Christ IS the Gospel #3

Key Aspects of Christ’s Exaltation

Christ’s humiliation was temporary, never to be repeated. His exaltation is everlasting, never to cease.

Just as certainly as traces the steps of Christ’s voluntary humiliation, verses 9–11 set the course of His earned exaltation.

"For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, "so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— "and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ()

This earned exaltation of Christ is a necessary component of the gospel.

A dead Christ may testify to unselfish and sacrificing love, but a dead Christ cannot save.

The good news is that Jesus Christ lives.

The summary statement in the Westminster Larger Catechism isolates four specific aspects to Christ’s exaltation:

The estate of Christ’s exaltation comprehendeth his resurrection, ascension, sitting at the right hand of the Father, and his coming again to judge the world. (question 51)

His Glorious Resurrection

Christ’s resurrection is more than theological doctrine; it is historic fact.

Every genuine Christian affirms that Jesus Christ, having been crucified on a Roman cross, bodily rose from the dead on an actual day in history.

To deny the resurrection is to deny the gospel.

But to believe in a resurrection that did not occur is still to perish in sins.

The objective, historical certainty of the resurrection is essential to salvation "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” ()

What are the ramifications of a worthless faith?

For one thing, if Christ is not raised from the grave, he is dead;

a dead Christ is unable to justify believers; and unjustified believers remain in their sins.

Indeed, Paul makes it clear that believing in the resurrection of Christ is worthless folly if Christ did not in truth rise from the dead.

Believing it and preaching it do not make it so (see ).

Let’s consider the important theology associated with the resurrection that is so wonderfully a part of our salvation.

The Resurrection Affirmed Christ’s Identity

The resurrection unmistakably identified Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah (), as the true prophet of God (; ), and as the only powerful Son of God ().

Because the Old Testament predicted the glory that would follow the Messiah’s suffering and death,

the resurrection of Jesus was the powerful affirmation that He was in fact the Christ of God, the only Redeemer.

His resurrection verified and validated every claim the Scripture made concerning the Messiah and that Christ made about Himself.

In His earthly preaching, Jesus staked His whole prophetic authority on the prediction that He would rise from the dead (the sign of Jonah—; and building the temple in three days—, ).

The resurrection set a seal on all His instructions and promises; it powerfully affirmed every other word—whether words of grace or warnings of judgment.

The implications are significant:

If He was right concerning this astounding prophecy, then

everything else He said deserves careful hearing and obedience.

The Resurrection Accredited Christ’s Atonement

is a pivotal verse: "He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” ( (read vv23-25))

The word “for” more specifically means “because.”

Consider the logic of the verse: Because of our justification, Christ was raised.

His resurrection is the sign and the guarantee that God received His sacrifice as the

full satisfaction of the Father’s wrath against sin, the

full payment for sin’s penalty.

Significantly, in this connection most of the references to the resurrection focus on God’s activity in raising up Christ.

It is theologically vital that we understand and believe that He was raised by the power of God’s Spirit.

This was the great stamp of approval on a mission accomplished.

His death showed His willingness to save; His resurrection showed His power to save.

It is only because Jesus lives that we can know that

the ransom was sufficient,

that the sacrifice was accepted, and

that we are purchased.

The Resurrection Acclaimed Christ’s Authority

Read . This is an important text to establish this principle. “This Jesus has God raised up, we all are witnesses … v36 therefore, let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

This passage suggests two thoughts.

First, He is the Head over all things to His church; He is the mediatorial ruler ().

The resurrection declares His right to rule and to be the absolute Lord of all.

Our confidence in His enthronement flows from our belief in His rising from the dead.

A Christ held prisoner to the grave would be no different from any other person who dies and He would, therefore, have no authority to rule.

But that Christ does live after death and that He is consequently Lord of all are fundamental tenets of Christianity.

Because He rules,

believers ought to be encouraged, and

sinners ought to be warned

sinners ought to be warned

since the right to rule confers the right to judge.

