Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Tuesday,
March 4, 2008
The doctrine of ascension and session.
Point 1. Introduction.
a. The great power demonstration of the hypostatic union, B.C. 4 – 30 A.D.
b. The great power demonstration of the Church-age, 30 A.D. to the Rapture, an indefinite period of time.
It is the resurrection, ascension, and session of TLJC which divides the two Christocentric dispensations.
Point 2. Definition.
The ascension is that doctrine of Christology pertaining to the transfer of our Lord’s true humanity from planet earth to the third heaven in a resurrection body.
The session is that doctrine of Christology pertaining to the glorification of our Lord’s “humanity” at the right hand of the Father.
The hypostatic union simply means that in the person of the incarnate Christ are two natures; He is true humanity and undiminished deity forever in one person.
If Christ remained on earth, He would have a limited glory, but when He went to the third heaven He became superior to all creation, and therefore had unlimited glory.
The resurrection body is recognizable as a human body, Luk 24, JOH 20:25-27.
The resurrection body has substance and it can be touched, LUK 24:39-40, MAT 28:9.
The resurrection body can carry on conversations so it must have some system of vocal cords, JOH 20:26.
The voice of the resurrection body is recognized as the voice of the person in their human body, JOH 20:16.
The resurrection body has flesh and bones,
LUK 24:39-40.
The resurrection body can also eat food,
LUK 24:30,43.
The resurrection body can also walk though doors and walls,
JOH 20:19,26; LUK 24:26.
The resurrection body is able to appear and disappear, LUK 24:31.
The resurrection body can move vertically or horizontally; MAT 28:10, ACT 1:9-10.
John 21:25
And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written.
The ascension of Christ demonstrates the vertical travel of the resurrection body, moving with ease through the atmosphere of the earth, the galaxies of the stellar universe, and the billions and billions of light years in an instant, and then entering into the third heaven, the abode of God.
Then upon arrival in the third heaven, our Lord was seated at the right hand of God the Father; this is the doctrine of the session.
At the session, He received His third royal patent and the title, “King of kings, Lord of lords, the bright morning star.”
This is why this doctrine of ascension and session is the missing “link” between the resurrection of Christ and the Christian way of life.
His new royalty had to be a new spiritual species functioning under protocol as royalty,
2CO 5:17.
COL 3:1 “If then you have been raised up with Christ [and you have], keep seeking [or keep on desiring to possess or endeavoring to obtain] the things above, where the Christ is at the right hand of the God sitting”
MAT 26:64 – TLJC reveals that He is the son of God by stating –
“The Son of Man will be sitting at the right hand of power,”
In REV 4:2, TLJC is sitting on the throne as evidence of His kingship.
In PSA 110:1, the prophecy is given concerning the Messiah sitting at the right hand of God the Father, therefore it is a prophecy concerning the Messiah fulfilled by TLJC.
In MAT 22:44, the session is used to reveal to the Pharisees that the Messiah had to become a member of the human race.
In Peter’s first message at Pentecost he cites the session as proof that TLJC ascended into heaven, ACT 2:34.
The session or TLJC being seated at the right hand of God also reveals His victory in the angelic conflict, HEB 1:13.
Concerning the victory and the rewards of TLJC the session is mentioned in REV 3:21.
Concerning the power of God and the beginning of the Church-age the session or is mentioned in EPH 1:20.
Concerning our position in Christ the session is mentioned in EPH 2:6.
Concerning the intercessory ministry of TLJC the session is mentioned in ROM 8:34.
It is mentioned concerning His power to save and forgive sin in ACT 5:31.
It is mentioned concerning the hypostatic union in HEB 1:3.
It is mentioned in relationship to His priesthood in HEB 8:1.
It is mentioned concerning the efficacy of His work on the cross, HEB 10:12.
It is mentioned as a means of occupation with Christ in HEB 12:2.
It is mentioned concerning His victory in the angelic conflict when He came back from Hades in 1PE 3:22.
The session points to –
His deity.
His power and authority.
His kingship.
His fulfillment of messianic prophecies.
His ascension into heaven.
His victory in the angelic conflict.
His eternal rewards.
The power made available to every C.A. believer.
Our position and security in Christ.
His intercessory ministry.
His power to save and forgive sin, ACT 5:31.
His hypostatic union.
His priesthood.
The efficacy of His work on the cross.
Occupation with TLJC.
His trip to Hades.
These two doctrines of ascension and session combine to form the climax of the strategic victory of Christ in the angelic conflict.
Point 3. The historical account of the ascension and session, Acts 1:9‑11.
Point 4. The significance of the session.
PSA 110:1 The Lord [God the Father] said to my Lord [God the Son], “Sit down at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
HEB 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet”?
This prophecy is also quoted a number of times in the New Testament, MAT 22:44; MAR 12:36; LUK 20:42-43; ACT 2:34-35; HEB 1:13; 10:13.
The resurrection, ascension, and session all deal with the true humanity of Jesus Christ.
Just as only the humanity of Christ could provide our salvation by receiving the judgment for our sins in His own body, so only the humanity of Christ could be resurrected, ascend, and sit at the right hand of God the Father.
Acts 2:33 “therefore, [Jesus Christ] having been exalted to the right hand of God.”
Acts 5:31 “He is the one whom God has exalted at His right hand as Prince and Savior.”
PHI 2:9 Therefore also, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a title which is above every title, –
– that at the title of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father.
Point 5. The session and the strategic victory of the angelic conflict.
The session means that the humanity of Christ inherited a greater title than any angelic creature including any seraphim or cherubim.
Although we are now inferior to angels in our human bodies on earth, in the future, in resurrection bodies, we will be totally superior to angels.
With the resurrection of Jesus Christ, all angelic creatures, including fallen angels, are subordinated to Him “in His humanity!”
But in His humanity, He was made lower than angels, HEB 2:7.
HEB 2:7 Thou hast made Him for a little while lower than the angels; Thou hast crowned Him with glory and honor, and hast appointed Him over the works of Thy hands;