Why the resurrection?

Scripture Reading:

Romans 4:25 NASB95

He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

I. Introduction

a. Abram was the name of Abraham before God changed it. One thing about Abraham was that he believed God. He took God at His word and stood on it like standing on a rock.

b. Genesis 15:1-6

Genesis 15:1–6 NASB95

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

c. In Romans 4 Paul wrote of having in faith in God and it was not by works, but faith in God. Because we have faith in God we are then counted as righteous.

Give a synopsis or Romans 4

d. 2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

II. Jesus delivered over for our transgressions

a. Romans 3:9-23

Romans 3:9–23 NASB95

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

III. Jesus was raised for our justification

a. The word justification means: vindication

The resurrection of Jesus Christ must not be thought of simply as evidence of His death. The stress here is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is necessary to justification, not merely because of the difference it makes to us as certifying the atoning efficacy of His death and thus evoking our faith in Him, but also because of the difference it makes for Christ Himself. It marks the point at which His sovereign power as Lord is made effective. Our justification, the basis of which has been laid in the death, becomes an accomplished fact and effective reality only through Christ's rising again.

b. Romans 5:6-9

Romans 5:6–9 NASB95

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

IV. Summary

a. let’s put it this way, why the resurrection, Jesus being raised from the dead is the proof that He is Lord, King and Savior. It is the final stamp that because of Him becoming our sin and paying the price for that sin and then raising from the dead seals that we, who are dead in sin and destined for eternal punishment, have been crucified at the cross for our sins, but raised from the dead and now are born again a new creature. He did this for us because we could do nothing to vindicate or make atonement for sin. Because He is the only one that was perfect and without sin could be the only sacrifice that was perfect and good enough to meet God’s requirements.

b. Why? Just because He loves us and wants to be with us forever. Because of our falling and our rebellion and knowing there was nothing we could do, He shed His unmerited favor on us. So that if we just live by the faith in what Jesus did for us we are saved.

c. can’t earn it, can’t do enough good works to deserve it.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.