The Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven
Pastor Tan Thai · Feb 20, 2022
This sermon presents the deep theological significance of Christ's ascension, explaining that He did not simply leave His disciples but rather became omnipresent with the entire Church at all times and in all places. The ascension also opens up important results: the giving of the Holy Spirit, intercession for believers, preparing a place in heaven, and the Great Commission for disciples to continue His work.
This sermon was delivered on Sunday, February 20, 2022, based on Acts 1:1-2 and numerous other Scripture passages related to the ascension of Jesus Christ. The pastor introduces that the book of Acts is the second volume that Dr. Luke wrote for Theophilus, continuing the Gospel of Luke which records everything Jesus began to do and teach. The title of the book implies that the work Jesus began would be continued by His disciples until His return.
The first section of the sermon explains what the ascension is. The pastor cites Scripture passages from Luke 24:51, Mark 16:19, and Acts 1:10-11 to confirm that the body of Jesus was literally taken up into heaven. He explains the three heavens according to Scripture: the atmospheric heaven where birds fly, the vast cosmic universe, and the third heaven where God dwells. Using modern astronomical data about cosmic distances to illustrate the greatness of the third heaven, the pastor affirms that Christ's ascension was not merely into the atmosphere but into the third heaven that transcends the entire vast universe.
The second section explains the meaning of the ascension. The pastor compares the disciples' initial reaction of gazing into the sky in Acts 1:10-11 with the joy and praise recorded in Luke 24:52-53. This difference is explained by the fact that once the disciples understood the meaning of the ascension, they realized they had not lost Christ but rather gained His presence everywhere, at all times. Jesus ascended and returned to His divine nature as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and infinite, no longer limited by a human body. The pastor also explains the Vietnamese word "về" (return) in the phrase "return to heaven" carries two meanings: returning after completing the mission of salvation, and returning to a beloved familiar home as one returns to family.
The third section presents the results of the ascension with five main points drawn from Jesus' teachings in John 14-17 and Romans 8:34. First, Christ went to heaven to prepare a place for believers according to John 14:1-3. Second, He continues His work through disciples who will do even greater works according to John 14:12. Third, He sends the Holy Spirit as the Comforter according to John 14:16-17 and Acts 1:8. Fourth, the Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth according to John 16:12-14. Fifth, Christ intercedes for believers at the right hand of God according to Romans 8:34.
The sermon concludes with a call to fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8, while reminding the congregation that believers live on earth as pilgrims who long to return to their better heavenly homeland. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3:11 and Hebrews 11:13-16, the pastor affirms that God has placed the concept of eternity in every human heart, and heaven is the true home to which all of God's people will one day return.