Our Future In Christ Jesus

You were..... 1. Dead to God. How In trespasses and sins. We had fallen, slipped into a place where God could not except us because in that place God isn't accepted.

             A. Living a worldly lifestyle.  "... following the course of this world."v2

I was watching ESPN last night. Espn like every other television network was remembering the things that happened in 2020. They were remembering the tragedies and honoring the heroes and those who were lost during the battle.           

   B. A world orchestrated by Satan -  "... the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." v3-4               

    He appeals to our passions, our desires of the body and of the flesh, and of the mind. As I continued to watch the memorial of Koby on ESPN I was reminded that the vast majority of us won't achieve the accomplishments that Koby and a few other of our sports and hollywood and music entertainers and even our political heroes  have accomplished in their life. So we live out our fantasies by fanatically following those who have achieved such a status in this world. But that's the problem. It's a worldy achievement who's goals aren't ment to be reached by the majority of us. It's a scheme by the enemy for a few people to achieve such goals in order that the rest of us may die trying. It's a death trap. The purpose of the worlds glory is to keep your mind so occupied with worldly things that there is no room for that which is Godly. But God...

You are..... 2.  Alive in Christ.  When the veil of the enemy is removed from our faces we realize that there is more to life than what this world has to offer, we realize that our future is totally in the work of Christ Jesus. Because in Christ Jesus ....

               A. There is mercy. Gods mercy allowed God to work out a plan to rescue you from the trappings of this world. While we were dead in our trespasses and sins, Christ died for us.                 B. The death of Christ secured a future, a glorius future for ALL who believe on Him.    

C. Christ work on the cross gave us hope in a future that beggars description.

How can I possibly speak on verses 6 and 7 when I've never been there? How can I discuss with you how God has raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus?

How can I explain to you verse 7 when it says  that in the coming ages he might show the imeasuraable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus?

Well I can't, but the author of this book, the Holy Spirit, can.

Verse 6 sounds like rulership. Matthew 25:21 (NKJV) 21 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

2 Timothy 2:12 (NKJV)  12  If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

Revelation 20:4,6 (NKJV) 4  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

6  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

If the Bible is ultimate truth, and you believe it to be ultimate truth, then how can we ignore such a promise.

Verse 7 sounds like a secured future. It says Ephesians 2:7 (NKJV) 7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

(1) Ages - in the bible, an age represent a thousand years. But as we can see the word age hear is plural. So its satcking ages upon ages. A thousand years upon a thousand years and so forth and so forth.

(2) Grace - What verse 7 is suggesting is that the grace that saved you out of the death traps of the world is so precious, that God will be telling your story of how he saved you for ages to come.

1 Peter 1:10-12 (ESV) 10  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11  inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Conclusion The bottom line is this brothers and sisters. Being in Christ Jesus carries a lot of weight theologically speaking. The only clear explanation of it is contained in the book itself, the Bible. And according to the Bible as I've always told you before God is trying to make a ruler out of you. And for years and years to come He wants to put on display before angels  how He brought you up to such a lofty position. If the world could get this, how less depressing this life would be, knowing that we have such a lofty future in Christ Jesus. In this world we suffer so much loss. I did funerals last year for spouses that are waking up every morning absent of the person thats been by their side since their youth. Their are people out their losing there income due to this devastating pandemic that is riquing havic in this country.  People are losing hope. And many are staring to ask the question what's the meaning of all this? Why is there so much suffering in this world. Well, allow me to sum up what is seemingly backed by Scripture. Of all the suffering that is taking place in this world, whatever it is you may be going through right now, God says it is all worth it. Eternity is worth the sacrifice. Romans 8:18 (ESV) 18  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. So brothers and sisters you have a future, and that future is only found in Christ Jesus.