Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• v9-11
• Last week we thought of the theology of Christmas
• Recap
• Tonight: The Exaltation of Christ
• A wonderful and important truth
• Every knee will bow - some with great love and joy, others with great fear and trepidation
• He is the Lord of Lords
• His name is above every name
• We live in uncertain times
• Examples
• We know the world is not ultimately governed by men
• We believe that Christ is on His throne and is orchestrating all things
• The Exaltation of Christ
• A tremendous contrast between last weeks verses (5-8) and these verses (9-11)
• One who humbled Himself vs one whom God exalts
• One who was a bondservant vs one who is a King
• Overview:
• The Resurrection
• The Ascension
• The Coronation
• The Reign in Heaven

The Resurrection

• Starting in eternity and returning to eternity
• He was brought low but raised on the third day
• Psalm 16
• He had a glorified body
• He was the first one to enter heaven
• He was the first fruits
• The doctrine of the Resurrection is an essential tenant of Christianity
• God raises Jesus up as the victor
• His resurrection paves the way for all our resurrections
• Psalm 2
• God will glorify the name of His Son
• We must make much of the cross - it was Paul's central message
• We must also make much of the resurrection

The Ascension

• The doctrine of the Ascension
• Jesus bodily ascended into heaven 40 days after the resurrection
• He went bodily and will return bodily
• He ascended above all principalities, powers and dominions
• He went to the right hand of God
• He went to sit on His throne
• The name of Jesus is the greatest name of all
• Whom do you serve?
• We serve Jesus the man - but not just the man
• We serve the King man

The Coronation

• We see Jesus crowned with glory and honour
• He is Lord and Christ
• He has all authority on heaven and earth
• He is not just standing at the right hand of God but sitting down at the right hand of the Father
• All His work is complete
• He is victorious
• He sits down
• His throne is forever and ever
• He is the eternally blessed God
• Our response should be worship, praise, adoration and obedience

The Reign in Heaven

• He is building the Church, He is the head of the Church
• He is praying for His people
• His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom - Dan 7:14
• We are to see the reign of Christ in this world through His people
• If you get discouraged about this world - look to Jesus
• Jesus reigns
• If we humble ourselves under God, then Christ will lift us up
• Jesus Christ was humbled but God raised Him up
• v10-11
• Every knee will one day bow to Jesus Christ - both believer and unbeliever
• Not universal salvation
• Some will bow gladly, others will bow in great fear, those of the demonic realm with bow
• This will happen when Jesus Christ comes again
• How foolish not to believe in and bow the knee to Jesus Christ
• The gospel brings unity and is the answer to every problem
• Explanation
• The personal ambition of Jesus is to glorify His Father
• This should be our personal ambition also