Somehow, there is comparatively less attention in the Christian tradition for the ascension of the Lord than for his birth or resurrection. Christ’s going up into heaven in glory has remained somewhat in the shadows. This is not how the Bible speaks, though. The New Testament shows clearly that there is progress in Christ’s work of redemption. Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are important, but Ascension is more important still. You see that in the text above. Translations vary, but it’s clear that Paul speaks here about something that is more than the fact of Christ’s death. And he isn’t only referring to his being raised to life. He ultimately has in mind Christ’s ascension into heaven, to the right hand of God. Christ’s work came to a new high point with his physical ascension to God the Father.

Why is Christ’s ascension so significant? What makes it a climax to Christ’s work? And what does that mean for us? Well, something of that becomes apparent in the answer to the question asked in the text: “Who is he that condemns?”

There are, no doubt, many who would like to condemn us. Everyone has enemies or critics or detractors. They wouldn’t mind condemning us, right? They know our sins and faults and shortcomings. They would be only too happy to be able to tell all in order to bring us into disrepute before men and God. The devil wants to accuse and condemn us. His very name means “accuser.” It’s his purpose to be able to point the finger at us before God’s throne and to state all our sins and weaknesses there so that we might be condemned along with him. Think of Zechariah 3 where the prophet saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side accusing him. In Joshua Satan accused all Israel for their sins.

Our conscience also wants to condemn us. In Lord’s Day 23 of the Heidelberg Catechism, answer 60, we speak of our conscience accusing us that we have grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, that we have never kept any of them, and that we are still inclined to all evil. The reference text for this in the Catechism is Romans 3:9, 10 where the apostle concludes that as Christians we’re no better than anyone else as far as our own righteousness before God is concerned. “No one is righteous, not even one.” Our conscience is a hard accuser too, for we know our sins and shortcomings, don’t we?

But this is the glory of Christ’s ascension. All the condemnations of our accusers will fail. They will all fail because of Christ Jesus. In fact, Christ’s ascension means that they will most certainly fail. They will fail because Christ died for the very sins for which we would otherwise have justly been condemned. God condemned our sin in the humanity of Christ (Romans 8:1-3). The result is that Christ has redeemed us from the condemnation of the law.

However, that’s not all. There is more than that. The accusations will fail because Christ was also raised to life again on Easter morning. His resurrection demonstrated that his sacrifice was abundantly sufficient for our justification before God. He was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). The mystery of our being made right with God is manifested to all by Christ’s resurrection.

But there’s even more certainty than that. Not only has our justification before God been obtained by Christ’s death and made available by his resurrection: the living Lord Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God and there also intercedes for us! In other words, He applies that justification to us as our glorified advocate and high priest at God’s right hand. He intercedes for us there: He speaks up on our behalf. Christ’s ascension means that we have a Saviour who not only worked for our justification here on earth: He continues to work for that as glorified Saviour and Lord in heaven.

He is there with his pierced hands and feet and his wounded side, and He personally presents our prayers for forgiveness to the Father. And the Father cannot possibly ignore Him or deny his intercessions on our behalf. God cannot leave sinners who pray for forgiveness in Christ’s Name unforgiven. It is impossible. Impossible because of Christ’s death. More impossible because of his resurrection. But most impossible because our Saviour is exalted at God’s right hand and intercedes for us there.

So, who is he that can condemn you if you embrace Christ in humble, living faith? No one! No one at all! No one in heaven or on earth. That’s what makes Christ’s ascension more than his death and resurrection. There’s a progression in his work for us. And at the same time that means progression in certainty and comfort for us. Who is he that can condemn? No one! His ascension makes that certain beyond any doubt at all.