"Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection?" (Acts 1:22)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved ... he that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:12-20)
This post focuses specifically on the misunderstood word ascended -- as in "no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven." Note that Jesus in this scripture offers clarity to who it is that has come down from heaven. Jesus states, " ... the Son of man which is in heaven." Just in case the point is missed, Jesus further clarifies by saying, " .... even so must the Son of man be lifted up!"
In the first chapter of Acts, after Jesus has been taken up and now gives commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen through the Holy Ghost, Peter stands up in the midst of His disciples (120 in the upper room in one accord) and says, "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus." (Acts 1:2-3; Acts 1:15-16) This is when the apostles went on to appoint a twelfth to take part in the ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell. [After praying and drawing lots, Matthias was chosen and numbered with the eleven apostles.] (Acts 1:24-26)
By the time the day of Pentecost is fully come, note that Peter standing with the apostles speaks, sharing that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Acts 2:21) Peter then goes onto speak of David - "For David speaks concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption ..." (Acts 2:22-29)
Peter goes onto speak freely concerning the patriarch David. In other words, Peter is now going to explain what the prophet and psalmist David's writings from afore meant -- from the context of "after" Jesus has risen. Peter says, "that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus God raised up -- whereof we are all witnesses." (Acts 2:29-32; Psalm 16:8-12; Psalm 73:23; Psalm 110:5; Psalm 49:15)
Peter is telling us that when David initially spoke these words, he was not speaking of himself. Why not? Because (as Peter points out) the prophet David is dead and buried, and his sepulchre still with us to this day. But knowing that God swore an oath to him, we know from the genealogies in both Matthew and Luke that Jesus was a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor.of David.
For the record, "... all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David until the carrying away into Babylon fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17; Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31; I Samuel 17:12)
In Acts 2, Peter continues to elaborate.
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but He saith Himself, "The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool." Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:33-36)
This same Jesus -- both Lord and Christ.
But in this day and age, we have been deceived into believing the erroneous religious error that the Son has existed forever, rejecting the scriptures wherein the Lord Himself hath said, "Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee." (Psalm 2:7) "God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee." (Acts 13:33)"For unto which of the angels said He at any time, "Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee?" And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?" (Hebrews 1:5)
To believe this religious lie, one would have to recognize that an always existing Son (as the modern day religious culture would have us believe with their three-in-one analogies) is that if the Son existed side by side with God the Father throughout eternity, there would not be a need for "this day" to have occurred.
As well, an eternal son could not grow in stature and wisdom as the scripture stated the "only begotten Son" did. Neither could an eternal Son "be made of a woman under the law."
"... but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:2-6)
When the fullness of time was come -- only then did God send forth His Son. Only then did God say "I will" -- future tense -- to Him a Father and He to Me a Son. David was prophesying to a future time when God would be manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) David was prophesying to a future time when after the kindness and love of God our Saviour would appear toward man. (Titus 3:4-7) David was foretelling the future coming of the Messiah that would personally deliver to us His plan of salvation. Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)
David's status as a prophet is confirmed by Peter -- "knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne" -- David seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." (Acts 2:30-32)
"Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should beholden of it." (Acts 2:24; Acts 2:32)
In his prophecy, David saw that according to the flesh, God would raise up Christ to sit on His throne. A second throne? No, Christ would sit on His throne as both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) The same Lord Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ.
"Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath sed forth this -- which we now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens, but He saith Himself, "The Lord said unto My Lord - "Sit Thou on My right hand ... until I make Ty foes Thy footstool." (Acts 2:33-36)
This is what those 120 believers assembled together in the upper room recognized when Jesus commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but rather to "wait for the promise of the Father, which," [saith He], "ye have heard of Me." (Acts 1:4)
"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:24; Acts 2:32)
Thus, if the Son were an eternal spirit (as the false religious culture would have us believe) it would not have been necessary for God to raise up this man made of a woman under the law.
"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?" (Hebrews 7:11)
But as we know, there was a need for another priest -- His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
As Jesus declared, "If ye do not believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
"Then said Jesus again unto them, "I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come." Then said the Jews, "Will He kill himself?" because He saith, "Whither I go, ye cannot come." And He said unto them, "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM [He], ye shall die in your sins."
Then said they unto Him, "Who art Thou?" And Jesus saith unto them, "Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him."
They understood not that He spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM [He], and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him."
As He spake these words, many believed on Him." (John 8:20-30)
We need to believe in the risen Jesus -- as both our Lord God and the promised Christ -- understanding that Jesus is the He that from the very beginning loved us so much that He Himself would shed His precious, holy blood so that we might be saved. (Acts 2:36; Jude 1:25; Isaiah 45:5; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8)
Then said they unto Him, "Who art Thou?" And Jesus saith unto them, "Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him."
They understood not that He spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM [He], and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him."
As He spake these words, many believed on Him." (John 8:20-30)
We need to believe in the risen Jesus -- as both our Lord God and the promised Christ -- understanding that Jesus is the He that from the very beginning loved us so much that He Himself would shed His precious, holy blood so that we might be saved. (Acts 2:36; Jude 1:25; Isaiah 45:5; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8)
And that this same Jesus is inviting us to come to the most elaborate wedding feast ever. (Revelation 22:12-13; Revelation 22:16)
Stand in the offering plate.
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