The Son of Man Ascended

The Son of Man Ascended

by David A. DePra

When we think of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, we rightly put the emphasis upon His life, death, and resurrection. But the ascension of Jesus Christ was just as essential to His redemptive work. Indeed, the ascension is an essential reality if we are to walk with Christ as those who are IN CHRIST.

So we need to ask: What was accomplished by the ascension of Jesus Christ? And what practical impact does it have for us as believers today?

In summary, the ascension of Jesus Christ gathered together all of His redemptive work – redemption was gathered together in the very Person of Jesus Christ -- and seated Him as Lord of all. And the practical impact upon believers is that Jesus is Lord, not only OF believers, but He is Lord IN believers. The work of the Spirit of God in revealing Christ in believers is unto that end – that Jesus be our life, our Truth, and our personal Lord. The work of the Spirit of God is to make Jesus Lord of believers – in a very practical and livable way.

The Son of Man Seated

To see the Truth about the ascension of The Son of Man it is vital to understand that when Jesus ascended into heaven He carried within Himself His HUMANITY – He had been born as a human being, lived as a human being, died as a human being, and was raised as a human being, and was then ascended carrying His humanity in His person. In other words, He was the SON OF MAN ascended.

Jesus referred to Himself by the term, “The Son of Man,” more than by any other term. Of course, that term, “The Son of Man,” is indicative of the Son of God BECOME human. Jesus did not discard that name – because He never discarded His perfected, resurrected, and ascended humanity. The Son of Man continues to be WHO JESUS IS – along side of the fact that He remains the Son of God. Jesus remains The Son of Man as One who is seated at the right hand of the Father. The fact that Jesus is, right NOW, The Son of Man – the perfected man – is an essential Truth to grasp if we are to fully understand the redemption and what Jesus means for us today.

There are numerous passages in scripture that prove that Jesus, right NOW, continues to be the Son of Man – as He is seated at the right hand of God in the heavenlies:

But he (Steven), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55-56)

Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:61-62)

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)

In this passage from Daniel, we are given a glimpse of the ascension for God’s perspective. The Son of Man ascends and is given all power and authority – He was seated in His throne at the right hand of God.

Of course, these passages are summarized by Paul in Ephesians:

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:…. according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Eph. 1:8-10, 19-23)

Can we see in this passage a revelation of the purpose of God for the eternal ages? That purpose is that God might gather all things IN CHRIST. That Jesus Christ might be given all power and authority and be the HEAD over all things – over all things TO THE CHURCH. And lastly, that the church might BE the fullness of Him that fills all in all. In short, the church is to be the full manifestation of Jesus Christ.

But all of this purpose of God is directly dependent upon Jesus Christ as The Son of Man – as God the Son carrying His humanity – being seated in the heavenlies. We need to see that – we need to see that Jesus as perfected humanity is the means by which redeemed humanity can be seated in Him. Because the Son of God became human, humans can become one with God through Him – humans can be joined to Him in spirit and live from out of the heavenlies by faith.

The Word BECAME Flesh

When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, did He discard His humanity? Once Jesus passed through death and resurrection, and then ascended into heaven, did He simply revert back to what He had been before He was born as a human being? It should not be necessary to prove that this was NOT the case. Jesus took upon Himself our humanity and He continues carrying it today, and will, for all eternity. He IS The Son of Man.

Philippians 2 tells us that when Jesus was born a human He left behind a position, we might even say, He left behind a mode of existence to which He would never return. He had been the only begotten Son of God – and is forever the Son of God. He never discarded His divinity. But he took on the human nature and neither would He ever discard that. His new mode of existence was now as the God-man -- He would return to the Father as the God-man. He would be both the Son of God AND the Son of Man.

