OUR JUSTIFICATION
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24-25).
Did you know that when Jesus was raised from the dead, you were raised together with Him? He wasn’t raised alone. We were in Him. Ephesians 2:5-6 says God “…quickened us together with Christ…and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Notice that it says “God quickened us together with Christ”; that means we came alive with Christ. Just as we were in Him in His death on the Cross and when He was buried, we were also in Him when He was raised back to life. When He was raised back to life, He was born again; He was a new man.
We, therefore, being raised together with Him, came alive as new creations in Christ Jesus: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). You’re not the man that was condemned in sin; you’re a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Now you can understand why you’re justified by faith; why you’re declared not guilty. It’s not because Jesus died for you; that’s the legal aspect of justification. Our justification didn’t come because He died for us. His death for us was enough to set us free, but that’s not justification. Justification is about acquittal; you’re acquitted because you’re a new creature, without a past.
Therefore, our justification is the result of the life of Christ in us. That’s the life of the new creation; it’s without sin. It also helps you understand why the Bible says you’re to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24).
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for my justification in Christ Jesus. I live in the consciousness of my righteousness, free from guilt and condemnation. Being raised together with Christ, I reign in life as a new creation, unblemished and irreproachable in your sight. Your life in me is my confidence and assurance of a victorious, glorious and righteous walk, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 3:21-26, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Romans 5:1
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 11:1-18, Ezra 9-10
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 3:23-38, Deuteronomy 22
