____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 18, 1994 ____________________________________________________ The Ascension of Christ by Lynn R. Wessel Much is said about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; and, rightly so! There would be no other valid doctrine without Christ's death for sin and His victory over death through His resurrection. But, what about His ascension? It seems that while putting a well-placed emphasis on these other doctrines, we often neglect the ascension of Christ in our study and teaching. How often do you give thought to the ascension of Christ? Do you have an appreciation for how significant this event is? It should be our goal to increase our knowledge of the ascension and impress our minds with its importance. In this brief article, we'll help to accomplish this goal by considering some things the Bible says. A HISTORICAL EVENT The Bible records the ascension of Christ as an actual event in history. Its occurrence is recorded in three passages: Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-52; and Acts 1:9-11. Mark's account is the shortest; he simply says, ``So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.'' In Luke's first account, Christ's ascension ends the earthly ministry; in his second account (Acts 1), the ascension begins His heavenly ministry. ''...he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven'' (Lk. 24:50-51). The ascension took place after Jesus completed the Great Commission and while He blessed the apostles. He began to rise upward from the earth's surface and be elevated into the sky. Acts 1 tells us that it happened ``as they were looking'' (v. 9). The apostles saw Him be ``taken up'' and they continued looking steadfastly as He went, until a cloud engulfed Him out of their sight. This indicated that He could not be watched all the way to His destination in Heaven, a place invisible to mortal vision. EVIDENCE The New Testament has other statements and special events which testify that the ascension happened as recorded. An important part of this evidence comes from the apostle Peter, stated both before and on the day of Pentecost. In the selection of a replacement for Judas, Peter's explanation for Christ not being with them any longer was ``that he was received up from us'' (Acts 1:21-22). In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter cited what they had seen and heard (the coming of the Holy Spirit) as evidence for Christ having ascended and His being seated at the right hand of God (Acts 2:32-36). Had He not ascended, the Holy Spirit would not have been ``poured forth'' and the church would not have begun. Another part of the evidence for the ascension of Christ comes from the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4. The giving of apostles, prophets, evangelists, elders, and teachers is directly related to the ascension. The giving of the gifts was dependent upon leading captivity captive which was dependent upon His ascending on high (v. 8). ``He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things'' (v. 10). Had He not ascended, the gifts would not have been given. SIGNIFICANCE In Daniel's prophecy of the ascension, a view is given of it from above: ``I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve him....'' (Dan. 7:13-14). Upon His arrival back in Heaven, Jesus ``sat down at the right hand of God'' (Mk. 16:19) and was given a kingdom. He became King of His own Kingdom and now all peoples would have the opportunity to become a citizen and serve Him! Peter shows this to be the fulfillment of the prophecy that God's anointed would occupy the throne of David (Acts 2:30-31). People who see the Kingdom of Christ as being earthly and yet future need to understand the significance of the ascension. The significance of the ascension is also seen in Christ becoming our high priest. The Hebrews writer shows that upon His arrival back in heaven, Jesus entered the true Holy of Holies with His own blood to cleanse us and make it possible for us to have the hope of following Him to heaven. Hebrews 6:19-20 says, ''...and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'' Since our high priest is there, we can ''...draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need'' (Heb. 4:16). Had Jesus not ascended He would not have entered ``into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us'' (Heb. 9:24). People who see no need for Christ for acceptability with God, need to see the significance of the ascension. ``Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also'' (John 14:1-3). -- via The Dewey Avenue Bulletin, December 4, 1994 ___________________________________________ The Priests of the Church by Richard Fleeman Even to some who have been Christians in the Lord's Church for quite some time, it might catch you by surprise to talk about the priests of the Church. However, there are indeed priests of the Church and to say otherwise would be unscriptural. Let's take a look at these individuals. There is no doubt that during Old Testament times the Lord had priests to carry out some of His work. Aaron was a priest for instance. One work of the priest was to offer up sacrifice. With the removal of the Old Testament, tasks such as offering up an animal sacrifice were no longer needed. Thus the office of a ``priest'' changed. There are no priests in the New Testament Church like the ones the reader might be thinking of; that being either an Old Testament priest or what the Roman Catholic church has improperly termed a priest. Let's take a look at one priest who is holding office during New Testament times. 1 Tim. 2:5, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus," This verse lets us know that Jesus is the only mediator between us and God. There is no ``go between'' like a priest of Old Testament times or like the Roman Catholic church has. Heb. 5:5-6, "So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.' As He also says in another place: 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'"; This verse shows us that Jesus Himself is the High Priest of the church. Even the fact that He is high priest alludes to the fact that there are other priests. However these priests just don't rank as high. Who are they? Are they catholic priests? 1 Pet. 2:4-5, "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Here we find from Peter's words that all Christians are priests. We are members of a royal priesthood. For one man to raise himself up and call himself or allow himself to be called a priest above others is wrong. Mat. 23:8-10, ``But you, do not be called `Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ." We can find from Matthew's words that it is not right for one to be called Rabbi, Teacher, Father or any such title. The only one who deserves these titles is God. Rather we are all equal in God's kingdom as Christians. Rom. 8:16-17, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." No one has the right to call himself or be called a priest in any sense other than the common priesthood that is shared among us. We are all joint heirs with Christ. We are all able to go directly to God in prayer for forgiveness of sins instead of having to go through a priest. Take a peek at what the Christian Simon was told to do when he sinned. Acts 8:21-22, ``You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you." After Simon sinned, was he told to go ask the priest to pray for him or to offer sacrifice for him? NO!!! He was told to go himself in prayer and ask God to forgive him. Even Jesus alludes to the fact that we do not need to go through any priest other than Him in His model prayer. Remember? Jesus Himself said we ought to pray something like.... Mat. 6:12, "And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors." If it were not possible for us to go to God in prayer and receive forgiveness of our sins without the intervention of a priest, would Jesus have taught us to pray this prayer? If our asking God for forgiveness in prayer does not work, then this is the most vain prayer any lips could utter. I hope this article helps you to identify some denominations that are not Biblically correct since they are not following the precepts set forth in the New Testament. Your salvation is in your own hands. Study the word to see what you must do to be saved and what truly is the Church that Jesus Christ built. ___________________________________________ Write Today For Our FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE ___________________________________________ 24 YEARS IN THE FIRST GRADE by Gary Fiscus Statistics show that if public schools met only as often as Sunday Bible classes at church, it would take 24 years to get through the first grade! Many people attend about half that time, thus a span of 48 years in the first grade would be spent. Solomon says the trouble with knowledge is that it is limited. Yet, we live in a society based on knowledge, and hopefully the element of wisdom. The trouble is that we concentrate so heavily on intellect of secular things that little if any thought is given to Bible knowledge. Does it bother you who are fathers to know that your responsibility is in providing food, clothing, shelter and spiritual nourishment? (1 Timothy 5:8). How long will it take you and/or your children to get through the first grade of Bible studies? As parents we no doubt have planned to some way or another send those dear ones to college or some institution of higher learning. We will, no doubt spend thousands of dollars to see to it that they get that degree in whatever field will best prepare them for their careers here on earth. How much thought, time and money do we put in on spiritual education to prepare for their profession of being Christians? -- Via Main and Thirteenth Visitor ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________