Well, friends, I invite you to turn with me this morning to Romans 1. Romans 1. Romans 1. Verses 1 to 4 is where we are going to begin this morning. Romans 1. Verses 1 to 4. If you are following along in the Pew Bible, this is found on page 1,293. Romans chapter one, verses one to four, page 1,293. If you found that in your copy of God's word, would you stand with me for the reading of scripture? Romans chapter one, verses one through four. Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God, which he promised before through his prophets in the holy scriptures concerning his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. This is the word of the Lord. Thank you. You may be seated. Well, I want to begin once again with stating the Apostles' Creed as we continue through this series, considering the truth of the Creed. The Creed says, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. This morning, as we consider Once again, the truth of the creed we are focusing on these words, was buried, he descended to hell, the third day he rose again from the dead. As we think about the burial of Christ, we recognize that his burial was a little bit different than what we commonly think of as a burial. We commonly think of, for lack of a better term, the six feet under burials. Yet Jesus, when he was placed in the belly of the earth, he was actually buried in a cave-like tomb. This was the common practice of the Jews at that time. Caves, hewn tombs, sarcophagi, were often where people would be placed after dying. Sometimes there would be another burial about a year later, where the remains would be moved into ossuaries or would actually be rearranged within the tomb, as others would be placed in the tomb. And we can see cave burial in the scripture goes all the way back in the Old Testament to Abraham's burial of Sarah. You might remember back in Genesis chapter 23 when he purchased the cave at Machphela. He purchased that from Ephron and the sons of Heth. More than one family member, as I mentioned, would be buried in the tomb. Jesus, we remember, was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. And what was different about this is that no one had yet been laid in that tomb. Jesus was the first to be buried in that tomb. It was unused prior to Jesus' death. The next words of the Creed are the most controversial words in the Creed. The next words of the creed tell us not only that he was buried, but goes on to say, he descended to hell. That is the most controversial part of the creed. I don't want the controversy to obscure the main focus this morning as we focus on the resurrection of Jesus, but I also don't want to ignore the controversy either. There are many Christians today who do not like to recite the creed or will modify the creed, taking that section out because they feel that this is actually an unbiblical statement. Now, if you have a King James Version, that's a translation that I was raised with, you will actually read the words in Psalm 1610, for thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. And it is obvious that this prophetic passage refers to Jesus, as you remember the words of Peter as he preached on the day of Pentecost. In this message, he quotes this passage with reference to Jesus. So let's turn there for a moment. Again, I don't want to get completely derailed, but I don't want to run from the controversy either. So Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 2, Peter, preaching on the day of Pentecost, will say, I'll start in verse 25, we could start earlier, but in verse 25, for David says, concerning him, or Jesus, I foresaw the Lord always before my face. He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad. Moreover, my flesh also will rest in hope. And again, taking up with the way the King James reads, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life. Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. And Peter then, as he continues to preach, he will say these words, men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch, David, that he is both dead and buried. And his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spake concerning the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, or in hell, if you have the King James Version, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses. So the controversy focuses on that word hell. So the two questions that are related with this controversy is, number one, what is hell in this passage? And number two, what is Jesus doing there? I want to briefly consider some of the views of what is meant by this passage and this statement and some related passages that are connected with it. Let me start with two wrong views. I'm not going to go into every view, but two wrong views of what is meant by this. Two wrong views of this descent into hell. First, what is called the punishment view. The punishment view states that Jesus had to go to hell as in the place of the punishment for those who were unregenerate. Jesus had to go to the place of punishment, hell, for three days to face punishment for our sins. Now, contrary to this view, and again, I'm flying through this quickly, but contrary to this view, the scripture and the words of Jesus himself would teach us that the vicarious life and death of our Savior was sufficient. And thus the scriptures, in Jesus' own words, in John chapter 19, verse 30, tell us that Jesus said, it is finished, paid in full before breathing his last. And so that is a wrong view, and I know that it is prevalent today, but it is a wrong view. A second wrong view is what could be called the second chance view. The second chance view is a view that states that Jesus gave people who had died prior to his life another chance. That he went to hell and proclaimed what he had done and gave these people a second chance to be saved. And once again I believe that this is contrary to the scripture. Passages like Romans chapter 2 verse 12 tell us as many who have sinned without law shall perish without law. They both will perish. Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27 teaches it's appointed to man once to die and after this the judgment. No second chance is spoken of. And for those that would say, yeah, but what about those who lived before Jesus was born? I think we need only remember Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke chapter 16. In Luke chapter 16, the destiny of the rich man who was an unbeliever was sealed when he died. We know this because when the rich man wanted Lazarus to come and just dip his finger in water and place it on his tongue, he was told, there is between us and you, Father Abraham would say, there is between us and you a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us. Now, so those are two wrong views. the punishment view, that Jesus didn't die enough, basically, or that Jesus gave people in hell a second chance. Those are two wrong views. Now, here are two views that are biblically acceptable, I believe, as you look at this statement about Christ descending to hell, you will not leave my soul in hell or suffer your holy one to see corruption. One view, and again, I'm not going to descend into the particulars of this, but one view I think that is biblically acceptable, that there is biblical support to, is what I call a proclamation of victory view. I'm not going to descend into the entire biblical defense of this view, but, again, I don't want to distract where we're going, which is to focus on the resurrection of our Lord, but here is a summary of this view. I believe the Bible teaches that there are a number of demonic spirits whose sins in the days of Noah were so sexually deviant and so subversive to the redemptive plan of God that they were consigned to hell. Now, not every demon is in that state. We understand that. But I believe the Bible teaches us that Jesus went to these spirits in prison and proclaimed a word of victory to them. If you are interested in a further, more fleshed out biblical defense of this, I preached a message back in February of 2020 from my series in 2 Peter, And I titled the message, Impending Doom and Deliverance, Part One. And in that message, I went through a further explanation of the related passages of this, and how they fit, and how they bring us this view. And I've studied it over and over again, and I know it seems kind of weird and crazy, and the sort of thing you might see on the X-Files, but I think that this actually is what the Bible teaches. However, The second biblically acceptable view when we think of Jesus descending to hell is a view that we could say hell refers to the grave, the full experience of death in the realm of the dead. I believe that this is the intention both of the creed and of Psalm 16 and Acts chapter two. I'd say, well, where, how does hell become the grave? Well, the words that are translated as hell in the King James Psalm 16 and Acts chapter two are the words Sheol and Hades. These words had a broad what's called semantic range. Now semantic range might not be an expression that you're familiar with. It's not something that we use every day. But let me give you an example of semantic range. If I were to say the word love, we know that there's all kinds of definitions for the word love. from, you know, someone just clicking something on Instagram, all the way to something profane and immoral. All of these, this full range can be used, that full range of meaning for the word love. The words Sheol and Hades had a wide semantic range. The basic meaning of these terms, Sheol, the Old Testament word, Hades, the New Testament word, the basic meaning was the realm of the dead. But as such, it could refer to anything from the grave itself to the place of eternal torment. So the grave is a legitimate understanding just of the meaning of this word hell. I think as well, as you look at the context of Psalm 16 and Acts chapter 2, the context is the Lord's resurrection from the dead. or as we sing, up from the grave he arose. Peter proclaims this with this passage when he says, he seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption. So again, the reference is the resurrection of Christ. Historically, I think it's good to consider what the first man that actually included this expression in a copy of the creed, what he understood it to mean. So historically speaking, as you look at the creed, it was found in bits and pieces and developed over time to its present state that we have it in today. The first man to actually include The phrase, he descended into hell, was a man named Rufinus. Prior to this, it was not found in any of the early versions of the creed. It did not appear in any of the versions of the creed until Rufinus published two versions of the creed in the year 390. Even after that, it wasn't included in any widely published edition of the creed until 650. Rufinus, the only person who included it before AD 650, did not think that the expression meant to descend into the place of torment for unbelieving souls. He understood it to mean the grave. Now there are some that say, well why would it mention that he was buried and he descended to the grave? And to that I would answer, there are already in the creed reinforcing statements. For example, we read just before this that Jesus was crucified and died. And yet if you look at the word crucified in scripture, the meaning of crucified is to die upon a cross. I'll give you some examples of that. When Jesus predicted his death and the angels reflected back on that, Jesus had said of himself that he would be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again. When the crowds cried out, crucify him, they were calling for Jesus death. When the angels of the tomb said, you seek Jesus who was crucified, what they mean is you seek Jesus who was dead, who was killed by crucifixion. When we preach Christ crucified, we're preaching the death of Christ upon a cross. When Paul says in Galatians chapter six, verse 14, God forbid that I should boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, he was speaking of union with Christ in his death. And so the creed includes both buried and descended to hell to reinforce the full experience of Christ. Just as Christ was crucified and died, so Jesus was buried and descended into the grave, the realm of the dead. Now, Having run through that, let's focus upon the main thought of this section of the creed, and that is that Jesus is risen. The third day, he rose again from the grave. Jesus really did die, and Jesus really did rise again. And both of these are true and essential to our faith. Let me focus on a couple things in the time we have and the voice that I have left this morning. First, the resurrection was a demonstration of truth. The resurrection was a demonstration of truth. It is a vindication, a proof of truthfulness. The