits.
- While the disciples were initially saddened, the ascension is a cause for great joy among believers.
- With joy the glorified saints saw Him come and watched the devil be cast out of heaven.
- And we sing, “Worthy is the Lamb to receive... (Rev. 5:12).
- Essentially the church ascended with Christ, our Head so we sit together with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).
- Practical results for us.
- With our Head in heaven we are increasingly heavenly-minded, stirring ourselves up to holiness of life.
- We increasingly see ourselves as spiritual pilgrims and strangers on the earth.
- And we increasingly long for heaven (II Cor. 5:2-5).