THE HOPE OF JESUS: Part 4 The Ascension of Jesus---and How All Were Included “in” It in Him
The Good News is better than our Western mindsets have allowed it to be. Being almost obsessively focused on our status as “independent” individuals, we’ve completely forgotten what Scripture says we are---uniquely created “persons” living in the “Person” of Jesus Christ who lives now (with glorified human nature) in the Three Persons of the Trinity.
We’ve become “individuals” who are willing to contract with the Ultimate “Individual” (God) when in reality we are simply contingent beings “in” Him. We are distinct, just like the members of the Trinity are “distinct.” But “we live and move and have our being” in Him (Acts 17:28). When He died, we died (2 Corinthians 5:14). When He rose, we rose to (same verse).
And Paul also adds this:
Ephesians 2:6
New International Version
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
That’s what it says. God not only included us in the incarnation of Christ. He not only included us in the life and death of Christ. He not only included us in the resurrection of Christ. God included is in the ascension of Jesus Christ. And in Him, humanity is about as close to the Father as anyone could get. He “seated us with him in the heavenly realms,” it says, “in Christ Jesus.” We’ll study that today in segment 4 of “The Hope of Jesus.” And then we’ll summarize and show you how you can use this in the Marketplace as “chaplains” for Christ expanding the Kingdom of God from where you are planted in the Marketplace.
The Real Meaning of the Ascension and Present Life of Christ –for You!
Goal: To help us understand more about the ascension and life of Christ, and how we were all included in that ascension and life.
Discussion: What have you come to understand about Christ’s ascension? What does his ascension have to do with us? Are we included? If so, in what way? What is Christ doing for us right now? What is Christ doing with us right now?
Scriptures to consider:
Acts 1:1-9, Ephesians 1:20 – Where is Christ, right now?
Ephesians 2:6 – Where are you, right now?
Hebrews 2:17 – What role is Jesus now filling on your behalf?
Hebrews 7:25 – What is Jesus doing for you right now?
Luke 22:31-34 – What does that look like in real life?
Luke 23:34 – When did Jesus forgive these people?
Romans 5:8 – When did Jesus forgive me and you and everybody?
John 1:12 – What must you and do?
2 Peter 1:4 – What can be ours if we do?
Colossians 3:2-12 – What will our life look like after that?
So in summary, consider what you’ve learned, and what you could share with others in the Marketplace as you begin to disciple them.
All are included!
· God – the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit---created all people to share in His life through the ongoing humanity of Jesus Christ, now being lived in your place on your behalf. You were made to live in the love relationship enjoyed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
· The Son became human, the man Jesus Christ, to bring all humanity back to God through his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension---and He’s still living life on behalf of you!
· The crucified, resurrected, and glorified Jesus is the representative and substitute for all people at the right hand of God.
· He draws all people to himself by the power of the Spirit.
· In Christ, humanity is loved and accepted by the Father. He paid for all our sins---past present and future. There is no longer any debt to pay.
· The Father has in Christ forgiven all our sins, and he eagerly desires that we turn to him.
· We can enjoy his love only when we believe that He loves us. We can enjoy his forgiveness only when we believe he has forgiven us.
· When we respond to the Spirit by turning to God, believing the good news, picking up our cross, and following Jesus, the Spirit leads us into the transformed life of the Kingdom.