resurrection vindicated or proved true the Old Testament prophecies. Paul would say in first Corinthians chapter 15, moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel, which I preached to you, which you also received and in which you stand by, which also you are saved. If you hold fast to that word, which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain for I delivered to you, first of all, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins. according to the scriptures. And then he says, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. What old Testament scriptures spoke of the resurrection of our savior? Well, we've looked at one already. Psalm 16 verses 10 and 11 clearly speak of the resurrection of our Lord, but it's also spoken of in Isaiah chapter 53. The passage that speaks of the suffering servant and the experience of Christ upon the cross tells us that the Messiah will really die. But it also tells us that there's a prospect for the suffering servant that extends even beyond his death. Let me read to you from Isaiah 53 verses 10 to 12. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief. when you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." So you have the Messiah who will die upon a cross, but the scripture also says that he will see his seed, prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Lest we doubt that Isaiah 53 actually speaks of the death of Messiah. We simply keep reading, he shall see the labor of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge. My righteous servant shall justify many for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul unto death. Now that seems an odd way of saying things if Jesus would not rise. Intended in this passage is the fact that Jesus would die upon that cross, but he would live after having died upon that cross. He was numbered with the transgressors. He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. So, The resurrection is a demonstration of the truth. It's a demonstration of the truth of Old Testament prophecy. It's also a demonstration of the truth of Christ's own words. Remember in John chapter two, the first cleansing of the temple. Jesus cleanses the temple, you know, overturning the money changers tables. And they say, by what authority do you do this? And Jesus says, destroy this temple. And in three days, I'll raise it. And no one gets what he's saying because they think that he's talking about the actual physical temple, the structure that Jesus is in. But the scripture actually tells us that he spoke of the temple of his body and that his disciples remembered this after he was risen. The resurrection is a vindication of Jesus' own words of truth. So many times Jesus spoke of the fact not only that he would die, but that he would rise again. Matthew chapter 16 verse 21 the scripture tells us from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised the third day. So Jesus said this is going to happen and it does. Matthew chapter 27, after Jesus' death, even Jesus' enemies remember that Jesus said this. Jesus' enemies would say, remember that deceiver said, after three days I'll rise? What we need to do then is make this tomb secure, because we don't want any of his followers sneaking in and stealing the body out. Well, of course, Jesus will rise. Matthew chapter 28 tells us that. And how do they deal with that? Because they knew, they knew that Jesus had prophesied that he was going to rise again. How do they deal with that? Well, they paid the guards off. The scripture says that they said they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and said, tell them his disciples came at night and stole him away while we slept. And so, Jesus really did rise. And his resurrection is a vindication of his own words of truth. But they're also a vindication of the truth of who Jesus was and is. And that's where we started this morning. He was declared by the resurrection to be the Son of God. The resurrection was the public stamp upon the identity of who Jesus was. By the way, this tells us then why Jesus would use the resurrection as his justification for cleansing the temple. The resurrection showed that he's the son of God. As the son of God, he's Lord over that temple. He has the right to do in it what needs to be done. Romans chapter one verse four tells us that he was declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. Acts chapter 13, and for sake of time, I'll just refer to this. Acts chapter 13 ties the identity of Jesus together with his resurrection. and who Jesus is, that Jesus really is the Holy One, the Son of God. That's in Acts chapter 13, verses 33 to 35. But I need to move on because I want us to rejoice in this truth together and what it means for those of us who have believed in Jesus. The resurrection not only was a demonstration of truth, but it was a definitive triumph. We sing together, Often on Easter, up from the grave he arose with a mighty triumph over his foes. And the resurrection truly was that. And we see reference of the victory that is accomplished in the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. I know I'm throwing a lot of scripture at you this morning. You can go back and listen to this or you can write down references if you want. I think if we all turned to every one of these, this message would take us a little longer this morning. But 1 Corinthians 15 verses 54 to 58 tells us, when this corruptible is put on incorruption, which is a result of Christ's resurrection, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, or hell, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, but the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The victory spoken of is the victory accomplished by Jesus, death and resurrection. We are told then, therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord, keep going. The resurrection of Jesus Christ assures us that victory is won and our labor is not in vain. So let's think about this triumph. because Jesus has lived and died and risen. We who have trusted in Christ are united to him by faith. And I want to think about a few, a few matters that relate to who we are and blessings that we have in Christ because Christ is risen. There are more we could mention. We could mention, for example, the fact that first Peter chapter one tells us that We have been born again through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. But I