“We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hades; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen”

Acts 1:9-11 - “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. [10] 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."

Last week we considered three points of the significance of Christ’s ascension. Today we will conclude with three more:

4) JESUS’ ASCENSION MAKES POSSIBLE OUR APPROACH TO A HOLY GOD WHO COULD NEVER TOLERATE OUR PRESENT LIMITED CONDITION IN ITS OWN MERIT - It may well be that this blessing of the ministry of the ascended Christ is the most underappreciated blessing of all.

Hebrews 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.”

This is a frequently neglected truth. We all know Jesus died for us - on our behalf. But that’s not the whole story. This verse says He appears for us as well. He appears there in heaven itself, not for His own sake, but, like everything else our Mediator did, he appears there “for us.” What can that mean?

We will miss the marvel of everything Jesus did from His birth to this very day unless we fully understand that we could have absolutely no dealings with God apart from the work of the second Person of the Trinity, God the Son, the man Jesus Christ. You and I simply cannot get to God on our own.

This is not because God hates us. Far from it. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to bring us to Himself. But there is something else we must never forget about Almighty God. His very Being only mixes with anything impure the way fire mixes with paper. Evil can’t abide in His presence.

Now you and I, in Christ Jesus, are forgiven. But we are not yet perfect. How is it that we are able, even in our present state, to come to God as our Heavenly Father as the New Testament teaches? - Colossians 3:1-3 - “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” The answer is in this precious verse from Hebrews 9:24 - Jesus is in the presence of Father God for us right now. In other words, the work of the cross is ongoingly applied on our behalf: Hebrews 7:25 - “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

This is what it means to come and worship and sing and pray in Jesus’ Name. We can’t get to God by ourselves. It would be like a moth flying into the sun. But the reason we can approach the throne of grace with confidence is Jesus intercedes on our behalf:

Hebrews 4:14-16 - “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens [that’s the ascension], Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [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.”

5) THROUGH HIS ASCENSION JESUS IS PLACED ABOVE ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY - Ephesians 1:18-23 - “....having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might [20] 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.”

Jesus is literally lifted up and exalted in His ascension. He has been given the Name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9). His ascension is the answer to His own prayer - John 17:5 - “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

All barriers and obstacles have been overcome and defeated. The way is open for sure for us to God. Our ultimate victory is certain.

6) THE ETHICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST’S ASCENSION FOR THE CHURCH TODAY - To miss this point would be to miss a key dimension to New Testament spirituality. Paul ties the ascension of Jesus Christ, not just to the way we believe, but to the way we live: Colossians 3:1-3 - “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

You will not progress far in the life of holiness just focusing on the things of this world. Most of us know the power of this glitzy age to entice our thoughts more to television, money and fashion than prayer, devotion and God’s Word. Choose friends that will attract you to Jesus, not worldliness.

But there’s more here than just this bit of moral advice. Paul is offering a key - a secret - to making the Christian life work. And it has to do with the ascension of Jesus Christ. If you just focus all your attention to the rules of holiness rather than the goal of holiness your spiritual walk will be arduous and taxing.

The key is to remember where Jesus is and where you are going. The key is to think of your spiritual walk not as a moral improvement so much as a total relocation. Of course, you still must live out your days here on this earth. And you must serve the Lord faithfully while here. This is the only place where we can be of use to our Lord. But our minds must be “set” (they will never just drift there) on things above - “where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” Perhaps Paul puts this reality in its most vivid terms in Colossians 1:13 - “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son....”

So we have all moved. We are now to consider ourselves relocated. The trick is to focus on that which is not yet but which is more permanently real. We are going to be with Jesus. This is the central fact of everything we are, have and do. This is the rudder that steers the ship. Picture Christ ascending and then remember you are going too. This goal will determine the value of everything else you are about.

Colossians 3:4 - “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

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