What role does the Resurrection play in Justification?

[Romans922]

What role does the Resurrection play in Justification?

 

[larryjf]

Let me try to flesh out what i'm thinking...

The life of Jesus is what is imputed to us for our righteousness.

The death of Jesus is where our sins are imputed onto Him for our propitiation.

The resurrection of Jesus is where both imputations are declared accepted in the courtroom of the Godhead.

 

[Civbert]

I understand it confirms to us that the sacrifice was accepted by the Father.

 

[Presbyterian Deacon]

Romans 4:24-25 (ESV)
but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, [25] who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Does this text help?

Romans 4:24-25 (KJV)
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

[Brian Bosse]

Hello Gentlemen,

I understand Romans 4:25 as Civbert does. The resurrection of Christ was proof positive to us that the work was completely accomplished. Just like works justify a Christian's claim to faith (I'll show you my faith by my works), resurrection justifies (shows us) the finished work of Christ.

Sincerely,

Brian

 

[aleksanderpolo]

I see parallel between the resurrection of Christ and the high priest coming out of the Holy of Holies, alive, on the day of atonement. Both indicating that God has accepted the sacrifice. The opposite is true too, I think.

 

[Amazing Grace]

Samuel Richardson

Justification by Christ Alone By Samuel Richardson


Objection 1:

We were not justified by Christ upon the Cross, because Christ rose again for our justification, Rom. 4:24.
Answer:

If Christ's resurrection did justify us, then it was not faith that justified us: and seeing the resurrection of Christ was before we were born, therefore before we believed.

Secondly, the resurrection of Christ did justify Him Who justified us, that is, visibly declare Him, and those in Him to be just. For the resurrection of Christ did wonderfully declare Him to be the Son of God, in that He had power to raise Himself from the dead by His infinite power, John 10:17,18.

Thirdly, Christ's resurrection did, and does declare us to be just who believe in Him, because we believe in Him Who is the Son of God. Also, Christ's resurrection does justify all them who declare Him to be the Son of God, that in so doing they witness to the truth, 1 Cor. 15:15.
Objection 2:

But the Apostle says, if Christ had not risen, they had been in their sins: 1 Cor. 15:17, therefore Christ's blood did not take away their sins.
Answer:

The Apostle's words are to be understood, it had been so, if Christ had not been the true Messias, the Son of God, He had not been He that could have taken away sin, if He had not risen, seeing the Prophets and Scriptures declare that the Christ, the Son of God, should not only be crucified, but also rise again the third day, Psal. 16:9,11 with Acts 2:25-32 and 26:22; 1 Cor. 15:14, He must "rise again the third day," John 18:32. "Thereforeit was not possible that Christ should be holden by death" Acts 2:24. Also Christ said, that He would "rise again the third day," Matt. 20:19 and 16:21. And if He had not risen, He had been a false witness and not He Who could take away sin. And, if so, they had been still in their sins and their faith vain, to believe a lie. This is the scope of the Apostle's words, 1 Cor. 15:17. But seeing Christ did rise again, He must needs be the Son of God, and the true Messias, declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Rom. 1:4. Because else He could not have raised Himself from the dead as He did. Therefore, it must follow, that seeing He did rise again, they were not in their sins because He had justified them in washing their sins away in his own blood, Rev. 1:5.

 

[Presbyterian Deacon]

Hello Gentlemen,

I understand Romans 4:25 as Civbert does. The resurrection of Christ was proof positive to us that the work was completely accomplished. Just like works justify a Christian's claim to faith (I'll show you my faith by my works), resurrection justifies (shows us) the finished work of Christ.

Sincerely,

Brian

Thank you.

I agree.

 

[MW]

Thomas Ridgeley, Body of Divinity, 1:615, 616.

The effects of Christ’s resurrection, which respect his people, consist more especially in four things. First, their justification is owing to it. As we are said sometimes to be justified by his death, or by his blood; so elsewhere we are said to be justified, both by his death and by his resurrection, in different respects. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again.” By these words, some understand that Christ, by his death, paid the debt which we had contracted to the justice of God; and that, by his resurrection, he received a discharge or acquittance in their behalf for whom he died and rose again; so that when he was discharged, his people might be said to be discharged in him, as their public Head and Representative. This is well expressed in our large English Annotations. “Our justification, which was begun in his death, was perfected in his resurrection. Christ did meritoriously work our justification and salvation, by his death and passion; but the efficacy and perfection thereof, with respect to us, dependeth on his resurrection. By his death he paid our debt; in his resurrection he received our acquittance; Isa. 53:8, ‘Being taken from prison and from judgment.’ When he was discharged, we, in him, and together with him, received our discharge, from the guilt and punishment of all our sins.” This is very agreeable to what is said in the present Answer – that he did all this as a public Person, the Head of his church.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

The way I describe it simply to others is the notion that Paul uses that, as we're united to Him by faith, we are united to His death and resurrection. We die to the curse of the Law and rise again in newness of life with Him. I like the terminology above that speaks about the perfection or culmination of the work of justification. His resurrection vindicates His sacrifice and is an earnest toward our own.

 

[fredtgreco]

Acts 2:24 is helpful also:

God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

That is, that the strength of death is sin, the wages of sin is death. Where there is no more sin, there cannot be any death. So when death tried to hold the Lord Jesus, it could not, because there was no more sin to be held to His account - He had paid for it all.