A Scriptural Call for Radical Reformation in a 10-Point-by-Point Sermon in an Exegetical Study of Biblical Verses on the Reformed Baptist Doctrine of the Bodily Ascension of our great Incarnate Savior and Creator Jesus Christ, Pt 1

 The Heidelberg Catechism

Question 46. How dost thou understand these words, "he ascended into heaven"?

Answer: That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; (a) and that he continues there for our interest, (b) until he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. (c)

(a) Acts 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. Matt.26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (b) 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. Heb.4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 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: Rom.8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Eph.4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Col.3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (c) Acts 1:11 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. Matt.24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Psalm 68:18 NASB
¹⁸ You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among men,

Even among the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell there.

1.  Psalm 68:18 refers to a single prophetic and historical account of the bodily ascension of the Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, because He divinely accomplished redemption in His person and work in behalf of His people alone.  

2.  The Lord has set the captive free by His perfect life and death alone in how someone is right with God through faith alone.  The Lord Jesus bodily ascended into heaven like the fragrant and soothing aroma of incense in the ancient temple of God.  There is no doubt that He ascended in His glorified and sacred humanity where He is the eternal God-man.

3.  Jesus has absolute power over the air in which He ascended through His eternal self-existence in the power of being.  He rose above His cosmic enemies but provided the only way to be right with God that is only through Him. 

Ephesians 4:8-10 NASB 

⁸ Therefore it says, 

“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.” 

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.

4.  The Lord Jesus Christ ascended on high.  That is, He was lifted up to and beyond the heavens.  He set free the men in spiritual bondage to sin through the unspeakable gift of Himself in how someone is justified before a holy God.  

5.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Person who ascended into heaven.  What does descended mean?  It means God became man in the Person of Jesus Christ.  He alone is the Incarnate and eternal Word.  It does not mean He descended into hell, but He bore hell upon the Cross to pay for all of the sins of God's people in Christ alone.  I am not saying He is not everywhere, because He is touching His deity.  That is, the eternal Incarnate Consuming Fire is present in eternal hell where He torments the residents of hell in the holy presence of His elect angels.

6.  Jesus ascended into heaven body and soul, but He came from heaven to be virginal conceived of the Virgin Mary and became man.  God descended into the lower parts of the earth and was born of a holy woman.  Jesus said that He was the greatest above all.  That is, Jesus is the greatest even greater than the heavens itself.  Jesus must have the First place in all things (see Col. 1:18).  He fills all of the elect which are His people alone that emerge to be an innumerable multitude.

John 20:17 NASB

 ¹⁷ Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

7.  Jesus rose bodily from the grave, for He communicates with Mary.  Jesus was set apart from sinners.  That is, He is immaculate Son of Man and He spent time on earth after His real, bodily and historic resurrection.  

8.  He ascends to God the Father.  There is an economic distinction in the Triune Godhead in the Three distinct Persons: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Father is the First Person, the Son is the Second Person and the Spirit is the Third Person.  

9.  Jesus has God as His eternal Father because Jesus is submissive to His Heavenly Father as the Second Person in the Triune Godhead.  He refers to His disciples as "My brethren."  That is, the people of God in Christ alone are His brothers and sisters, but they are not equal to Him.  Jesus has the divine prerogative, authority and power to bodily ascend to God the Father as His God and Your God.

Luke 24:48-51 NASB
⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”  ⁵⁰ And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

10.  Jesus has witnesses that demonstrate He is God in human flesh, His radical miracles and His bodily resurrection.  Jesus speaks of the Father's Spirit upon His people.  The Spirit comes at the appointed time to cloth the people of God with power from on high.  The Lord leaves with a blessing.  No Roman priest can be "another Christ."  Rather only the blessing of the divine words of Christ avail.  He blesses and departs.  He always gives in His mission from the Father.  He not only ascended into heaven by His own power but by the power of the Father, Spirit and His elect angels.  The Triune Majesty always works together and surely the ascension is no different.  That is, it was a Trinitarian work of God in the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
 

"When Christ returned to heaven, He withdrew His physical presence from our sight.  He didn’t stop being with the disciples but by the ascension fulfilled His promise to be with us to the end of the world.  As His body was raised to heaven, so His power and reign have spread to the uttermost parts."  (John Calvin)