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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadR.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (About Jesus Christ): 07 The Ascension or Exaltation of Jesus Christ
TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (About Jesus Christ) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 07 The Ascension or Exaltation of Jesus Christ
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Ch 07 The Ascension or Exaltation of Jesus Christ
I. THE FACT OF THE ASCENSION.
Eph_4:8 — "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Act_1:9 — "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." Luk_24:51 — "And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Heb_10:12 — "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."
Proposition: Jesus Christ ascended up on high, was received into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God.
The ascension or exaltation of Jesus Christ is spoken of at least thirty-three times in the New Testament.
II. THE MANNER OF THE ASCENSION OR EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Luk_24:51 — "And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." Act_1:9 — "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ was carried up into Heaven while the disciples were looking. Joh_17:5 — "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
Second Proposition: The Father has glorified Jesus Christ with the glory Jesus had with God before the world was. Heb_7:26 — -"For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ has been made higher than the heavens. (Compare to Heb_4:14 RV, "passed through the heavens.") Eph_1:20 — "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." Col_3:1 — "If ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God.
QUESTION: Is this to be taken literally of location, or figuratively of power?
ANSWER: Act_7:55-56 — "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on 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 that He dwells nowhere else. Jesus Christ is at God's right hand in that place. Eph_1:21 — "Far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ has been exalted far above all principalities, power, might, and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. (Compare to Eph_6:12 AV and RV with the Greek. The RV is inconsistent in its translation in these two passages.) Act_5:31 — "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Sixth Proposition: God the Father exalted Jesus Christ with His right hand. (Compare to Eph_1:19-20.)
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Joh_17:1 — "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy son also may glorify thee."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ was glorified in order that He might glorify the Father. Act_5:31 — "Him that God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ was exalted that He might be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
It is the "ascended" or "exalted" Christ that now rules the believer and saves him and gives repentance and forgiveness of sins. Heb_6:20 — "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ was exalted to enter heaven as our forerunner.
He has gone ahead to prepare the way and open the gates by His atoning blood and priestly intercession. Joh_14:2 — "In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven to prepare heaven itself as an abode for us.
QUESTION: How?
ANSWER: Heb_9:21-24 — "Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heaven itself must be sprinkled with blood to be fitted to be the abode of blood-sprinkled sinners. Heb_9:24 "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to appear before the face of God for us. He went to act as high priest on our behalf to present the blood of atonement and make intercession for us.
This is illustrated by the Old Testament high priest who was only the type of Him that was to come. Heb_10:12-13 — "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Act_2:34-35 — "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool."
Act_3:20-21 — "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and is seated at 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 will be quickly subdued before him. Eph_4:10, RV — "He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things."
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things.
IV. THE RESULTS OF THE EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Eph_1:18-20 — "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places."
First Proposition: In the exaltation of Jesus Christ, as in His resurrection, the exceeding greatness of God's power toward us is seen. Heb_4:14-16 RV — "Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need."
Second Proposition: Through the exaltation of Jesus Christ we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens; thus, we can hold fast our confession and draw near with boldness to the throne of grace.
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 hand of the throne, the Majesty in the heavens" ( Heb_8:1). Act_2:33 — "Therefore 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, which ye now see and hear."
Third Proposition: Because of His exaltation, Jesus Christ has received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and poured the Spirit forth upon His believing and obedient disciples.
It is the ascended Christ who baptizes with the Holy Spirit ( Joh_7:39; Joh_16:7; Act_1:5). Joh_14:12 — "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."
Fourth Proposition: Because of the exaltation of Jesus Christ, those who believe on Him will do greater works than He Himself wrought during the days of His humiliation. Heb_2:9 — "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."
Fifth Proposition: Because of His exaltation, Jesus Christ is seen clothed with glory and honor. Heb_1:3-4 "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."
Sixth Proposition: By His exaltation, Jesus Christ is made better than (exalted above) the angels. Php_2:9 RV — "Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name."
Seventh Proposition: By His exaltation, Jesus Christ has been given the name which is above every name. 1Pe_3:22 — "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."
Eighth Proposition: By the exaltation of Jesus Christ, angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to him. Eph_1:22 RV — "And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church."
Ninth Proposition: By the exaltation of Jesus Christ, (a) all things have been put in subjection under His feet, and (b ) He has been made head over all things to the church. Php_2:9-11 — "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (See RV) Tenth Proposition: 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.