Ascension of Christ
The Doctrine of the Ascension
written 11/28/05
The ascension of Christ is a key and often neglected doctrine of Christianity. Without a proper understanding of the ascension of Christ one cannot understand the true implications of His sacrifice and office of Mediator, or our fellowship with God in this life, or the nature of His future coming in glory.
What is Christ's sacrifice? His sacrifice was His body, without spot or blemish, offered as a substitute for our sins on the cross. Having known no sin He became sin so that we might be made the righteousness of Christ.
In Roman Catholic doctrine, Christ's sacrifice remains on earth through the practice of the holy eucharist, or mass, their practice of the Lord's supper. They teach that, in a doctrine known as transubstantiation, the bread and wine elements of the mass are mystically transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ, and so we are commanded by Christ to offer His sacrifice again and again perpetually unto His coming and consummation of His kingdom. According to the Roman Catholics, we have fellowship with God through Christ in the practice of the mass, and Christ fulfills His promise to be forever with us through the elements of the eucharist.
I offer this example of Roman Catholic doctrine not chiefly as a refutation of their beliefs, but as an example of a doctrine that ignores the implications and Biblical teaching of the ascension of Christ.
The Roman church refers to the passages in John chapter 6 to substantiate their claims of the eucharist:
Joh 6:54-58
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
:54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
:55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
:56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
:57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.
:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever."
But the interpretation of this passage is to be found by Christ's own explanation of it:
Joh 6:62-63
Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
In the above verses Jesus demonstrates not only that to corporally eat His flesh and blood would profit nothing, but I believe He alludes to the ascension as key to understanding this doctrine thus presented.
Heb 10:19-20 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
Heb 10:12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
Heb 9:12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Heb 6:19-20 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
:20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Rom 8:33-34 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Heb 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
Eph 1:20-23 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
:22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
1Pe 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Act 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Psa 68:18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
Eph 4:8 Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."
Eph 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Act 1:10-11 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
:11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Mat 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.