Acts 1:1-9, "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, {2} Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: {3} To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: {4} And, being assembled together with , commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, , ye have heard of me. {5} For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. {6} When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? {7} And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. {8} But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. {9} And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Introduction:

A. There are three main scriptures which give us the Historical Record of the Ascension of our Lord.

Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9

B. The ascension took place 40 Days After The Resurrection.

C. Every real Christian is Living Proof of an Ascended Lord!

1. We are Saved By An Ascended Lord.

Heb. 7:25, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

2. We are Kept, moment by moment, By An Ascended Lord.

Jude 1:24, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"

3. We live in Constant Fellowship with an Ascended Lord.

1 John 1:3, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

4. We are Represented before the Father by our Great Advocate, an Ascended Lord.

1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

5. Our Ascended Lord being with the Father is the Guarantee of Our Life.

John 14:19-20, "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. {20} At that day ye shall know that I in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

D. The ascension of our Lord was represented in the Types of The Old Testament.

1. Just as the High Priest entered into the "holiest of all" with the Blood of Atonement, --- so our Lord has entered into the "holy place" for us.

2. Heb. 9:11-12, "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; {12} Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption ."

E. The ascension of our Lord was declared by Old Testament Prophecy.

Psa. 68:18, "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell ." --- (Ephesians 4:8-10)

F. The ascension of our Lord was Anticipated By The Lord Himself.

1. In Prayer --- John 17:11-13

2. In Parable --- Luke 19:11-27

3. In Promise --- John 7:33, 14::12, 28, 16:5, 9-10, 20:17

G. The ascension of our Lord was Confirmed By The Angels.

Acts 1:9-11, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. {10} And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; {11} Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

H. There are Seven Reasons why our Lord's Ascension Was Necessary.

I. Because His Earthly Mission Was Completed.

A. He came to do His Father's Will --- die on the cross.

Psa. 40:8, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law within my heart."

2 Cor. 5:21, "For he hath made him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Heb. 9:26, "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

B. In anticipation of the ascension --- He prayed.

John 17:4, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

C. When the work was actually Finished, He Ascended and "Sat Down."

Heb. 1:3, "Who being the brightness of 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;" --- 10:11-12, "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: {12} But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;"

II. In Order That He Might Take Up His Priestly Office.

A. It was Only His Earthly Work That Was Finished.

B. 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"

C. 1 Tim. 2:5, "For one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

D. Heb. 4:14-16, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast profession. {15} For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as , without sin. {16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

III. Was Necessary In Order That He Might Prepare Our Heavenly Home.

A. John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if not , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

B. Where our forerunner (Jesus) is gone, we will soon follow --- Heb. 6:20, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

IV. Was Necessary Before He Could Send The Holy Spirit.

A. Matt. 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire:"

B. However, this promise could not be fulfilled until the Lord Jesus ascended.

John 7:39, "(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet ; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

C. The Christian Life is the life of the Lord Jesus Living In Us by the power of the Holy Spirit --- this could only be possible by the ascension of the Lord.

V. In Order That "Greater Works" Might Be Done.

A. John 14:12, "Verily , verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

B. His earthly body was Local --- the Holy Spirit is Universal.

1. While He walked the earth, He ministered in only one place at a time --- He was Localized By An Earthly Body.

2. Because He ascended and poured out His Spirit and gave gifts to men, He is now able to work through Millions of Christians.

VI. In Order That Every Christian, Everywhere, Might Enjoy His Continual Presence.

A. The following could only be true if Christ ascended.

Matt. 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Matt. 28:20, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, unto the end of the world. Amen."

Heb. 13:5-6, " conversation without covetousness; content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. {6} So that we may boldly say, The Lord my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

B. How wonder this is --- He is with me Now, in:

1. In my Sorrows --- Isa. 43:2, "When thou passest through the waters, I with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

2. Even in Death --- Psa. 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

VII. In Order That We Might Have A Pledge Of His Sure And Certain Return.

A. John 14:2-3, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if not , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also."

B. Acts 1:9-11, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. {10} And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; {11} Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

If You Are Not Saved, Nothing Else Matters
There Is No Second Chance After Death!
Hebrews 9:27                                                                       

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