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Chapter 190

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THE ASCENSION OR EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST

190.010.000 Torrey: p187, T:I
Topic 10: The Fact of the Ascension or Exaltation of Jesus Christ.

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POINT 10: Jesus Christ has ascended up on high, been received into Heaven, has sat down at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 4:8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

Acts 1:9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Luke 24:51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Hebrews 10:12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

The Ascension or Exaltation of Jesus Christ is definitely spoken of thirty-three or more times in the New Testament.

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Topic 20: The Manner of the Ascension of Exaltation of Jesus Christ.

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POINT 10: Jesus Christ was carried up into Heaven while the disciples were looking and received out of their sight.

Acts 1:9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Luke 24:51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

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POINT 20: Jesus Christ has been glorified with the Father Himself with the glory which He had with Him before the world was.

John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

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POINT 30: Jesus Christ has been made higher than the Heavens.

Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest meets our need - - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Compare Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

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POINT 40: Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

QUESTION: Is this to be taken literally of location, or figuratively of power?

ANSWER: Acts 7:55-56 [55] But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. [56] "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

Though God is in a sense everywhere, there is a place where He peculiarly manifests Himself and His glory -- a place where He can be said to dwell in a sense in which He dwells nowhere else. Jesus Christ is at His right hand in that place.

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POINT 50: Jesus Christ has been exalted far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.

Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

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POINT 60: God the Father exalted Jesus Christ with His right hand.

Acts 5:31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

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Topic 30: The Purpose of the Exaltation of Jesus Christ.

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POINT 10: Jesus Christ was glorified in order that He might glorify the Father.

John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."

190.030.020 Torrey: p189, T:III, P:2
POINT 20: Jesus Christ was exalted that He might be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

It is the "Ascended" or "Exalted" Christ that now rules the believer and saves him and gives repentance and forgiveness of sins.

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POINT 30: Jesus Christ was exalted to enter heaven as a forerunner for us.

Hebrews 6:20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

He has gone ahead to prepare the way and open the gates by His atoning blood and priestly intercession.

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POINT 40: Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven to prepare heaven itself as an abode for us.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

QUESTION: How?

ANSWER: Hebrews 9:21-24 [21] In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. [22] In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. [23] It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. [24] For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.

Heaven itself must be sprinkled with blood to be fitted to be the abode of blood-sprinkled sinners.

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POINT 50: Jesus Christ ascended and entered heaven now to appear before the face of God for us -- i.e., to act as high priest on our behalf; to present the blood of atonement and make intercession for us.

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.

This is illustrated by the Old Testament high priest who was only the type of Him that was to come.

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POINT 60: Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and sat down on the right hand of God to await the complete subjection of His enemies and the restitution of all things. When that time comes He will come forth and His enemies be quickly subdued before him.

Hebrews 10:12-13 [12] But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. [13] Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,

Acts 2:34-35 [34] For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand [35] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'"

Acts 3:20-21 [20] and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you -- even Jesus. [21] He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

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POINT 70: Jesus Christ ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things.

Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.

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Topic 40: The Results of the Exaltation of Jesus Christ.

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POINT 10: In the Exaltation of Jesus Christ, as in His Resurrection, the exceeding greatness of God's power toward us is seen.

Ephesians 1:18-20 [18] I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

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POINT 20: By the Exaltation of Jesus Christ we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens and we can hold fast our confession and draw near with boldness to the throne of grace.

Hebrews 4:14-16 [14] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. [16] Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

If we have any hesitation or fear in our approach to God, all we need to do is to remember our ascended Savior, our great high priest in the presence of God, at the very "right

Hebrews 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

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POINT 30: Because of His Exaltation Jesus Christ has received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and poured the Spirit forth upon His believing and obedient disciples.

Acts 2:33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

It is the ascended Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

John 7:39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Acts 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

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POINT 40: Because of the Exaltation Jesus Christ those who believe in Him will do greater works than He Himself did during the days of His incarnation.

John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

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POINT 50: Because of His Exaltation Jesus Christ is seen clothed with glory and honor.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

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POINT 60: By His Exaltation Jesus Christ is made better than (exalted above) the angels.

Hebrews 1:3-4 [3] The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. [4] So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

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POINT 70: By His Exaltation Jesus Christ has been given the name which is above every other name.

Philippians 2:9 [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

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POINT 80: By the Exaltation of Jesus Christ, angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to Him.

1 Peter 3:21-22 [21] ... Jesus Christ, [22] who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

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POINT 90: By the Exaltation of Jesus Christ: (a) All things have been put in subjection under His feet. (b) He has been made head over all things to the church.

Ephesians 1:22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

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POINT 100: Because of the Exaltation of Jesus Christ, in the name of Jesus every knee shall ultimately bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11 [9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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