Ephesians 4:9-10 - Christ Ascended

Ephesians 4:9-10

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

Message: Christ Ascended

Time: Paul wrote this letter sometime in AD 60-61 after having spent time in Ephesus, a city that housed a temple for the Greek Goddess Artemis, at the end of his 2nd missionary journey and then for 2 years during his 3rd missionary journey. Many came to faith in Ephesus and this book is focused on faith and the practice of our faith - and that can be applied to any circumstance. 

What the Lord is Saying:

In the last several lessons, I have looked at Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, paying the penalty for my sins, one of his called ones, and also that he rose from the dead. After Jesus paid the penalty for sins, he conquered death. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death and even with Jesus taking on sin resulted in death, but my salvation is found in the fact that He conquered death and rose from the dead as I learned in the verse from I Corinthians that in Christ all will be made alive. True and complete life is found in Christ. So what is next? After God raised Jesus from the dead that yielded our new life in Christ, Christ ascended to heaven. Jesus is Savior and He is King. 

There are examples of people in the Bible that did not die, but went straight to heaven (Enoch, Elijah, Serah, but Jesus died and then he was taken to heaven by God and exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33). The right hand is a symbol of strength and authority. In Philippians it is written - God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth. When God created the world, the Jewish term for the universe is the heavens and the earth which is the phrase used in Genesis 1:1 and so in this verse Jesus is God's right hand Man, that every knee will bow to all in the universe (in heaven and earth). And He will reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet (I Cor 15:25). So this is the reality of His ascension - Christ dies, is resurrected and then goes on to the right hand of the father to have authority over all. As the hymn goes, "All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live."

Now, this passage in Ephesians also speaks that he might fill all things (Eph 4:10). When Jesus ascended to heaven He said, But 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. Though Christ in in heaven, he has sent us the Holy Spirit so that Christ can still be present with His people here on earth. This allows us to be in community with Christ in His humanity wherever we live. 

I continue to be reminded and instructed in the work of the Holy Spirit today in my life. For by the Spirit Christ bridges the distance between me and His physical presence in heaven. So God is with us, always and still. 

Promise: Christ's ascension makes it possible for people all over the world to commune with Him still. Christ is present with us, by His Spirit so that God will continue to conform us to the image of His Son.

Prayer: Thank you God for being Lord and King over all. Thank you Jesus for going to prepare a place for me and the joy of being with you for eternity. Thank you Holy Spirit for speaking to me each day and living in my life and testifying of the truth of Jesus in my life. Continue to work in me to be your ambassador and help me to be a blessing to those you place in my life. 

 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- Attributes of Jesus - The Divine Nature of Christ meaning Jesus is God, the God-Man, God became man, The Human Nature of Christ Jesus has the qualities of man (hunger, needing rest, not knowing future events, being tempted), Jesus the Last Adam as Adam was our federal head in ushering all sin to man, Jesus makes all alive for those in Christ, Jesus the True Israel as Israel was called by God to be His true messenger, but Jesus is the one that truly fulfilled this call, Jesus the Messiah is the One that rescues and delivers His people

- The Word of Jesus - Obedience in Childhood reminds us that each day Jesus grew in obedience and favor with God, Obedience in Baptism showed Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, as John had been baptizing all new believers, Obedience in Temptation - like men called by God before, Jesus is tempted, but he resists and defends Himself with scripture, showing perfect obedience, Obedience under the Law as Christ was born under the Law, and kept the Law perfectly to redeem man, Obedience in Suffering as even in suffering Jesus learned obedience, a sinless man suffering for sinners, 

- His Titles - Christ Our Prophet, speaking for God, with divine inspiration, His words absolutely trustworthy and never fail to accomplish His purposes, Christ the Priest, clearing the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer, Christ Our King is King of Kings, the last and final monarch of our lives for He did it all, 

- His Atonement - In Penal Substitution the penalty is paid by a substitute and Jesus paid the penalty of sin, once for all, and with Particular Atonement is the reminder that Jesus had me in my mind when He went to the cross, not everyone, but only those who will hear His voice. Christ Resurrected reminds me that only through the resurrection am I truly saved and sealed for eternity with Him by faith and now Christ ascension whereby our King ascends to heaven to rule at the right hand of God and sends the Holy Spirit so that Christ can continue to be present with His people on earth.