The Glory of the Ascension
The Glory of the Ascension, W. Ross Hastings. IVP Academic (ISBN: 9781514010617) 2025
Summary: Sets forth this neglected doctrine that celebrates a completed atonement and the exalted glory of the Son.
The very best theology offers the attentive reader glimpses of glory. One cannot read without pausing in awe or breaking out in worship or humbling oneself before the Holy Triune God. This is one of those books. Often I could not read more than a paragraph without having one of these responses. Here is one of many examples I could cite:
“The ascension is beautiful also in that it is the climactic, celebrated outcome of an atonement that was fully accomplished and yet the beginning of the application of the atonement forever to the people of God in union with Christ. It is beautiful because of the symmetry of a humanity created and fallen in the first Adam with a humanity recapitulated, recreated, and glorified in the ascension of the last Adam. The ascension reflects a relation between the Son and his people, with whom he became one in the incarnation–his people who have died and risen with him and, more than that, are now seated with him in his ascended place in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:6)” (pp. 23-24).
W. Ross Hastings contends that we have neglected this magnificent doctrine. And he sets out in this book to remedy that neglect. To begin, Hastings lays out an argument as to why it matters. Specifically, he focuses on how the ascension represents the both the completion of the atoning work of Christ and the exalted glory of the Son at God’s right hand, themes to which Hastings recurs throughout the book. Then, Hastings outlines his methodology, rooted in divine revelation. He discusses both biblical and theological interpretation approaches.
Following this, Chapters 3 through 7 center on what the ascension shows us of the glory of the person and work of Christ. Chapter 3 focuses on the glory of Christ’s deity revealed in the ascension as the God-man. Then Chapter 4 follows the movement from glory concealed in Christ’s life and death on earth, and the revealing of even greater glory as risen and ascended One. He is no longer Messiah-designate but Messiah crowned.
Following this, Chapter 5 discusses his offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. We often think of atonement finished on the cross. However, the seating of Christ at God’s right hand, discussed in Chapter 6, signifies atonement fully accomplished. Not only that, as interceding high priest, we experience the application of atonement to humanity.
It is as God-MAN that Jesus ascended and is in eternal communion within the Godhead. In Chapter 7, Hastings considers the implications of this reality for humanity both now and in glory, as we share in the glory of Christ.
However, the idea of the ascension as the completion of atonement raises questions. Is the ascension itself atoning, as Douglas Farrow proposes, or the sign, the capstone of atonement completed? In dialogue with Farrow, Hastings contends for the latter in Chapter 8. Then Chapter 9 considers more fully the glory of the heavenly continuing application of the atonement through our participation in that work by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:21 speaks of “glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.” Hastings elaborates in Chapter 10 on our experience of that through our communion with the ascended Lord in the Eucharist. Then Chapters 11-13 explore the last things: his coming again, the glory we will share with the Christ of the cosmos, and the glory of heaven.
This is theology to savor. We may ponder the many-splendored glory revealed in our Lord’s ascension. There is the incredible assurance of the completion of Christ’s atoning work. Then we might consider what it means that we are already seated with Christ in the heavenly places–what his exalted status means for our exalted status, both individually and as the church. And then there is our eternal destiny.
We are in the season of Lent looking toward Easter. The church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension on the Seventh Sunday of Easter, which in 2026 is May 14. Let’s not neglect this Feast nor this doctrine. If you get this book now, you have plenty of time to read, ponder, and prepare to celebrate this important day in the life of the church.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
Thank you for drawing our attention to this volume by your review. The word “neglected” was applied to this doctrine by the author, and in your review. While that may be true to a certain extent when compared to the attention given to Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection, it has not been totally neglected. See the following resources for examples.
Tim Chester and Jonny Woodrow, The Ascension: Humanity in the Presence of God (Fearn, Ross-Shire: Christian Focus, 2013).
Peter Leithart, “Atonement and Ascension” (24 APR 2018), on Leithart at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/leithart/2018/04/22211/ [accessed 24 APR 2018].
John F. Maile, “The Ascension in Luke-Acts,” The Tyndale New Testament Lecture 1985, Tyndale Bulletin 37 (1986), pp. 29–59.
David M. Moffitt, Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Supplements to Novum Testamentum 141 (Leiden: Brill, 2011).
