The Creed: What We Believe
Sunday, July 11th 2021

Philippians 2:5-9

The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Introduction

The Risen, Ascended King will Judge Us with Perfect Justice

I. Risen
We are forgiven through his death because, through our union with him, we died with him on the cross. And we gain eternal life because we were also raised in new life through his resurrection.

“We were … buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:4-5

When Jesus rose from the dead, he ensured that we too would have new spiritual life when we come to faith, and that in the future we will receive our own resurrected and glorified bodies, just like his.

II. Ascended
The ascension of Jesus is pivotal. His work of atonement is completed and now is ascends as King of Kings. No one else has ever or will ever ascend into heaven like Jesus did.

The ascension of Jesus manifest the seal of God’s approval for all that Christ has done…The ascension revealed God’s vindication of the earthly work of Christ. Without the ascension Christians could not live in confidence of the eternality of the kingdom and the sufficiency of the cross.” Al Mohler

Jesus’ work of ascension accomplished many things that he could not do while he was still on earth:
1) Jesus ascended to prepare a place for them – John 14:2,3
2) Jesus ascended to send the Holy Spirit to empower the church – John 16:7
3) Jesus ascended and now intercedes for us - Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25
4) Jesus ascended and now we are in union with him – Ephesians 2:4-6

III. Judge
The final judgment will include both the living and the dead, that is, everyone who has ever lived, including all those who are alive when Jesus returns.

Jesus coming back to judge should be a sober reminder that the way we live matters. We will give an account for our behavior and the way we have stewarded the gifts and opportunities that God has given us.

"For God has not destined us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

IV. Conclusion