Taken up in Glory 130512

1 Timothy 3:14-16, I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

In the book of Acts, Luke tells us that Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of forty days after his resurrection. The Scripture for the day probably is an early affirmation of faith for the first century church. Paul says we confess that the mystery of godliness is great. Christ appeared on earth to men and angels and was proclaimed to the nations and was believed on in the world. I want us to think about his ascension and glory.

Most Christians do not seem to grasp the concept of union with Christ. Everything about our life as believers is touched by the fact that we are in Christ, that he is in us, that we are like Christ and we are with Christ. In all aspects we are united with Him. He wasn't just taken up in glory he was glorified by the Father with the glory he had with the Father before the creation of the universe. Since we're united with Him…

His glory foreshadows our future glory. What we see in Christ now we will see in ourselves in the future. As the apostle John tells us, "When he appears we shall be like him." When he returns…

We may ascend to be with him. Look at what Paul told the Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

If we should die before he returns he will bring us with him. Paul certainly expected to be alive when Christ returned. He said, "we who are alive" not, “those who are alive”! The Thessalonian letters are probably the first that Paul wrote and reflect his early understanding of the end times. Later, he would write to the Philippians, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Clearly, by that time he had come to believe that he would depart his earth body rather than see Christ return while still in it. Nonetheless, we may ascend with him if he returns during our lifetime.

Meanwhile…

We are encouraged to be faithful. The writer of Hebrews wants us to remember that we are following Jesus' footsteps. Listen while I read, Hebrews 12:1-2, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

That great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews eleven encourage us to lay aside everything that hinders our growth in grace. They are the cheering section for our race! Every runner must have a goal — a finish line. Our goal is Jesus Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Knowing that he has run before us allows us to run with courage and expectation in the race that God has given us. Remember…

We have a promise to hold on to. And it was given to us by Jesus himself John 14:1-3, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also..."

Because of the joy set before Jesus he endured the cross and despised the shame of it. He could see that the time was rapidly approaching when he would be betrayed, beaten and killed. But he was not discouraged! Instead, he knew that part of his departure would include the promise of his return. Not just a promise to return to the earth but a promise to return for his church. A promise to take his people to himself so that we could be with him. He went away to prepare a place for us. Several years ago a dear friend of mine, who was a faithful servant of the Lord, came to the end of his life. For several weeks he grew weaker and weaker. One day when I was visiting with him he said, "What are they building?" I replied that I didn't know of anything being built. He said, "Well I hear the noise of saws and hammers." Now, of course, this could be attributed to the drugs he was on. But that's not what I said to him. I asked him if he remembered that Jesus said he would go to prepare a place for us? He said, "Yes, Of Course!". I know that preparing a place for us in heaven is not likely being done with saws and hammers. But that would be a sound understood by a man who had built many things. Perhaps, he was just being given a reminder that in the Father's house are many rooms and that one awaited him in a few short days.

That man called in each of his grandchildren and presented them with the gospel of Jesus Christ and gave each of them a New Testament or Bible before he died. Yes, heaven is a real place and…

His ascension assures us that there is a place for us after death. We need to know that…

Jesus ascended to a real place. The eyewitness accounts show us that Jesus was not a spirit after his resurrection. Instead, he had a body of flesh and bones. He did not just disappear when it was time to leave the Earth. Luke gathered some of those eyewitness accounts and here are two of them. Luke 24:50-51, Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And, Acts 1:9, And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

When Jesus was taken up in glory he was in a real physical body. It was a resurrection body and therefore much better than the ones we walk around in. His resurrection body is in the improved version of the one he was born with. He was fully recognizable when He stood before his disciples and blessed them. He was surrounded by a cloud and lifted into the air as he was blessing them.

Where did he go? That surely was the topic of discussion among the disciples. I don't see how they could have avoided it! I do know the answer. He entered into paradise where he took his seat at the right hand of God the Father.

Where is paradise, or heaven? Now you have me, I don't know. But every reference to it speaks of "up" from Earth. Since Earth is a ball I am not sure what "up" means. Perhaps it simply means "higher than" or "greater than". Nonetheless, heaven is a real place. But that's another sermon. Actually I am grateful that it's another sermon because I'm not prepared to speak with authority on the subject right now. And, in fact, I may not be able to speak with authority on the subject this side of being there myself. Suffice it to say, heaven is real place…

