The Exaltation of Christ is the Father’s response to the Son’s obedience unto death
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raising Him from the dead, seating Him at His right hand, and giving Him the name above every name.
It includes the resurrection, the ascension, the session at the right hand of God, and the future open manifestation of His glory when every knee bows.
Through exaltation the crucified Savior is declared Lord of all and Head over all things to the church.
The same Christ who was humbled to the cross is now highly exalted and will be universally acknowledged as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2 traces the path of Christ from the form of God to the form of a servant and to death on a cross. The next word is “therefore.” Because of that obedience, God has highly exalted Him. The exaltation of Christ is the divine reversal of the cross’s shame and the public installation of the Son as Lord of all. It began with the resurrection on the third day, continued with the ascension into heaven, and is expressed in His present session at the right hand of the Majesty on high. From that place of honor He intercedes, pours out the Spirit, rules over the church, and waits until all enemies are made a footstool for His feet. The final stage of exaltation will be the open manifestation of His glory when He returns and every knee bows. Exaltation is not a change in the eternal deity of the Son; it is the open acknowledgment and enthronement of the incarnate, crucified, and risen Lord in the place of highest authority.
- The exaltation of Christ is the direct result of His humiliation and obedience unto death.
- It encompasses resurrection, ascension, session, and the future universal acknowledgment of His lordship.
- God has given Him the name above every name so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
- Exaltation declares the finished work of the cross and the acceptance of the perfect sacrifice.
- From His exalted place Christ continues His mediatorial work as Prophet, Priest, and King.
- Believers already share in His exaltation by being raised and seated with Him in the heavenly places.
- The final purpose of the exaltation is the glory of God the Father.
- Resurrection – The first stage of exaltation; God raised Him from the dead, declaring Him the Son of God in power.
- Ascension – The bodily return to heaven, marking the end of the earthly ministry and the entrance into the heavenly sanctuary.
- Session – Sitting at the right hand of God, the place of finished work, supreme authority, and ongoing intercession.
- Name above Every Name – The bestowal of the highest possible honor and authority in the universe.
- Universal Lordship – Every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow; every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
- Headship over the Church – Given as head over all things to the church, which is His body.
- Future Manifestation – The open display of His glory at the second coming when every eye will see Him.
- Philippians 2:8-11 – “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.”
- Acts 2:32-36 – “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing… Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
- Ephesians 1:20-23 – God “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named… And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.”
- Hebrews 1:3 – “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
- Hebrews 10:12-13 – “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.”
- Romans 1:4 – “…and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- Acts 5:30-31 – “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”
- 1 Peter 3:21-22 – “…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
- Colossians 3:1 – “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”
- Ephesians 2:6 – “…and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
- Matthew 28:18 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
- Revelation 5:12 – “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
- Revelation 19:16 – “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
- John 17:1, 5 – “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you… And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
- Psalm 110:1 – “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’”
- Isaiah 52:13 – “Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.”
- Isaiah 53:10-12 – After the suffering of His soul, He shall see and be satisfied; He shall be exalted and divide the spoil with the strong.
The exaltation of Christ is the Father’s “therefore.” Because the Son went to the cross, God has highly exalted Him. The tomb is empty. The throne is occupied. The name above every name has been given. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The church already lives under that exaltation — raised and seated with Him in the heavenly places. The final open display is still to come, but the outcome is not in doubt. Therefore look to the exalted Christ. Trust the finished work that led to His exaltation. Live under the authority of the name above every name. And take heart: the One who was humbled to the cross is now highly exalted, and He will reign forever, to the glory of God the Father.
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