David McCheyne Moffitt, A New and Living Way: Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Ph.D. dissertation (Durham: Duke University, 2010); abstract and view/download links on Duke University Libraries at https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/handle/10161/2437 [accessed 6 SEP 2022]; downloadable PDF file at http://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/10161/2437/D_Moffitt_David_a_201005.pdf?sequence=1 [accessed 6 SEP 2022].
Dr. David Moffitt, “Our Ascended Advocate: Sacrifice and Atonement in 1 John” (54:35), A. O. Collins Lecture at Houston Baptist University’s School of Christian Thought; posted 28 APR 2021 on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgScG8Ssiuk [accessed 6 SEP 2022].
David M. Moffitt, “Sacrifice and the Ascension of the Incarnate Son in Hebrews” (28 MAR 2022), on Blogos (University of St. Andrews) at https://blogos.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2022/03/28/sacrifice-and-the-ascension-of-the-incarnate-son-in-hebrews/ [accessed 28 MAR 2022].
Peter C. Orr, Exalted Above the Heavens: The Risen and Ascended Christ, New Studies in Biblical Theology 47, series ed. D. A. Carson (London: Apollos; Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 2018).
“Savonarola — the Ascension of Christ” (sermon on Lk. 24:51), The World’s Great Sermons, 10 vols., Vol. I: Basil to Calvin, compiled by Grenville Kleiser, et al. (New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1908), on Bible Hub at https://biblehub.com/library/various/the_worlds_great_sermons_volume_i/savonarola__the_ascension_of.htm [accessed 20 MAR 2026].
Patrick Schreiner, The Ascension of Christ: Recovering a Neglected Doctrine, Snapshots, ed. Michael F. Bird (Bellingham: Lexham, 2020).
David Schrock, “Resurrection And Priesthood: Christological Soundings From The Book Of Hebrews,” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 18:4 (Winter 2014), pp. 89–109; available online and as downloadable PDF file on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at https://equip.sbts.edu/journal-of-theology/sbjt-184-winter-2014/resurrection-and-priesthood-christological-soundings-from-the-book-of-hebrews/ [accessed 6 SEP 2022].
Peter Toon, The Ascension of Our Lord (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984; Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2020 reprint).
Nor was it neglected in one of the greatest 16th century catechisms! This is the most extensive treatment of this subject found to date in any of the Reformed catechisms and confessions.
Heidelberg Catechism, Lords Day 18
Q46: How dost thou understand these words, “he ascended into heaven”?
A46: That Christ, in sight of his disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; (a) and that he continues there for our interest, (b) until he comes again to judge the quick and the dead. (c)
(a) Acts 1:9; Matt.26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51.
(b) Heb.7:25; Heb.4:14; Heb.9:24; Rom.8:34; Eph.4:10; Col.3:1.
(c) Acts 1:11; Matt.24:30.
Q47: Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as he has promised? (a)
A47: Christ is very man and very God; with respect to his human nature, he is no more on earth; (b) but with respect to his Godhead, majesty, grace and spirit, he is at no time absent from us. (c)
(a) Matt.28:20.
(b) Heb.8:4; Matt.26:11; John 16:28; John 17:11; Acts 3:21.
(c) John 14:17-19; John 16:13; Matt.28:20; Eph.4:8,12.
Q48: But if his human nature is not present, wherever his Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?
A48: Not as all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and omnipresent, (a) it must necessarily follow that the same is beyond the limits of the human nature he assumed, (b) and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it.
(a) Acts 7:49; Jer.23:24.
(b) Col.2:9; John 3:13; John 11:15; Matt.28:6.
Q49: Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?
A49: First, that he is our advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven; (a) secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also take up to himself, us, his members; (b) thirdly, that he sends us his Spirit as an earnest, (c) by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and not things on earth.” (d)
(a) 1 John 2:1; Rom.8:34.
(b) John 14:2; John 17:24; John 20:17; Eph.2:6.
(c) John 14:16,7; Acts 2:1-4,33; 2 Cor.1:22; 2 Cor.5:5.
(d) Col.3:1; Philip.3:14.
Hastings cites a number of these sources. I think he is speaking, not in absolute terms, but relatively, in relationship to the crucifixion, resurrection, or even Pentecost. Consider for example how many churches, other than liturgical, celebrate the Ascrndion and how many sermons are preached on it.