Jesus Christ as The Son of Man – the Word BECOME flesh – is obviously a foundational Christian Truth. Indeed, the salvation of humanity depends upon the fact that the Son of God became man. But so does ALL that is included in God’s purpose for human beings. Fellowship with God, experiencing God through Christ, being seated with Christ in the heavenlies, and God’s purpose for His people for all eternity – ALL of this depends upon the fact that the Son of God became a flesh and blood human being – yes – but it likewise depends upon the fact that Jesus is today THE SON OF MAN and seated at the right hand of God.

So again – why does our salvation, and God’s plan for humanity, depend upon the Word becoming human? Well, God could not become one with human beings except it be through a human being who was one with Himself. The Son of God was already one with the Father. He had to likewise become The Son of Man who was one with the Father. Only once that was accomplished could God meet humanity in Jesus Christ, and could humanity meet God in Jesus Christ.

This is the real meaning of Jesus Christ as the LIVING MEDIATOR between God and man. His very PERSON; His very presence in humanity is the means of oneness between God and man. He is the PERSON who is ONE WITH GOD, but who is likewise ONE WITH HUMANITY. Thus, IN HIM, God and man become ONE.

When Jesus Christ finished His redemptive work and ascended – He ascended as The Son of Man. He ascended carrying His humanity – a humanity that had been perfected and made one with the Father. Thus, if we are joined to the Lord and made one spirit with Him, we are joined to the Father through Him. This was not possible until Jesus ascended. In short, only if the God-man is ascended and seated can humanity be joined to God and seated IN HIM.

The Giving of the Spirit

Jesus Christ is forever seated in the heavenlies as Lord of all. Nothing can add to that, or subtract from it. His redemptive work FOR us was finished. But this redemption still needed to be worked out IN us. For that to take place, Spirit of God had to be given to dwell within God’s people.

Another way of saying this is that full redemption for the human race is in place – IN CHRIST. But now human beings must be brought TO Christ. And as they embrace Christ by faith, Jesus joins them to Himself. It is then that the redemption that is in place for all begins to be experienced by those joined to the Lord – we experience redemption as we experience Christ. Thus, only those who believe are saved, and only those who are saved can begin to know and realize Christ.

The redemption is finished, but only IN CHRIST. There is no redemption outside of being IN CHRIST. And the way in which human beings are IN CHRIST is by being joined to the Lord and made one spirit with Him – by the means of the indwelling of the Spirit of God. This could not happen UNTIL Jesus ascended. THE MAN – the Son of Man – had to be seated in the heavenlies as Lord of all before His Spirit could be given to make Himself Lord of individuals in a living way.

Remember that Jesus stated directly that unless He ascended the Spirit could not be given? He had to first ascend, and only then would the Spirit be given. That happened in Acts 2. Jesus Christ was given to dwell in His people through the Spirit. All of the victory Jesus had won through His redemptive work, and all of the impact of Jesus as Lord of all, was given IN HIM through the Spirit in Acts 2.

Can we see that God is not working a purpose that has been, “added to,” Christ? No. God’s purpose IS Christ – it is that Jesus Christ might experienced – it is that each believer might know Christ as the fullness of all in all in a personal and individual way. This was not possible until the Spirit of God was given to dwell within each believer in Acts 2.

The New Covenant

The New Covenant began in Acts 2. What is the New Covenant? The New Covenant is Christ – it is Jesus Christ IN His people. To draw a contrast, the Old Covenant was a type and shadow of Christ. Everything about the Old Covenant spoke of Christ in type and shadow. But the New Covenant is Christ Himself in His people.

Can we see, this being the case, that the New Covenant could not begin until Jesus Christ ascended and was seated, and before Jesus came to dwell in His people? Sure. Thus, it was in Acts 2, when the ascended Christ came back down through the means of the Spirit of God, that the New Covenant began – it was then that for the first time in the history of humanity that Jesus Christ dwelled in His people.

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Heb. 10:12-18)

You will note the emphasis upon Jesus Christ as a MAN. We are going to see that the humanity of Jesus Christ is both essential to our redemption, but likewise to our fellowship with God as believers. Hebrews is stating outright that the finished redemption by The Son of Man – climaxed by His being seated at the right hand of God – is what made possible the New Covenant; is what made possible the sending of the Spirit by which Jesus would dwell in His people.

