Raised for our Justification [20mb]

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This is a sermon based on Romans 4:25 and was preached for Easter Sunday 2012.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

We have come here today on this Easter Sunday of 2012 to honor the risen Savior who had died to take away our sins. Really, there is a sense in which every Sunday worship service is a celebration of the resurrection. The NT gives us information that shows the early disciples began meeting on the first day of the week as a way of celebrating and commemorating the resurrection of the Lord.

When I started thinking and meditating on this service and wondering what scripture I should use, it seemed that this phrase from Romans 4:25 came to mind almost immediately, “He was raised for our justification.”

We’ve sung a lot of songs today in celebration of His resurrection and we have felt the divine presence of the Holy Spirit. So, I plan to speak briefly today. (That’s always dangerous to say that!)

There are three main thoughts that I find in this last verse of Romans 4. I want to present them in a way that I hope will be easy to remember. He was delivered up. And He was raised up. So we could be cleaned up and cleared up.

I.          He was delivered up.

Because of our sins, crimes, offenses.

According to the Bible, particularly the passage read for our Scripture reading earlier, it was the Jews who delivered Him up to the Gentiles to be killed.

However, in reality, it was all planned and designed before the world was created. God delivered up His own Son to be put to death for our offenses. Jesus’ death and the shedding of His blood was part of the plan before Jesus ever came into this world. The Devil didn’t defeat Him; the Jews didn’t trick Him and trap Him; it was all purposely carried out according to God’s divine will.

And, make no mistake, it was because of our offenses. We delivered Him up.

The song writer says, “I should have been crucified. I should have suffered and died. I should have hung on the cross in disgrace, but Jesus God’s Son took my place.”

II.        And He was raised up.

The resurrection was a real event in history that was attested by the testimonies of hundreds.

The resurrection cannot be explained away as simply the wishful thinking or even hallucinations of hopeful, dedicated followers. There are names provided, locations identified, events described in detail. These are not the imaginations of devoted but deceived disciples.

The Apostle Paul states in Corinthians that Jesus was seen by more than 500 brethren at one time. He goes on to say that some of them have died, but the greater part of them remain alive at the time of his writing.

I read just recently a quote from the book, The Case for Christ, by Stroebel. The author says he asked a renowned psychiatrist once how likely it was for 500 people to all have the same hallucination about seeing someone that wasn’t really there. The doctor replied that if that were to happen, it would be a greater miracle than almost anything else we can think of.

The resurrection was necessary for our salvation and our justification because it validated every other claim made by our Lord. If Jesus Christ had not risen, after specifically predicting he would, then every other claim He made regarding forgiveness and salvation would not be trustworthy either.

III.       So we could be cleaned up and cleared up.

Being cleaned up relates to the term "righteousness."

It is interesting to notice that the word translated "justification" in this verse is the same word that is translated "righteousness" a few verses earlier. Righteousness is the condition of being just and right in accordance with the holy claims of a holy God. In both the OT and NT, righteousness is the state commanded by God and standing the test of His judgment (2 Cor. 3:9; 6:14; Eph. 4:24). It is conformity to all that He commands or appoints.

In ourselves, we have absolutely no ability nor hope of ever living up to the righteous requirements of God’s holy law or holy nature. Jesus was raised up in the power of the Holy Spirit to complete the work of righteousness in our behalf. Paul emphasizes in this passage that righteousness is credited to us on the basis of Jesus' death and resurrection. In other passages written by Paul he also emphasizes the fact that righteousness is truly imparted to us as well. God not only credits us with being righteous, but He works with us and in us to make us righteous.

Being cleared up relates to the term "justification."

Our record of offenses is long and horrible. We have no potential way to clear up our past and appropriately rectify it to satisfy an absolutely holy God. Our inability to live pleasing to God and live according to the holy principles of righteousness produces a record of wrongs that we have no power to erase.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ produces the result that we can be justified and cleared of all our offenses against a holy God. Because He lives, we can be free from condemnation.

Conclusion

Abraham’s experience of faith and resulting consequence was recorded for our benefit, according to verse 23, so we could understand how we too can receive righteousness through believing God’s word and God’s power. If God granted righteousness and justification to Abraham on account of his faith in the promises of God, then how much more will He grant the same to us who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ?

The resurrection means that you and I need not walk in doubt, sin, and condemnation.

The resurrection means that we can know our past is forgiven, our present is clean and holy and our future is glorious.

Our closing hymn is a song that was written just a short time ago, In Christ Alone. The verses of this great song describe the life and work of Christ as they relate to our redemption.