Bringing this precious gospel to the ends of the earth.
Now let's continue with verse 6 and 7.
Verse 6 says,
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us.
As shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
And this, this is why God made us alive in Christ.
Because we will be evidence of his mercy for eternity.
But not only that, we get to share God's glory.
God didn't just save us.
God didn't just raise us from dead and say, okay, go on.
Now, you know, I saved you.
Now you're on your own.
You know, go on your, go on your way.
God did not do that.
God not only sent his son to die in our place so we don't have to die.
But then he said, I'm going to raise you up.
Just like I raised my son from death.
I'm going to raise you up and you will be united with my son.
And I seated you in heavenly places.
And some of you may say, how is that possible?
We're not dead yet.
How can, what does the Bible say, you know, as if it's like already like a done deal?
Well, the answer is, God holds our future in his hands.
See, we cannot make claims like this about the future.
We don't even know what's going to happen tomorrow.
But our God is not limited by space and time like us.
When you believe in Jesus Christ, your future is already all set in God's eyes.
And this is where we feel secure.
Because we are already proven and secure.
I've been meeting with a couple of guys.
All right.
Not yesterday, but the Saturday before Trinity Baptist, we launched our first men's ministry.
So about 40 of us got together and we had breakfast.
And we started this men's ministry.
Now, you know what men's ministry is?
Because we men don't know how to do it.
See, women, they figure it out.
They know how to do this.
Like, they don't need help.
They get together.
They drink latte.
They talk.
They cry.
They hug.
They know how to do this.
Whereas us men, we don't know how to do it.
We don't even like to ask direction.
So we need a little, like, extra help from the leadership saying, oh, you know, you guys get together.
You know, like, exchange your phone numbers, emails, share your prayer requests.
You know, like, get together, have lunch.
So while we were studying Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller, we came across this part.
And I'll give you an example of how the gospel sets us free from our anxiety.
This is from Every Good Endeavor.
The gospel of salvation through sheer grace holds an implication for work.
While ancient monks may have sought salvation through religious works, many modern people seek a kind of salvation, self-esteem, and self-worth from career success.
This leads us to seek only high-paying, high-status jobs and to worship them in perverse ways.
But the gospel frees us from the relentless pressure of having to prove ourselves and secure our identity through work.
For we are already proven and secure.
It also frees us from a condescending attitude towards less sophisticated labor and from envy over more exalted work.
All work now becomes a way to love the God who saved us freely and, by extension, a way to love our neighbor.
So Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand.
And we can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.
Let's turn to Romans chapter 5 once again.
And verses 1 and 2.
Romans chapter 5 verses 1 and 2.
It says,
Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.
I don't know about other people, but we, followers of Christ, have this security because one, by God's power.
The power that raised Jesus from death, the same power raised us from death.
The second, it's God's mercy.
Which forgives our sins.
In Micah chapter 7 verse 19 says,
Once again, God will have compassion on us.
God will trample our sins under his feet and throw them into the depth of the ocean.
This is how God forgives our sin.
And third, God's grace, which is undeserving favor from God, not only saved us from eternal death, but seated us in heavenly realms with Jesus Christ to share God's glory forever.
Have you put your faith in Christ?
Are you secure and proven because of what Jesus did for you on the cross?
Are you still searching or living a life bearing full weight of trying to prove your self-worth?
Well, come and enjoy the freedom in Christ.
When you believe in Jesus, God made your future secure in his kingdom forever.
When you believe in Jesus, you don't have to prove anything because Jesus already did all, all of that for you.
Now we're going to sing because he lives in a moment.
And as you sing this song, please tell your heart, I'm alive because Jesus lives.
And because he lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because he lives, every fear is gone.
I know he lives, every fear is gone.
All our sins and our trespasses.
And Lord, thank you for your grace.
And Lord, thank you for giving us this future.
Thank you for securing our future.
Not temporarily.
Not for the next 10, 20 years.
But you secured our future.
Forever.
And we praise you, Lord.
And we thank you.
We're doing this for us, Lord God.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Let's stand.