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Welcome to the Gospel Focused Family Moment. I’m your host, Eric Novak. Each week we pause as a family to remember what matters most, the good news of Jesus. This podcast is brought to you by gospelfocused.com.
For our opening liturgy today, I’ll be your leader and ask a question, and then you follow along and repeat with your family. Christian family, what do we believe? We believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who gives us life and makes us one.
Our scripture reading for today comes from Acts 1:9–11. “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’” This is the word of the Lord.
Hey listeners, I’m so glad you’re able to join us during this amazing October. We’re studying the Apostles’ Creed together. It’s an amazing document whose earliest versions were recited by those close to the beginning of the church, probably around 140 AD, when it was used for people who were getting baptized. A creed is basically a list of things that people believe. So before baptism, the new believer would say a “Credo,” or an “I believe” statement.
Let’s read the Apostles’ Creed together, and then we’ll unpack our line:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Our line we’ll be studying today is “he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.”
You know, in previous episodes we talked about how Jesus died, and then last week we talked about Jesus rising from the dead and how He was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses, people who could verify He was indeed alive. This week we’ll talk about another amazing thing that happened: Jesus ascending into heaven.
Each of these events is, first of all, literal. They really happened just as the Bible describes them. And second, they’re super important to our faith, because without them there is no forgiveness for our sins and no eternal hope. Without them, there would be no risen Jesus for us to hope in.
Every doctrine and theology in Christianity is built on the reality of these three things. And when we’re baptized, we’re joined to the person of Jesus, to His death, His burial, and His rising again. The water of baptism is God’s sign that we belong to Jesus and are washed clean. It shows us His story becoming our story. Jesus died, and we’re joined to His death. Jesus was buried, and our old life of sin is left behind. Jesus rose again, and we rise to a brand-new life in Him.
You know, this is what Romans 6:4 says: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Every Christian gets to share in this wonderful truth. My baptism anniversary is coming up on October 22nd, and I’ll always remember that special moment. Do you remember a few episodes ago when we talked about how Jesus is a prophet, a priest, and a king? Well, as a prophet, Jesus shows us through His word and Spirit what God has done for our salvation. As a priest, Jesus becomes a sacrifice to pay for our sins once and for all. And as a King, Jesus justly rules over us, defends us, and fights for us.
The ascension was the last step of Jesus’ work as our priest. He had finished the sacrifice on the cross, and now He went up to God and sat down, because the work was done. Hebrews 10:11–12 is a great descriptor of how this works. It says, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”
In Jesus’ time, the priest would stand and make offerings. He didn’t have time to sit; he was on duty, making a way for God’s people. But when Jesus said “It is finished” on the cross, He really meant it. The price was paid. When He ascended into heaven, He sat at the right hand of God, a place of honor and glory, as a ruling King. And here’s something amazing: Jesus isn’t just sitting there doing nothing. Right now, at the Father’s side, our King is praying for you and me.
Jesus, born in a stable to the most lowly couple, placed in a dirty manger surrounded by dirty farm animals. No parade or special ceremonies for this King. Killed on a cross reserved for the worst prisoners. Buried in a tomb where everyone would forget He ever existed. But then, God wasn’t done flipping things upside down.
This entire trajectory of Jesus’ life is recorded by Paul in something called the “Carmen Christi,” or the hymn of Christ. It was either written by Paul or recorded by him as a song the early Christians already sang, possibly from within just a couple of decades of Jesus’ resurrection, and long before the Apostles’ Creed. Let me read it to you. This is from Philippians 2:5–11:
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Wow, what an amazing passage. I could really see that being sung. I wonder what it would have sounded like. You know, a lot of these things are big concepts, and I always try to break them down in a way that is easy to understand. I never want you to feel worried or scared by words like sin or judgment.
Acts 10:42–43 says, “He [Jesus] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
We don’t have to worry about lines like “he will come to judge the living and the dead,” because we’re part of the family. Jesus already paid the price for our sins. So while it’s true that Jesus will come to examine the hearts of all people, He’s already given Christians a new heart.
I’m so glad I got to spend this time with you today talking about the gospel. It’s always a joy to learn about Jesus together. Let’s pray. Almighty God, you who have redeemed us and called us your own, give us special grace today to love those around us in the light of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Thank you for your living word. Place it deep in our hearts. In the name of your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Our memory verse for today is Acts 1:11: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Thanks for joining us for this week’s Gospel Focused Family Moment. I’m your host, Eric Novak. Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus and your hearts focused on the gospel. Go as a family in the peace of your Savior and closest friend, Jesus Christ. See you next week.
Thank you for being part of what we do at gospelfocused.com. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with a friend. Every person we reach brings us closer to our goal of sharing the gospel with every family around the world, by the grace of Jesus.