Relationship to Pentecost

In reading the NT, most especially the words of Jesus from the gospel of John, it is clear that there was a direct relationship between the ascension of Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Again, Jesus said, “Unless I ascend to the Father, the Spirit of God cannot be given.”

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Advocate will not come unto you. (John 16:7)

What this means is that Christ could not be here IN His people until He was first ascended and exalted in the heavenlies as Lord of all. But WHY? Because Jesus had to be seated as Lord of all before He could undertake a work in us to make Himself our personal Lord. The one is dependent upon another.

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (I Cor. 15:25-28)

Herein we see the purpose of God being worked out in His people – by the presence of Christ within by the means of the Spirit – Jesus is putting all under His feet. He is being made Lord of all. He already IS Lord of all in fact – He IS seated as Lord in the heavenlies -- but now He must be made Lord of all in practice. This is the work of God through His Spirit.

When Was the Spirit Given

Before we continue, let’s realize another Truth that is embedded in these facts: If Jesus is saying that He must ascend BEFORE the Spirit could be given—BEFORE the Spirit of God could come – then up to that point the Spirit of God had NOT come. Can we see this?

Jesus was not confused. If the Spirit of God had already been given to those disciples in the way the Spirit of God WOULD be given – if the Spirit of God had already been dwelling within human beings prior to the ascension of Jesus – then Jesus WAS confused. He would have been saying, “I must go so that the Spirit can come – but really – the Spirit is already here. So never mind.” That is impossible. Thus, it is conclusive that the Spirit of God – BEFORE the ascension of Jesus – had never been given to dwell within human beings.

This leads to another clear conclusion: In Acts 2, when the Spirit of God was given – this was the FIRST time the Spirit ever came to dwell within human beings. That is a certainty – because Jesus said the Spirit could not be given BEFORE He ascended. Thus, the Spirit could be given only AFTER He ascended -- and Acts 2 is AFTER He ascended; 10 days after He ascended. So Acts 2 is the FIRST TIME the Spirit of God was ever given to dwell within human beings.

This is vital to see because millions of believers are under the impression that the OT saints, as well as the disciples – BEFORE Acts 2 – had the Spirit of God WITHIN. They did not. In fact, Jesus made that perfectly clear:

Note those words: “For he dwells WITH you, and shall be IN you.” This tells us what Jesus meant when He said he Spirit could NOT be given BEFORE He ascended, but would be given AFTER He ascended. He meant that BEFORE He ascended the Spirit of God had been WITH believers, or UPON believers. But only AFTER He ascended could the Spirit of God be IN believers.

These facts are impossible to miss, or deny, and yet millions do exactly that. For example, millions believe that the disciples of Jesus had the Spirit of God WITHIN them BEFORE Acts 2 – and that Acts 2 was a SECOND experience, called, “the baptism with the Holy Spirit.” But that is impossible because if we believe what Jesus said, the Spirit could not be given BEFORE Acts 2 to dwell within. Therefore, Acts 2 is the first time the Spirit was ever given to dwell within anyone.

But weren’t these disciples SAVED before Acts 2? Weren’t the OT saints saved? Yes, on both counts. But they were saved – not by the indwelling of Christ through the Spirit of God – but by faith in the One who was to come. They were saved by the same Savior, and by the same redemptive work, but saved under the Old Covenant. Again -- before Acts 2 – before the ascension -- the Spirit of God dwelt within no one – that is to say – Jesus Christ dwelt within no one via the Spirit.

Some people point to John 20 as proof that the disciples were saved – had the indwelling of the Spirit of God -- BEFORE Jesus ascended, and thus, BEFORE Acts 2. This then is used to prove that Acts 2 was a SECOND and subsequent experience to their salvation.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Note that it says Jesus breathed ON them. He does not say He breathed INTO them. That distinction is vital – because breathing ON them, and not INTO them, is exactly the difference between the Spirit being WITH them and the Spirit being WITHIN them. But that aside, Jesus had already told them the Spirit could NOT come to them – could not come to dwell IN THEM -- BEFORE He ascended. This happened BEFORE He ascended. There is no confusion here – the disciples were NOT receiving the Spirit of God WITHIN. Jesus was breathing ON them.

