This morning I was reading in Romans and a couple of lines grabbed my attention. Paul often times writes very concise sentences that contain massive truths, these verses are an example. Here are the verses - Romans 4:23-25 NIV:
[23] "The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, [24] but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness---for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. [25] He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
Paul is laying the foundation of the Gospel of Grace in this chapter, and he bases much on the story of Abraham, to whom righteousness was credited because of his belief. This happened prior to the Law, so it sets the stage for any man of faith to be credited righteous by God.
His last statement is what caught my attention this morning, the fact that the Resurrection was for us justification (being called righteous) by God. In other words, Jesus' death paid our sin debt, but it was the Resurrection that won for us righteousness through faith. I don't comprehend that truth nearly enough, Lord, please open my mind and heart for greater revelation and wisdom.
Here is what David Guzick says concerning these verses:
4. (23-25) Abraham's justification and our own.
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. 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 was raised because of our justification.
a. It was not written for his sake alone: It wasn't only for Abraham's benefit that God declared him righteous through faith; he is an example that we are invited to follow - it is also for us. Paul's confidence is glorious: It shall be imputed to us who believe; this wasn't just for Abraham, but for us also.
b. Who believe in Him who raised up Jesus: When we talk about faith and saving faith in Jesus, it is important to emphasize that we mean believing that His work on the cross (delivered up because of our offenses) and triumph over sin and death (raised because of our justification) is what saves us. There are many false-faiths that can never save, and only faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through empty tomb can save us.
· Faith in the historical events of the life of Jesus will not save
· Faith in the beauty of Jesus' life will not save
· Faith in the accuracy or goodness of Jesus' teaching will not save
· Faith in the deity of Jesus, and in His Lordship will not save
c. Jesus died because of our offenses, but was raised up because of our justification. The resurrection has an essential place in our redemption because it demonstrates God the Father's perfect satisfaction with the Son's work on the cross, proving that it was in fact a perfect sacrifice made by One who remained perfect, even though bearing the sin of the world.
i. Delivered up because of our offenses: The ancient Greek word translated delivered (paradidomi) was used of casting people into prison or delivering them to justice. "Here it speaks of the judicial act of God the Father delivering God the Son to the justice that required the payment of the penalty for human sin." (Wuest)
ii. "Jesus' resurrection always includes his sacrificial death but it brings our the all-sufficiency of his death. If death had held him, he would have failed; since he was raised from death, his sacrifice sufficed, God set his seal upon it by raising him up." (Lenski)
iii. "Christ did meritoriously work our justification and salvation by his death and passion, but the efficacy and perfection thereof with respect to us depend on his resurrection . . . This one verse is an abridgement of the whole gospel." (Poole)
d. In this chapter, Paul has clearly demonstrated that in no way does the Old Testament contradict the gospel of salvation by grace through faith. Instead it is in fulfillment of the Old Testament, and Abraham, justified through faith, is our pattern.
No comments:
Post a Comment