He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. – Romans 4:25

The resurrection of Jesus proves that His Father’s justice is satisfied. In the past, I have challenged Grace Life Church members to know two things that happened on the cross when Jesus died – satisfaction and substitution. He was our substitute taking our place under the wrath of God that we deserve. And, when God’s wrath came upon Jesus, God the Father was fully satisfied that all judgment was taken.

Jesus rose from the dead because the Father raised Him. Why? Because the Father knew that He had finished the job perfectly. You see, His resurrection proves that He was who He said He was – the Savior, the One who can forgive sins, the One sent from the Father to save His children from their sins. If the Father did not look upon Him with satisfaction that He had finished the task, the Father would have never raised Him from the dead.

The last part of Romans 4:25 says, He “was raised because of our justification.” In Christ’s death, justification was paid for. The Father’s full acquittal for all believers – past, present, and future – was fully accomplished; however, as long as the Savior lay in death’s chamber, the payment, though accomplished, was not yet presented.

For example, when you pay a bill that you owe, you present the amount of money that will cover that bill. You then receive a receipt that shows you’ve paid that amount. Well, you already had the money to pay that bill, but it wasn’t really final until you presented the money and received a receipt saying it was paid in full. Now, the company issuing that bill can never again hold that debt against you. You’ve got the receipt in your hand showing it’s paid in full.