Now, there are those, in an attempt to prop up false teaching, who have tried to say that Jesus had already secretly ascended to the Father – meaning the disciples were here receiving the Spirit within. But the notion that Jesus has already secretly ascended, only to later, “officially ascend,” in Acts 1 – well, the nonsense of that ought to be obvious. The sending of the Spirit was not dependent upon Jesus merely ascending – it was fully dependent upon Jesus being seated at the right hand of God. The suggestion that Jesus did all of that, “behind the scenes” – unmentioned in the gospels – only to later return to earth and simply go through the motions of ascending in Acts 1 – that is so incredibly lame that it is remarkable that anyone could even consider it to be the Truth. Much deception would be avoided if believers would simply believe what Jesus said instead of trying to make the text read in a way that affirms false doctrine.

What about John 20:17 where Jesus said to Mary, the morning of the resurrection, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.”? This is easily resolved by looking at the Greek. M.R. Vincent, a great Greek scholar states, “The verb, (touch) primarily, means to fasten to. Hence it implies here, not a mere momentary touch, but a clinging to. Mary thought that the old relations between her Lord and herself were to be renewed; that the old relationship, by means of sight, sound, and touch, would go on as before. Christ says, "the time for this kind of relationship is over. Henceforth your communion with me will be by faith through the Spirit. This communion will become possible through my ascending to the Father."

So, NO, Jesus did not ascend twice. He did not ascend before Acts 1. And the disciples did not have Christ within before Acts 2.

But that does not mean they were not saved. The disciples, as well as the OT saints, were saved by faith in Christ. But their actual experience of salvation in this life was not as was only possible once the Spirit was given. Can we see that despite the fact that people under the Old Covenant were saved by faith in the One who was to come – can we see that their actual experiencing of Christ, in this life, was not what it would be for those who would later have CHRIST IN THEM? The Old Covenant was a type and shadow of Christ. The New Covenant is Christ Himself in His people. The experience in this life for those who were IN CHRIST was far beyond what was possible under the Old Covenant – and was always intended to be.

So we need to get this settled: Acts 2 was the first time Jesus Christ ever came to dwell within His people via the Spirit of God – because none of this was possible BEFORE Jesus ascended. Thus, Acts 2 began the New Covenant. Acts 2 began the church. Acts 2 was the first time anyone was born from above in Christ. Acts 2 fulfilled the promise of the Father that Jesus gave to His disciples -- that if He ascended, then the Spirit would be given.

Christ Within Through the Spirit of God

There are NOT two baptisms, but ONE. There are NOT two indwellings, but ONE. Many speak as if we are indwelt by Christ -- but also indwelt by the Holy Spirit. No. The Truth is, we are indwelt by Jesus Christ by the means of the Spirit of God.

Note carefully what Jesus said:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Advocate, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you...If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:16-23)

Jesus makes synonymous the giving of the Spirit with HIMSELF coming to dwell in His people. And isn’t CHRIST IN YOU – or, the believer IN CHRIST -- the continual theme of the New Testament? Sure. There is, “one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph. 4:4-6)

Notice how the apostle Paul considers the Spirit within equal to CHRIST WITHIN:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Rom. 8:9-11)

And of course, there are other verses that affirm these:

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. (I Cor. 12:13)

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Rom. 6:3)

We are baptized INTO CHRIST – BY one Spirit. Therefore, it is conclusive that Christ dwells in His people, that is, His people are baptized INTO Christ, by the means of the Spirit of God.

But all of these Truths are framework intended to help us the questions: Why did Jesus have to ascend BEFORE the Spirit was given? And what does His ascension mean for us right now?

