Apostles' Creed - Ascended

He Ascended into Heaven

Text: Psalm 24
Preacher: Pastor Alex
Date: November 8, 2026

Sermon Summary

The point of the ascension is not just to tell us where Jesus is. Christ Jesus the man entered the throne room of God and stands as our King and representative forever. He alone could ascend; and he has brought a whole generation in with him.

Psalm 24 was a prophecy from David written before the temple existed. The rabbis thought it was fulfilled when David's son Solomon carried the Ark of the Covenant into the temple. But the church fathers knew that that vision was too small: Solomon had just built those doors, so they could hardly be ancient; and nobody would have asked "Who is this King" of Solomon, or called him the LORD! More than that, the psalm asks who may ascend the hill of the LORD and then names qualifications that none of us meet. The "gatekeepers" knew it too--that we were disqualified twice over, by our guilt, and by the authority we forfeited to the serpent in the garden, leaving us slaves where we should have been kings and queens.

Then a Man stands before the gates; a cry goes out, "Be lifted up, O ancient doors!" The gatekeepers ask, "Who is this King of glory?" Here is the mystery: He is the LORD of hosts--God in human flesh, with genuinely clean hands and a pure heart, who was crucified, entered death completely, and overcame it. The gates come off their hinges, the angels and the powers gasp; and a human walks in and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty! The old English rendered that the strong side, which is exactly right: he is the power of God, shown in surrender.

This King of Glory is the victor who won by emptying himself. We exalt him because how he won is beautiful. When we praise our victorious King we learn to love his ways and to despise the enemy's ways (division, deceit, slander, fear, etc.) And he is our victor: the gates were flung wide because he was leading a train of captives behind him--and you and I are in that parade! Therefore, we are seated with him already; he advocates for us as our mediator, and showers us with blessings so that we overflow.

Ice Breaker

Light: Have you ever had someone bring you somewhere you had no business being? How did it happen?

Deeper: Was there a time when you felt like you didn't belong somewhere, but then someone helped you feel like you belong? What made the difference?

Discussion Guide

1. Remember the Truth. The rabbis said this psalm was fulfilled when Solomon brought the ark into the temple; the church fathers found that reading too small and read it as referring to Jesus' ascension. Compare the two readings: What makes you think that the ascension might be a better fit?

2. Understand the Truth. Read Psalm 24:3–6 asks who may ascend God's hill, but sets terms none one can meet; but then verse 7–10 order the gates to be flung open for someone who can ascend. From the psalm itself, what do we learn about this person?

3. Test the Truth. The world assumes winning means power--using leverage, advantage, getting your way--and at times we have even used those strategies in the church. But look at Philippians 2:5–11 -- how did Jesus win? And how does his way of winning challenge our views of winning?

4. Be Transformed. The King of glory leads a generation into the holy place with him (vs 6). Paul says in Ephesians 2:6 that you are seated with him in the heavenly places, even now. What would be different about this week if you lived as someone already in the room?

5. Be Transformed Together. The King of glory was vindicated (vs 5), or received the righteousness of God's salvation. He now mediates for us, standing before the Father and speaking for us. What would change here if we spoke for each other that way?

6. Be Sent. The King of glory received blessings when he ascended (vs 5). Ephesians 4:7–8 says that he gave us he gives those gifts to us, filling us to overflowing so that we can be a blessing. What has he given you that is currently going nowhere?

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;
 (hades)
the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead;
And in the Holy Spirit;

the holy universal church, the communion of saints;

the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body;

and life everlasting.
Amen.

Supporting Scriptures

1. Psalm 8:3–6: Humanity crowned with glory and given dominion — the throne we abdicated and Christ recovers.
2. Psalm 68:18: "You ascended on high, leading a host of captives," the verse behind both the train of captives and Paul's use of it in Ephesians 4.
3. Psalm 110:1: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool" — the enthronement the ascension begins.
4. Acts 1:9–11: He was taken up bodily, and the angels promise he will return the same way he went.
5. 1 Corinthians 2:7–8: The rulers of this age did not understand God's wisdom, or they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
6. Ephesians 2:4–6: God raised us up and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places — present tense, already true.
7. Philippians 3:20–21: He will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body, which is why his continuing humanity matters to ours.
8. Hebrews 7:25: He always lives to make intercession, so the ascension is not absence but advocacy.
9. Hebrews 9:24: Christ entered not a copy of the holy place but heaven itself, to appear in God's presence on our behalf.
10. Revelation 5:6–10: The one worthy to take the scroll is the Lamb who was slain — heaven's own verdict on how he won.