Where God sees us as seated with Christ. Obviously, we are not now physically seated in heaven. Remember, God sees us that way according to Scripture. Let's read, Ephesians 2:4-7, But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Heaven is a real place and in some sense, not easy for us to understand, those who have come to Christ by grace through faith are already seated there. We have been saved, or born again. We, who were dead in our trespasses, have been made alive together with Christ. Not only were we made alive, but we were raised up with him and seated with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Not some spooky spirit world but a real material world that has a river of life with trees of life growing along its banks. A real material world that has a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem in it. Most of the images of heaven that men have produced miss the point altogether. For one thing, we will not be angels playing harps. Second, we will not be floating around on clouds. When the rich man looked into heaven, or paradise, he saw Lazarus, who had begged at his gate, and Abraham, in a real world. He himself, in hell, was in a real world. A world of hurt, and pain, and suffering, and memories of what had been. I assume he also had thoughts of what might have been adding to his torment. Most of us experience some of those memories and thoughts while we live. I certainly do! Yet, we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Jesus promised the thief on the cross a real place called paradise. And he promised that man that he would be there that day.

Heaven is a real place where God sees us seated,…

In the city of the living God. The writer of Hebrews gives us a glimpse in Hebrews 12:22-24, But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

I may not know where heaven is physically but I know that it's where Jesus is. There's an old saying, "Home is where the heart is!" And that's certainly true of the believer and our real home. The Bible tells us that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. The reality is that we act much more like citizens of earth than citizens of heaven. There is an old song, I believe it was written by Jim Reeves, and it goes like this: This world is not my home I'm just a passing through, My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Oh Lord you know, I have no friend like you. If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do? The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

His glory foreshadows our future glory. His ascension in glory assures us that there is a place — a real place of substance — awaiting us and…

His ascension assures us of a share of his authority.

We will share responsibility for the creation. Look at what we find in Hebrews! Hebrews 2:5-9, Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

We are joint heirs with Jesus and as such share the responsibility and privilege of being caretakers of a future universe. If we are seated with him in heaven now how much more complete will our relationship be when history ends. There will be a renewed heaven and a renewed earth. If you read further down in Hebrews you will see that he is not ashamed to call us brothers. As part of the family we share the future with him. We share in a heavenly calling that includes a relationship and a government as God intended in Eden. If you study carefully you will see that everything taken away by sin in Genesis is restored by grace in Revelation. When all of history is wrapped up we will return to the garden. We will enjoy what Adam lost. Perhaps he'll enjoy all of that with us. We will be responsible, under Christ, for the management of heaven and…

We will judge the angels. This could be a shocking idea to many people who don't know the Bible very well. Let's read what Paul said, 1 Corinthians 6:3, Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

Paul is speaking here to the church advising them to stay away from civil courts when they have disputes among themselves. After all, if our destiny is to rule the angels we certainly should be able to rule in common civil matters among ourselves. Remember, we don't become angels, we will rule over the angels. When Jesus was taken up in glory and seated at the right hand of the Father he began to rule over the universe in a different way. He had won the battle over sin and death and set free from bondage those who would come to his grace through faith. Salvation makes as part of a new order while still being subject to earthly governments. At the same time, we have a responsibility to exercise care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Part of that care might include helping those who have a dispute with one another to settle out of court. After all, we are being prepared to join the resurrected Christ in ruling the universe.

Perhaps, the fact that we will ultimately judge the angels might influence their concern for us. After all, if you have the opportunity to train someone who will be in charge of you you will want them trained well!

The Bible tells us…

We will have future power. Look at what the risen Lord Jesus promised in his letters to the churches in Revelation 2:26-27, The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And; 3:21, The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

I am certainly not sure how this will work. But it is definitely a different understanding than most people have of heaven. It should be encouraging to know that heaven is not just a place where we lie around playing harps. Yes, we will praise God in heaven but the images offered to us in Scripture should help us understand that we continue to learn and grow and have responsibility.

I remember well how, as a child, I read about our being pillars in the Temple of our God. Now, I am a rather literal minded individual with an excellent imagination. The image that came to my mind was one of me standing nice and straight with the roof of the Temple sitting on my head forever! After all, that's what a pillar does! Of course that's not what Jesus meant! Much of what John saw in Revelation was very hard for him to put into words after all it was beyond anything he had ever experienced. So the Holy Spirit guided him to use words we could understand rather than present ideas we could not understand.

Jesus began his intercessory prayer for us in John chapter 14 by asking the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son may glorify the Father. Jesus goes on in that prayer to pray for us and all who would believe in Him. Then he says that he has given us the glory that the Father has given to him! The death of Christ is essential to our salvation because he took our sins into his own body when it was nailed to the cross. His resurrection is essential evidence that he has power over death. And his ascension is assurance that he continues to exist in a real place where we will join him at our death, or when he returns, whichever comes first. Are you ready? If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior you need to focus on growth in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. We have a future shared with other believers under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and glory.

All scripture quotes are from:The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.