Christ in His Ascension

When a person comes to Jesus Christ and puts their faith in Him, Jesus joins the believer to Himself in SPIRIT. That makes us ONE SPIRIT with Christ:

He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (I Cor. 6:17)

This is HOW believer is IN CHRIST – it is HOW Christ dwells in the believer: We are made ONE SPIRIT with Him. Or, to put it another way, we are baptized into Christ – and thus, by definition – the Spirit of Christ is now that which joins us to the Lord.

There is ONE baptism of the Holy Spirit – it is the baptism of the believer INTO Christ at salvation by the means of the Spirit of God. There is no other experience necessary, for if we are joined to the Lord, then we are joined to all that He has done, and joined to all that He is. ALL is found in Christ. The Christian life is then a matter of coming into a discovery and realization of the One to Whom we are joined.

Now note: We are ONE in spirit with the PERSON of Christ. But what this means, and what the Bible states, is that we are one with Him in His death and resurrection. In other words, we are crucified WITH Him; we are buried WITH Him in His death. We are likewise raised IN HIM joined to His life. Contrast this over and against the idea that Christ gives us merely the benefits of His death and resurrection. No. Christ gives us HIMSELF – the impacts and benefits are found IN HIM.

What we need to see is that what holds true for being made one with Christ in His death and resurrection holds true regarding the ascension. If the believer is joined to the Lord and made one with Him in Spirit – then we are one with Christ in His ascension. And that is exactly what the Bible states:

… According to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all….Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: (Eph. 1:19-23,2:5-6)

The ascension was the conclusion of the redemptive work of Jesus. Of course, the full purpose of God was not yet worked out or fully manifested. But the ascension was the final step in laying the redemptive foundation -- so that all of the purpose of God could be brought to pass. Jesus Christ seated in the heavenlies as Lord of all – Jesus Christ given all authority and dominion – now the full purpose of God could begin to be unfolded and brought to pass.

But we are apt to make the mistake of thinking that the full purpose of God in His redemption is one that is aside from His purpose IN HIS PEOPLE. It is not. The full purpose of God through Christ was always to be manifested IN His people, and then THROUGH His people. We see that in the above from Ephesians. Christ is seated at the right hand of God in the heavenlies – but those who are IN CHRIST are seated IN HIM. Just as we have been united with Him in His death, and are to walk with Him in resurrection union – so are we united with Him in the ascension – we are seated IN HIM.

Can we sense that there is something ULTIMATE about being seated in Christ in the heavenlies? It is as if everything else is gathered up into it as the purpose. We have died and been raised in Christ UNTO being seated IN HIM -- for SOME ETERNAL PURPOSE.

There is no question that the teaching of the New Testament has, as its emphasis, the purpose of God of bringing us into an inward realization of Jesus Christ during this age. Of course. Without that, we cannot get far. But even that is UNTO an eternal purpose of God – the same eternal purpose of God. And that purpose is bound up in the throne – in His throne, and in our union with Him on His throne.

Ascended in Christ

We asked the question, “Why did Jesus have to ascend before the Spirit could be given to dwell within human beings?” In reality, we are asking, “Why was it necessary for Jesus to be seated in the heavenlies at the right hand of God before the Spirit could be given?

First of all, since the giving of the Spirit was the coming of Jesus Christ BY THE SPIRIT to dwell in His people, this could not happen while Jesus physically remained with them. Note again these words of Jesus:

Isn’t it clear that Jesus was assuring them that HE, HIMSELF would come to them; be with them; be IN them? Not – in additional to the Holy Spirit – but by the means of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was telling them that they have known Him and seen Him as a physical human being. But He must ascend to the Father so that He could come back to them by the means of ANOTHER ADVOCATE – the Spirit of God -- and begin working IN THEM the purpose of the Father. This could not happen while He remained physically.