wanna focus, we'll stay in Romans, and this will allow us, hopefully, to all look at the passages together. Think, first of all, with me. Well, before I mention that, let me say this. Some of you might say, well, okay, if Jesus won the victory, why do I still fight? Why do I still face the temptations of sin and Satan? Why do we still have that great enemy? Well, the victory of Jesus is one of those decisive moments that secured and made certain the victory that was to come. Some of you that like to study history might look back at different great conflicts and say, this was a defining moment. This battle turned the tide. After this, the war kept going, but that side was basically defeated. Those that study American history, I look at the war between the states and the war of Gettysburg. The war of Gettysburg, the South lost. And though the war would continue for several years, it was basically over at that point. It was only a matter of time. The strength of the South was effectively broken at that point. Some have looked at different things that happened in World War II, what was it, the actual turning point of the war, and different ideas have been offered, but Christ's victory over sin and death and hell at the cross and the empty tomb secures victory for us. Yes, the battle may be ongoing, but the victory is certain. Think about with me, we who are united by faith to Christ, think about his triumph and our justification. Turn with me to Romans chapter four. Romans chapter four, I'll join you in verse 23 in just a moment. Romans chapter four speaks about the truth of justification. Justification is a declaration by God A declaration of righteous, where God looks upon those who have placed their faith in Christ and declares them righteous, not because of their deeds, but because of Jesus' deeds. We're not justified by doing our best. We're justified through faith in Christ because of his righteousness, not ours. That's the blessing of the gospel. But Paul connects the resurrection of Jesus and our justification. after telling us the example of Abraham, how Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. In verse 23 it says, now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed or put on his account, the righteousness put on Abraham's account, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead. So if we have true faith in God, the righteousness of Christ is credited to our account. So that legally speaking, in the courts of heaven, we are not spiritual debtors. We have on our account the righteousness of Jesus himself. We're counted righteous for his sake. It shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses and raised because of our justification. The New King James uses the word because, which is a perfectly legitimate translation. King James has the word for, also perfectly legitimate. For can sometimes mean because. Even in our English language today, So, the resurrection of Christ, how does that connect to our justification? Well, the resurrection of Christ is proof positive that Christ has secured salvation for those who have trusted in Him. If Christ were not raised, our faith would be at vain. We would have no confidence that the life and death of Christ had any saving effect. But because Christ, as the perfect sacrifice, lived and died for us, and bore our sins in his own body on the tree, God cannot justly keep Jesus under the bondage of death. And the resurrection is God's public stamp of approval upon what Jesus has done. It lets us know that Christ's saving work has been accomplished. And this is good news. If Christ hadn't risen from the dead, we would have no such hope. But because Christ is risen, we have this hope. Think also about the resurrection of Christ. His triumph. and our liberation. Jump ahead with me to Romans chapter 6 if you would. This is also really good news if you've trusted in Jesus. Having talked about how a person can be justified by faith rather than working their way into God's favor, Paul anticipates a question at the beginning of Romans chapter 6. He says, what shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? If God's grace shines so greatly against the backdrop of our sin, should we continue in sin then that grace may abound? And he says, certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? This here is speaking of a spiritual rather than water baptism. I don't have the time to fully justify that before you biblically, but this is what it is speaking of. Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. If we've been united together in the likeness of his death, we certainly also shall be in the likeness of his resurrection. He's speaking here about our union with Christ. We are united to Christ by faith and we then share in his death and his resurrection. Now, what are the implications of that? Verse six, Knowing this, that our old man, that's our old sinful nature, not our dad, our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, and hear this, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Because Jesus has lived and died, brothers and sisters, we have been liberated. Before we were saved, we were servants of sin and Satan. We were slaves. We may not have been utterly depraved, but we were totally depraved in that sin touched every part of our existence. Thought, word, and deed. We would and could not help but fail because we were slaves of sin. But because Christ has died and risen again, we have been freed. We now have newness of life. We're not under that old tyrant of sin and death. We're not under that old tyrant of Satan. We have been liberated. I love the way that the wording is given in the King James Version. And I, in my past, even when I began preaching, The King James Version was the version that I knew, memorized, and preached from. But as you go through Romans Chapter 6 in the King James Version, some of these words are also present in the New King James, but in the King James Version, there's this point that says, essentially, we have to recognize our union with Christ and live in light of its reality. And there's some words that are used. We have to know our identity in Christ. We have to know who we are in Him. We're no longer slaves. We're freed. We have to reckon. Now, we don't hear reckon very often here. Maybe if you're from the southern states you might hear reckon a little bit more, but we don't hear it too much around here. But reckon