By Gary Ray Branscome
“Christ's state of exaltation
began with His return to life in the grave, and exhibited itself to the lower
world by His descent into hell, to the world by His glorious resurrection, and
to the highest heavens by His ascension and session at the right hand of God
the Father.” (John Theodore Mueller, “Christian Dogmatics,”
page 295.) The words, “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross. Therefore God has also highly exalted him, and
given him a name that is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,” summarize the
doctrine of Christ’s exaltation (Philippians 2:8-10). As do the words, “He
[God] raised Him [Christ] from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in
the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and
dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in
that which is to come, and has put all things under His feet” (Ephesians
1:20-22). [See Eph. 4:10.]
By telling us that Christ, “Was raised again for our
justification,” and that, “If Christ did not rise, our preaching is a
waste of time, and your faith is worthless,” the Bible tells us that
Christ’s exaltation also took place for our salvation (Romans 4:25, 1Corinthians
15:14). Thus our faith rests upon both Christ’s crucifixion and His
resurrection. As it is written, “Brethren, I want to remind you of the
gospel that I preached to you, that you believed, and upon which your faith
rests… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that
He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures”
(1Corinthians 15:1-4).