We need to realize that the disciples had no frame of reference for an inward dwelling. They knew nothing of Christ in us, or the Spirit of God within a person. They did not know about the spiritual undertaking that was to come about in the purpose of God. They knew only about the physical Jesus. So Jesus had to assure them, that yes, He was going to leave them. They would no longer see Him with their eyes. But He would not leave them alone. He directly stated, “I will come to you.” He said, “You will see Me.” And, “Because I live, you shall live also.” This would be by the means of this ANOTHER ADVOCATE – not an another advocate INSTEAD of Jesus, or different from Jesus (the Greek bears this out) – but another advocate which was the means by which this same Jesus would be IN THEM.

Can we see that the purpose of God was being transformed from the physical to the spiritual?

So we have the contrast of the physical Jesus who had been with them for 3 ½ years -- over and against a brand new manifestation of Christ, and a brand new means of experiencing Christ by the Spirit of God. This is what Jesus was promising. But none of it could come to pass until Jesus left them physically, ascended to the Father, and became seated at His right hand.

That is one reason Jesus had to first ascend before the Spirit of God could be given. The second reason is that Jesus had to be seated in the heavenlies as Lord of all before He could dwell in humanity as Lord of all – before He could undertake the purpose of God IN HUMANITY.

When Jesus was seated at the right hand of God it finished His redemptive work. But it only BEGAN His redemptive work IN HIS PEOPLE. Jesus Christ had ascended FOR His people, but now His people could ascend IN HIM.

This brings us back to what we saw earlier about the essential of the humanity of Christ. Humanity could ascend to God only if God first descended to become humanity – and then through redemption carry us all back up to the throne of God in HIMSELF. The foundation and possibility of this was laid when Jesus ascended. But once the Spirit of the ascended Christ was given -- then the reality of His death, resurrection, and ascension could be experienced by those who received Him.

Now, all of that describes what Jesus accomplished as the Son of Man. He was born, lived, died, was raised, and then ascended. But it also describes what that means for us. If we are in Christ then we are joined to Him in an eternal spiritual union.

Herein we see the implications of our spiritual union with Christ as it pertains to His ascension – for we are not only united with Him in His death and resurrection, but we are united with Him in His ascension.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: (Eph 2:4-6)

That we are united with Christ in His ascension, and seated in Him in the heavenlies, is a fact – it is the Truth. But the real question is: What does that mean for us NOW? What impact does this have – or should have – upon our life in Christ? To answer that we must repeat a verse quoted earlier:

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all. (Eph. 1:20-23)

Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God OVER ALL – because through His redemptive work He won all victory. But we are seated IN HIM. Thus, the first thing this tells us is that the believer is NOT seeking to win victory – the believer is not trying to get up to the throne. Rather, the believer must operate and live FROM victory – HIS victory.

This would be meaningless unless in Christ there was REAL victory and REAL power. But in Him is all authority – and we are IN HIM. Thus, we have not been assigned the task of winning His victory all over again. Neither have we been given authority as our own. Rather, as we live in and out from Him – by faith – His victory is alive for us as much as HE is alive in us.

It is error to separate the authority of Christ from Christ Himself and turn it into a power or “thing” that God has given to the believer. There is NO, “authority of the believer.” There is only Christ Who IS, “the power of God.” The authority of Christ and Christ Himself are as ONE – all power and authority is inherently IN HIM – it is the power of resurrection life. Thus, it is only as the believer operates as one with Christ – out from union with Him, in His will, unto His glory – that there is any power present at all.

So many of us continue to think that it is God’s will to make us STRONG. But it is not. God wants to make us WEAK – or, better said – He wants to expose the fact that we have always been, and always will be, WEAK. Only then will we be able to live in Christ as our strength.

This is why for so many believers there doesn’t seem to be any power present or working. We try to take hold of the power of Christ within our religious flesh and make it work there – which is another way of thinking God wants to make us strong – and we meet failure. Christ does want to manifest Himself and work His power through human beings that are in Him – but this is not about us “using” the power of Christ as we think best to do the will of God. It is not about us becoming strong. No. It is about Christ living through human beings – which requires that we be weak and that His interests dominate.