means to count it as true. So we know this truth and that we count it as true, that we are united with Christ and we're no longer slaves of sin. Then the next word that you encounter in the King James Version that I love, that helps us to see how we live this out, is yield. Paul will make the point that we're supposed to yield ourselves, not as slaves to sin, but as slaves of righteousness. We have a whole new master. Whereas our former master was a tyrant, horrible, wicked, not caring about us, we have a whole new master. And we're now called to yield ourselves as members of righteousness. Yield our members as instruments of righteousness. And then there's that key word that sums it all up, and it's simply obey. Obey. So we know who we are. We reckon it to be true. We count it as true. We yield ourself not as instruments of unrighteousness, but as instruments of righteousness. And then we obey. Brothers and sisters, you are no longer a slave of sin and Satan. You don't have to sin. And so fight it. yield your members as instruments of righteousness rather than unrighteousness. All of this is true, brothers and sisters, because Christ has died and risen for us. Let me give you one more. Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. Because Christ has risen, we have security. in our justification. Because Christ has risen, we have liberty. We have been liberated from sin and death. Because Christ has risen, we have the hope of glorification. Look with me at Romans chapter 8 and verse 11. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. through his spirit who dwells in you. Jump ahead with me to verse 16. The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The point is that because Christ is risen, we also will be raised. Because Christ is risen and we are united with him, we are joint heirs, we who are connected, united with Christ, will be glorified. This idea of glorification is really beyond our ability to fully grasp. Verse 18 has been a comfort to saints over and over throughout the years, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Every single one of us in this course of life will suffer in one way or another. But the worst suffering that the most troubled saint experiences is not even worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. As horrible as things may be in this life, what awaits us because Christ is risen is so much better that we can't even, it's not even worth comparing it. Now that is incredible news. Because some of us, in different ways, walk through some very deep and dark and difficult valleys. And it seems at times, like the psalmist would say, that we are simply drowning in the experience of that darkness and sorrow. And yet the scripture tells us that because Jesus has risen, we also will be raised and what we will be raised to is so much better than the worst that we're experiencing that it's not worth even comparing it. Brothers and sisters, life is filled with suffering. Life is filled with suffering. But Jesus has lived and died for you. There's a reason then why Paul says, listen, be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Keep going. Glory awaits. Don't give up, don't give in, Jesus has risen and we who have trusted in him share in that resurrection. We also will be raised to glory that is so unfathomable that we can't even comprehend it right now. I love how Paul continues this train of thought. He has this section I think is well summarized in the New King James Headings, verses 18 to 30, speak of from suffering to glory. Having said, I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. That's how this section begins, 18 to 30. But then he ends this section, verses 28 to 30, by saying, we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Now, some people give up and give in because two weeks after their suffering, they can't figure out how it's working together for good. But the point is not that you figure it out two weeks down the road. The point is that when you get to glory, that's where you see the greatness of what God has done through that suffering. We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Let me reinforce this, that glory is what Paul has in mind here, not some time two months down the road. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, Whom he predestined, these he also called. Whom he called, these he also justified. Whom he justified, these he also glorified." Now, in verse 18, Paul says, glorification is coming. In verse 30, he says, he uses the past tense. Now why would Paul say in verse 18, glory is coming and in verse 30 say glorification has already happened. He's using what is called the prophetic perfect. It is so certain that it will happen that Paul can speak of it in the past tense. If you are his, he will glorify you. The sufferings that you go through now are not worthy to be compared with that glory that awaits you. And then Paul draws our attention to God's everlasting love. So it all flows together. Well, how can I be sure that I'm going to reach glory? How can I be sure of this glorification that Paul speaks of in past tense, but I'm not there yet. My life is filled with pain and suffering and futility and mess and struggle. How can I be sure? because nothing can separate you from his love. If you're his, the one who saved you will keep you. The one who saved you will glorify you. And so, listen, just let's be honest, a lot of us are really struggling and having a lot of hard times right now. And I wanna point you to the cross and the empty tomb. I want to point you to Jesus and remind you of the victory that He has won. Because of the victory that He has won, you can be certain that having trusted in Him, you're justified. Because of the victory that He's won, you don't have to be a servant and a slave of sin. Because of the victory that's won, glory awaits. So brothers and sisters, let's keep going. Let's look to that cross and that empty tomb. Let's look to Jesus. Let's keep going. Glory awaits us. Yes, there's darkness. Yes, there's difficult. Yes, there's pain and struggle in this life. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. So keep going, brothers and sisters. That empty tomb makes certain the fact that we will experience something so much better, even the worst, so much better positively than even the worst negatively that this world has to offer. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.