Romans 4:25 “Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
What was accomplished on the first Easter (I like to call it the first Resurrection Weekend)? As Paul explains what it means to have righteousness credited to us in verse 24, he essentially summarizes in verse 25 what happened when Christ died for us and then rose again on the third day. With the past Easter still fresh on our minds, we easily recall that when Christ was delivered up and crucified, He took our sins. He did not do anything worthy of being crucified. He did not do anything worthy of dying. Yet on the cross He (listen closely) became sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us.” He is then the sacrificial lamb of Isaiah 53:6, where it says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
So He was delivered up (crucified and died) because of our offenses. Numerous theological things happen here, such as atonement, redemption, and propitiation (He absorbed the wrath of God till God was satisfied).
Now Paul says He was raised for our justification. He was raised from the dead so that we might be justified when we believe. He was raised from the dead to credit us with His righteousness. We return to 2 Corinthians 5:21b as it says, “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 tells of the great exchange. Christ on the cross takes our sins. Then, when we believe the gospel, He gives us the righteousness of Christ. Romans 4:24 says, “For us, to whom God will credit righteousness— for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”
One of the most significant results of the resurrection is that it proved God accepted the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, taking our offenses. Being raised from the dead, He can now GIVE us His righteousness which comes through JUSTIFICATION. If He never arose from the dead, He could not give us it because a dead person can’t give you anything.
At this point, may we say WHAT A SAVIOR and what a salvation He PROVIDES.
Have you believed? Have you accepted?
Continue Strong, praising our Savior all the day long,
And remember to DATE The Word