Title: Delivered and Raised Again
Text: Romans 4: 23-25
Date: April 8, 2012
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Romans 4: 23: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24: 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.
What the Lord Jesus Christ did, his body, the church, each elect child of God in particular, did in him.
V25: [Christ] was delivered for our offences,
Christ Jesus gave himself freely, voluntarily, into the hands of men, justice, and death itself. He did it to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness and so that the offences of his people could never again condemn his people.
In order to do so, Christ had to bear the sins of his elect in his own body on the tree--V25: Who was delivered for OUR offences. It was not for sins of his own—he knew no sin. Nor was it for the sins of the angels that sinned—God spared not the angels that sinned—God provided them no substitute. It was for the sins of those chosen and given to Christ by the Father before the world began: called the friends of Christ, his sheep, his church—here is why he did it.
Galatians 1: 4: Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
God the Father delivered his Son according to his determinate counsel and foreknowledge.
Romans 3: 26:…To declare, at this time his righteousness, that he might be just and the Justifier of him which believes in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5: 21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Christ Jesus did not die merely as a martyr, or as an example but in the room and stead of his people. God in his strict justice demanded the death of his Son in order to satisfy justice for his people.
By dying, Christ made satisfaction for the sins of every elect child of God. His death obtained, accomplished, satisfied divine justice for each elect child of God.
Romans 4: 25:..and was raised again for our justification.
Remember: what Christ did, his church, each elect child of God, did in Christ. When he rose again as our head and representative, and was legally discharged, acquitted, and justified, so was his church in him.
Christ’s resurrection declares—it testifies—that when "He was taken from prison and from judgment," when Christ passed from the prison-house of death, the Church, purchased with His blood, arose in Him, legally and fully discharged.
The emerging of the Redeemer from the grave was the emerging of the redeemed from all condemnation. His release from death was our release from the hand of the broken law. By his death he paid our debt, when he was discharged, we, in Him and together with Him, received the discharge from the guilt and punishment of all our sins.
In the old testament type, the High Priest, not only slew the lamb at the altar, but he carried the blood into the most holy place, and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat. So Christ our great High Priest passed into heaven to present himself before God as our acceptance.
Hebrews 9: 12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us….24: For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
His resurrection declares his work complete. Christ is seated in glory because the work is finished.
Hebrews 1: 3: “…when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
His resurrection declares that his work is accepted by the Father. The Father said to Christ,
“…Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” (Heb 1:13)
Christ ever lives to apply his righteousness to all those for whom he finished this work.
Acts 5: 31: Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Romans 8: 32: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Throughout Romans 4, Paul has been showing that Abraham believed God and the righteousness of Christ was imputed to Abraham. Abraham believed God who “quickeneth the dead” (v17). Abraham did not doubt the promise of God though in himself he saw no ability—against hope Abraham believed in hope.
Romans 4: 20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21: And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 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.
Do you believe Christ was delivered for your offenses? Do you believe Christ satisfied divine justice for you by his death? Do you trust that he made atonement to God for your sins? Are you persuaded that you were reconciled to God by the death of his Son? Do you believe that when Christ arose you were raised in him? Is all your hope that you are seated with Christ, complete, at the right hand of the Father?
Romans 5: 10: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
To believe that Christ rose from the dead is not merely to believe in the facts that he arose, it is to believe that Christ accomplished your salvation thereby and to rest all your hope in him—that you have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. Peter says, “God raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.” Faith believes that we died in Christ, and because he lives we live—righteous in Christ.
Romans 6: 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Christ told his disciples, “Because I live, ye shall live also’. (Joh 14:19)
Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
The peace and hope and rest for the believer is Christ--our life now and forever and is secure in Christ our Resurrection and our Life. Because Christ lives in me, I can never die. We have everlasting life now, and shall have everlasting glory hereafter.
John 11: 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Believest thou this?
John 11: 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
1 Thessalonians 4: 14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Amen!