So, believers are seated in Christ in His throne in the heavenlies – and this means that we need NOT try to win any victory. By faith we live from OUT of His finished victory. Thus, the real battle is FAITH. The enemy wants to blind us to the Truth of Christ in victory – or to tell us that it is all nonsense. We must believe and stand in the Truth by faith.

This brings us back to the fact that it essential that Christ do a work IN His people before He can do much THROUGH His people. This work is the work of the Cross. It is through the work of the Cross that a believer is set free from their own interests and can be free to live in and out from the interests of Christ. That makes it possible for the authority of Christ to move through the crucified believer.

The Body of Christ

As we have noted, the ascended Son of Man made it possible for human beings to be united with Him, indeed, seated in Him. This made it possible for God’s purpose for humanity to be undertaken out from the ascended Christ. But union with Christ through the Spirit of God is likewise what created the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ consists of many believers who are united with – baptized into – Christ.

Obviously, God has a purpose behind uniting human beings with Himself through Christ. Jesus did not save human beings simply to save them – we are saved UNTO a great purpose. And that purpose is for individuals is found in His purpose for His body. It is suggested in the verse quoted above:

…and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.

The purpose of God for the Body of Christ is that the Body of Christ be, “the fullness of Christ” – that is – that the Body of Christ be, “the fullness of Him that fills all in all.” But again – these are not just passive facts. This is a purposeful and living Truth. In short, the Body of Christ is to be a living extension of Jesus Christ.

Isn’t this what a BODY is? – as it relates to the HEAD? Sure. Christ is the Head. Believers comprise the Body. The Body is an extension of the Head, that is, the Body acts in accordance with the Head – with the mind of Christ.

Jesus Christ does not need any of us. He can do what He pleases without any of us. But God has chosen to ultimately work through the Body of Christ. This is for our benefit. Jesus Christ wants to reign and rule – exercise His Lordship – through His Body.

Now, can we see that it is impossible for Christ to be Lord through His people unless He is first Lord IN His people? Again – this is possible only through the work of the Cross. Christ cannot use us as an extension of Himself unless our own interests and strength are crucified. We have to live in and out from Him in order for His life – which is His power – to manifest through us.

This begins NOW. The emphasis NOW, is, of course, upon the work of Christ IN His people – with some of His authority being worked through His people. But it is all unto the greater release and manifestation of Christ in the eternal ages.

God’s Purpose for Humanity

God’s purpose for human beings, right from the creation of Adam, was for humans to have DOMINION over God’s creation. But it was not to be dominion apart from God, or simply dominion as a “thing” given, or an office given – but God created humanity to have dominion over all UNDER HIMSELF. This was represented when God forbade Adam to eat of the forbidden tree, but gave him of the tree of life to eat freely.

Once Adam sinned, he forfeited all dominion over to Satan, who was then, “God of this world.” Yet God was nevertheless going to have His will through a human being – and ultimately through a RACE of humanity. For this to be possible, the original Adam race had to die – just as God said would happen if Adam ate of the forbidden tree. A new race needed to be born.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through human birth became the SON OF MAN. Paul calls Him, “The Last Adam.” This is because Jesus, through His sinless life, became the fullness of what God wanted in humanity – He became the consummate Adam. Therefore, there was no need for another Adam. But Jesus was The Last Adam also because IN HIM at the Cross the Adam race ended. Jesus bore the entirety of the Adam race in His body down unto death. Through the resurrection there was ushered in a new race of humanity – in Jesus Christ.

Note: The new creation in Christ Jesus is a NEW humanity – but only IN Christ Jesus. From out of the death and resurrection of Christ the only human race that is alive is the one that is spiritually joined to the Lord. Human beings are joined to Christ because Christ became a human being and lived, died, and is ascended. Thus, all the purpose of God is on that basis – on the basis of union with Christ Jesus. There is no purpose of God or life that is outside of union with Christ. And all of this was made possible only because Christ was the SON OF MAN.

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