Second, His continuing life—the consequence of His resurrection—gives Him the uniquely special authority to be the

mediatorial representative of His people. (; ).

As the successful High Priest, He conspicuously bears our names before God.

The resurrection is the bedrock for His session work—itself a distinct feature of His exaltation.

The Resurrection Achieved our Salvation

The Scripture links the new birth directly to the operation of the resurrection:

We have been born, “into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Pet. 1:3)

into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Similarly, the Bible defines full salvation in terms of the Savior’s life following His death: "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.” ()

If by His death Christ fulfilled every condition to purchase life for those united to Him,

then those united to Him will be certainly saved in and by His life.

In fact, the resurrection of Christ stands as the great guarantee of the success of His whole mission.

Paul’s great defense of the believer’s resurrection in includes two far-reaching statements that asseverate the virtual impossibility of salvation without the resurrection.

First, if Christ is still dead, then the gospel is worthless (15:14, 17).

Paul compares the message of the gospel to a shell without a nut: It is empty, full of nothing.

Without a resurrection, any faith in Christ is useless.

It is empty, full of nothing. Without a resurrection, any faith in Christ is useless. After all, the object of faith determines the value of faith. Faith in a dead Christ is worthless.

After all, the object of faith determines the value of faith.

Faith in a dead Christ is worthless.

Second, if Christ is still dead, then believers will perish.

A dead Christ cannot do anything for anyone.

Intensity or sincerity of faith in Him does not infuse Him with saving power.

A Christ who lives in the heart is good, but if the heart is only place He lives, there is no salvation.

Believing doesn’t make the resurrection true.

Christianity is not make-believe.

It is belief based in real, historic facts.

Therefore, because the resurrection is true, believing it is salvation.

The Resurrection Assures our Immortality

Christ’s life after death not only revealed the destiny of believers but also guarantees the life of every believer.

Jesus said, “ Because I live, you will live too. ” ().

Because I live, you will live too. ” ().

His simple cause-effect logic is irrefutable.

The logic of is equally impeccable.

That Christ is the “firstfruits of them that slept” means simply that others are going to follow Him out of death into life.

Christ’s resurrection powerfully and infallibly holds ours in tow.

It is impossible for those in Christ to perish.

t is impossible for those in Christ to perish. Spiritual union with Christ assures and necessitates everlasting life. It is the indisputable fact that in Adam all must die; so in Christ all must live (). As the first dying Adam took his natural descendants into death with him, so the second rising Adam takes His spiritual seed to life with Him. Christ redeemed us completely, and not one part of redeemed man will ever perish, not even the body. By His resurrection, Christ “hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” ().

Spiritual union with Christ assures and necessitates everlasting life.

It is the indisputable fact that in Adam all must die; so in Christ all must live ().

As the first dying Adam took his natural descendants into death with him, s

o the second rising Adam takes His spiritual seed to life with Him.

Christ redeemed us completely, and not one part of redeemed man will ever perish, not even the body.

By His resurrection, Christ “has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” ().

has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ” ().

His Glorious Ascension

Although not many texts focus directly on this single event, it is nonetheless important. Luke records the historic fact of Christ’s having been taken up into heaven (; , ).

Hebrews speaks of our great high priest “that is passed into the heavens” (4:14).

This could be rendered more literally “a great high priest, that had gone through the heavens.”

The bodily ascension of the Lord Jesus testifies to His finished work, which

earned His entrance to glory and

commenced a new, intensified, manifest ministry of the Holy Spirit ().

In one sense, Christ’s return to heaven was to be expected. He Himself said, "I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”” ()

As the Son of God, He had every right to reside in His eternal glory.

What made the ascension theologically special was the entering into glory of the Son of Man.

The inspired apostle recognized the significance of this when he applied directly and uniquely to Christ: "But someone somewhere has testified: What is man that you remember him, or the son of man that you care for him? "You made him lower than the angels for a short time; you crowned him with glory and honor” ()

For a little while the Son of Man was being perfected through sufferings,

but because of His perfect life He earned everlasting glory as the Ideal Man.

