Seventh Sunday of Eastertide – June 1, 2025

 

Introduction

  • Last Thursday was a critically important holy day in the Christian calendar. When we think about our salvation in Christ, we typically think of the cross or maybe the cross and the empty tomb. Rarely do we think of his other salvific works. But they all form a seamless whole.
  • Today, I want to walk through together five reasons our Lord’s ascension was essential to our personal and corporate salvation. My hope is that, by the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding and appreciation for this aspect of our salvation.

 

Why the Ascension was so essential to our salvation

  1. The ascension permitted the blood of the final sacrifice to be carried into the heavenly “holy of holies” to make a permanent, once-for-all atonement for the sins of every believer. Heb 9:11-13, 24-26. Jesus is the sacrifice (Jn 1:29; Rev 5:6). Jesus is also the high priest (Heb 8:1-2). This assures us that our sins are fully paid for and we are “made perfect forever” (Heb 10:10,14).
  2. The ascension moved the abode of the righteous dead from the underworld to God’s glorious presence. Eph 4:7-10. Previously, the righteous dead went to sheol/hades (Lk 16:22-23). When Jesus ascended, he took with him the spirits of the saints to the intermediate heaven until he returns to earth with them to establish the new heaven/earth (1 Thess 4:13-17). This assures us that each Jesus follower who dies before Jesus’ return goes immediately to the intermediate heaven into the presence of the Father, Son and all the saints who preceded him in death (2 Cor 5:1-4; Phil 1:23-24).
  3. The ascension confirmed that, for only the second time in history, a human being was crowned king of all the earth. Humans were made to rule the earth: Gen 1:28. They abdicated their authority to the Tempter (2 Cor 4:4, “god of this age”). Jesus defeated the dark powers and reestablished the authority for humans to rule the earth (Col 2:15; Rev 5:10). It was Jesus’ ascension that confirmed that human royal authority over the world was fulfilled at last (Daniel 7:13-14). So, for the first time since Adam and Eve, humans are once again given the right to rule the earth. BTW, Adam didn’t rule alone (Gen 1:26). Jesus, the last Adam also has a wife (Eph 5:25-32). We co-reign with Jesus now (Eph 2:6) and in the world to come (Rev 5:10). This assures us that God’s original plan is being fulfilled and that nothing can thwart his purposes in redemption (Dan 4:35)!
  4. The ascension meant that the Spirit of God could now be “poured out” into God’s covenant people to permanently inhabit them. IOW, Pentecost required Ascension. Previously, the Holy Spirit was “with” his people (in OT “upon”). After Pentecost, the Spirit is “in them” (Jn 14:16-17; Acts 1:4). This assures us that Jesus’ presence is with us in every place, at all times (Matt 28:19-20). Through the Spirit:
  • We are made “one” with God (1 Cor 6:17).
  • We can know God’s mind (1 Cor 2:11).
  • We can hear God’s leadings (Lk 12:12).
  • We can feel God’s love (Rom 5:5).
  • We can do God’s will (Rom 8:3-9).
  • We can have God’s character (Gal 5:22-23).
  • We can minister with God’s authority (2 Cor 10:3-5; 1 Cor 12:4-11;2 Cor 5:20).
  1. The ascension set the stage for Jesus’ return to restore all things. Acts 1:11. Having ascended to his place of authority in heaven, Jesus is ready to return with glory, accompanied by the heavenly armies of saints and angelic warriors, to defeat evil once and for all, judge the world and establish his eternal kingdom (2 Thess 1:7b-10; Rev 19:1-22:5).
  • At his first coming, Jesus bound the strongman (Mark 3:23-27). So, Satan is presently limited in his work of “deceiving the nations” in a wholesale way (Rev 20:1-3).
  • Right now, Jesus is building his church and the gates of hell are buckling under its assaults (Matt 16:18).
  • In ANE language, his enemies are being made a footstool for his feet (Ps 110:1).
  • His kingdom is expanding every day to include every tribe, nation, and language (Rev 5:9).
  • At the end of this present age, Jesus will allow Satan one last chance to deceive the nations, who will rise up against his people, triggering Jesus’ return (Rev 20:3b, 7-10).
  • After Jesus defeats his enemies and judges all mankind, he will renew the cosmos and heaven and earth become one again (Rev 21:1-21).

Takeaway

Do you now see why our Lord’s ascension is such an integral part of God’s overall plan of salvation? During this final week before Pentecost, meditate on and marvel at the five points outlined here—one per day—looking up the verses, thanking God for his provision and growing in your understanding that you, too, “have been raised with Christ” and “seated with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Col 3:1; Eph 2:6).