The Ascension of Christ

On the day of Pentecost, Jews from every nation under heaven heard the Gospel preached in their mother tongue. They wondered what this meant. Some that heard thought those that spoke were drunk. They must not have understood their words. It seems as if some heard and understood, while others heard but did not understand what was preached (2 Cor. 2:14-15). Whatever the case, by the Spirit of God, Peter explained the significance of this event in his sermon by preaching Christ to them. He preached three main points that day.

First, he said that what they heard was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy that in the “last days” God would pour out His Spirit on “all flesh” (Acts 2:16-21). Joel said that they on whom God’s Spirit was poured out would “prophesy.” This is what Peter did in his sermon. He prophesied in the only way we can: he preached Christ (Acts 5:42). Joel foretold that this time corresponds to the “last days.” When God’s Spirit would be poured out in the last days, all who called on the name of the LORD would be saved.

The second point in Peter’s sermon was the crucifixion of Christ. He said to those who killed the Lord Jesus, that they did what they did by wicked hands. Yet in His determinate counsel and by His foreknowledge, God would use their evil intentions and wicked actions to save much people alive (Acts 2:23; Gen. 50:20)!

The third thing Peter preached was the resurrection, ascension and enthronement of Christ to heaven’s throne, according to the scriptures. Thus, in this first sermon, Peter preached Christ crucified, risen, ascended and reigning at the right hand of God

Peter quoted Joel and David as speaking of the same time. He said David understood God’s prophecy by the prophet Nathan to him that he, David, would die, that his body would be put in the grave, and after he was in the grave, God would raise up his son: a son that would be his seed, would proceed out of his bowels, would be the fruit of his body (2 Sam. 7:12; Psa. 132:11). God would raise up David’s son to sit on David’s throne, and would establish His kingdom forever (Acts 2:30-32; Psa. 132:11; 110:1; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; 1 Chr. 17:11-15). Peter said David understood God's prophecy to him that Christ would sit on the throne of heaven. Therefore, though they crucified Jesus, God raised Him from the dead in fulfillment of scripture. David understood that He would rise from the dead and ascend to heaven and sit on the right hand of God (Psa. 2:4, 6-7; Acts 13:33; Psa. 110:1). Peter said that is why David spoke in Psalm 16 of Christ, as words from Christ to His God and Father, that He would not leave His holy One in hell, but would raise Him up from the dead and exalt Him to His own right hand (Psa. 16:8-11; Acts 2:24-28).

Peter used these two prophecies from Joel (Joel 2:28-32) and David (Psa. 132:11; 2 Sam. 7:12-15; Psa. 16:8-11; Psa. 110:1) to prove that the outpouring of the Spirit of God at that time was proof that Christ had risen and ascended and was now seated on heaven’s throne! “31 [David] seeing this before (Psa. 132:11) spake of the resurrection of Christ (Psa. 16:8-11), that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 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. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 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 2:31-36).

Peter preached from scripture that the outpouring of the Spirit of God in power to preach Christ and save all who call on Him, meant that God had exalted Christ as David’s son and the Son of God to His own right hand to rule over all things in heaven and earth forever. According to prophecy, this would happen while David “slept with his fathers:” therefore, at the present time, not a future time.

The conclusion in Peter’s sermon was that the One they had crucified was none other than the Lord of glory and Christ of God. Because by Himself He purged the sins of His people, because He is now exalted to God’s right hand, He is therefore the only One on whom they must call to be saved (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Rom. 10:9-13)! The conclusion from Joel and from David as preached by Peter through the Spirit of God, is that whosoever shall call on the Lord Jesus Christ -- Jehovah-JESUS, who has become salvation for His people (Isa. 12:1-2) -- shall be saved! Not just Jews, but Jews and Gentiles! This mystery of Christ as the Head of the Church as His Body, made up of believing Jews and Gentiles, was hid from the foundation of the world, but has now been made known by revelation to the Apostles from Christ by His Spirit sent down from His throne in heaven (Eph. 3:8-12; 4:8-9).

Christ is seated on heaven’s throne. It is evident because the Gospel is now preached to all men, Jew and Gentile, by the power of God the Holy Spirit. Three thousand believed when they heard Peter’s sermon concerning Christ crucified, risen and reigning! Today, Christ sends His Spirit in power through the preaching of the Gospel of His salvation. All who believe call on Him. All who call are those the LORD calls (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:39). The LORD on whom we call is Christ. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by His word, the word of God. Only those who believe call. If we who are Gentiles by nature hear and believe the Gospel, it is because God has fulfilled His promise. Christ has put away our sins (Matt. 1:21; Rom. 11:27). He has sent His Spirit. By the preaching of Christ, we now believe in our heart and call on Him (Heb. 9:14; Eph. 1:13; Gal. 3:13-14; 4:4-6). By the power of the Spirit of God in our heart, when we hear of Christ in the Gospel, we believe Christ as our only and all-sufficient Savior, and call on Him as LORD of all (1 Cor. 12:3; Rom. 10:12, 14; 1 Pet. 1:21-22; Rom. 14:17; 15:13).

If the Spirit of God is given to the Church, if Jews and Gentiles call on the Lord in faith, then all who call shall be saved, and it is all because Christ was crucified, has risen and is now exalted to the right hand of God. He sits on His throne. He rules over His and our enemies (sin, satan, death, the world). We who were His enemies by nature and in our minds now believe Him in this day of His irresistible power (Psa. 110:3; Rom. 1:16). It is by His Spirit through the preaching of His Gospel.

Never take these things lightly. Call on the LORD who was crucified, sits on the throne, and is become “my” salvation. Today is the day of His power. He will not cast out any who call on Him (John 6:37).

​Oh almighty Savior! Send now your Spirit to call your people to yourself by your Gospel by which you reveal yourself as the only and all-sufficient Savior of sinners! Cause us now to call on you in truth! And help us to call on none but Thee! “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Psa. 145:18)

Rick Warta