In the person of Jesus Christ, man achieved heaven.

His entrance prepared the way for all of His followers.

Speaking of Christ’s entering within the veil, the most holy place of heaven itself, Hebrews plainly says, “"Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner ...” (6:20).

Christ is the pioneer who has blazed the trail for His people to enter fully into His glory.

Heaven is ours because Heaven is Christ’s. That is good news.

Not only does His ascension foreshadow the entrance of His people into glory,

but it marks the beginning of a vital part of His present ministry in behalf of His temporarily earth—bound people.

His Glorious Session

Theologians refer to the exalted status and station at the right hand of God as the Session of Christ.

Hebrews says plainly that Christ has entered into heaven “so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.” (9:24).

As there was nothing passive about His first coming, there is nothing passive or inactive about His present position at God’s right hand.

so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.” (9:24). As there was nothing passive about His first coming, there is nothing passive or inactive about His present position at God’s right hand. Although He is sitting there, He is not idle. It is a huge mistake to assume that Christ is just sitting around heaven waiting for the Father to tell Him the time for His Second Coming. Christ is currently, constantly, and wonderfully active for His people. The two principal works of Christ between His advents are His intercession and His administration.

Although He is sitting there, He is not idle.

It is a huge mistake to assume that Christ is just sitting around heaven waiting for the Father to tell Him the time for His Second Coming.

Christ is currently, constantly, and wonderfully active for His people.

The two principal works of Christ between His advents are His intercession and His administration.

In His exalted session work, the Lord Jesus continues to exercise His mediatorial operations.

As Prophet, He sends His Spirit to “convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment” ().

As Priest, He constantly intercedes for His people.

As King, He administers the affairs of His kingdom, particularly His church.

he Westminster Larger Catechism gives a clear synopsis of this work.

Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, with all fullness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth; and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and maketh intercession for them. (question 54)

Prophetic Administration

His prophetic work is primarily mediate. This means He works indirectly, but He works nonetheless. Interestingly, Paul links Christ’s prophetic administration to His ascension. is an interesting passage that is often misunderstood: "But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? "The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.”

Let us be careful to follow Paul’s logic.

There is no question that he is referring to Christ’s ascension into heaven.

This ascension from earth to heaven is possible only because Christ first descended from heaven to earth.

Paul’s reference to lower parts is in contrast to heaven, not some lower region inside the earth.

The word “earth” stands in an qualifying relationship to “lower parts.”

In other words, “earth” identifies what the “lower parts” are.

The descending refers to His Incarnation; the ascending refers to His glorious entrance to heaven.

On the basis of this ascension, Paul declares that Christ “gave gifts to people” ().

Included in this gift distribution were some, “...to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ” (vv11-12)

to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Even while in heaven, Christ has not left His people without a Word.

12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, Even while in heaven, Christ has not left His people without a Word.

Priestly Intercession

Christ’s priestly work, on the other hand, is immediate.

We are given the amazing privilege of listening in on Christ’s great intercessory prayer just prior to His sacrifice on Calvary ().

One thing we can learn from that recorded prayer is that Christ prays with His people on His heart.

He prayed both for His disciples and for every believer in every generation to follow: "“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they are yours.” ..."“I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word.” (, ).

What He prayed on earth, He continues to pray in heaven.

Elsewhere John assures us that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

The word “advocate” is paraclete, that one who is called alongside.

Christ is the one near to the Father and near to us to intercede for us with the Father.

Although we do not know His exact words as He intercedes for us, we do know the basis of His argument.

That John immediately identifies the Lord as our propitiation suggests that He pleads His own blood ().

God is forever satisfied with His Son and forever satisfied with His sacrifice.

None who have been saved by the blood can ever be the object of God’s wrath.

Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth; declaring his will to have it applied to all believers; answering all accusations against them; and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings, access with boldness to the throne of grace, and acceptance of their persons and services. (question 55)

Although the apostle does not record the words of any heavenly prayer, two things emerge as remarkably clear from Hebrews:

Christ constantly intercedes for us, and

nobody can do so like Him.

says, "Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.”

“to save completely” means to the uttermost, completely, entirely, or perfectly.

Salvation begun is always salvation finished.

proclaims, "But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently.”

The word “permanently” means untransferrable.

His priesthood cannot be passed on to anyone else.

Only He has the credentials; only He has the heart to pray as He does for His people.

Kingly Administration

The kingly work of Christ is administrative, especially relating to His church.

Once again we appeal to the evidence of the apostle Paul.

In Paul first links Christ’s resurrection to His session at God’s right hand, alluding to .

He equates the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit in the heart of believers with

the same power that He exercised "...in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—” ()

The effect to Christ’s sitting down in heaven is that God “subjected everything under his feet, and appointed him as head over everything for the church” ().

During His session Christ rules His kingdom.

John’s initial apocalyptic vision of the exalted Lord illustrates the reality of Christ’s superintendence of His church.

When John turned to see who was speaking to him, he saw “one like the Son of man” in the middle of the lamp stands, having seven stars in His hand (, ).

Happily, the vision interprets itself for us.

The lamp stands represent the churches, and the stars represent the messengers (angels or ministers) of those churches ().

The point is beautifully obvious.

Although John was exiled because of the gospel and

the church was being persecuted,

Christ was with them,

holding tightly in His hand those whom He had appointed to lead, pastor, and teach His church.

Everything was under control.

If the New Testament is clear about anything, it is clear that Christ is now at work for His people and

that His work flows necessarily from His work of redemption.

He accomplished a wonderful work at His first advent and will do so again at His second,

but He is now active for the good of His kingdom.

Our salvation is as much a present experience as it is a future eternity.

His Glorious Return

Discussions about the Second Coming concern that area of theology called eschatology, the doctrine of last things.

Sadly, many today get so taken up with trying to figure out the timing and sequence of predictive details that they miss the main message.

Even more sadly, many become so confident and dogmatic in their sequential schemes that they deny the orthodoxy and almost the Christianity of any who interpret differently.

Let’s be certain that the main theme of eschatology is not events but Christ.

As believers, even if we cannot agree on the sequence of events,

we ought to be able to rejoice in the knowledge of a soon-coming Christ.

Jesus is coming again—personally, visibly, bodily, gloriously, really and truly.

His glorious return marks the beginning of our glorious never-ending end.

plainly says that Christ will “appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those waiting for Him.”

Whereas His first advent dealt with the sin problem for His people,

His Second Advent will bring the full consummation of the salvation of His people.

He will change our vile bodies to become like his glorious body ().

Every vestige of sin and corruption will be gone, and we will be forever with Him.

What a day that will be when faith gives way to sight, and “we shall see him as he is” ().

Being saved is good now, but the best is yet to be.

Admittedly, I have barely scratched the surface of all that Christ has done, is doing, and will do for the full and complete salvation of His people.

How can one begin to say enough or ever finish speaking about the blessed Savior and what He should mean to every Christian?

Jesus Christ is the

central,

predominant theme of the whole Scripture and the

foundation of all of Christian life and living.

When Paul testifies that he determined to know nothing else except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (),

he models what should be the mindset of every believer.

For Paul, the gospel of Jesus Christ interfered with everything in life.

The gospel of Christ stood in the way of every sin and

pointed the way to life and holiness.

Paul himself never got over the saving and transforming power of Christ, and

it is just as imperative for us to remember and to

live practically in the light and the power of the complete salvation that we have in Jesus Christ.

Successful Christian living in this present evil age will be in

proportion to the degree that we see Christ and our place in Him.

May we confess individually and confidently that "...I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that Day.” ()

We are complete in Him.