The Book of Romans gives us 6 great implications that
flow out of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this message Pastor Brian unpacks them for the church.
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What Does Romans Teach About The Resurrection Of Christ?
We have been steeped in the book of Romans now for well over a year. Our first message was delivered on January 24, 2018. And so, as Easter approached, it was natural for me to consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ in relation to the book of Romans. I decided to go through the entire book and see what it taught concerning Christ’s resurrection. When I was done I discovered that Romans teaches us six great implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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It Means That Jesus Is Who He Claimed To Be
(Rom. 1:3-4)
Romans 1:3-4 says that the gospel is “concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus made some amazing claims about Himself. He claimed that He was the Son of God.
Luke 22:70. “And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” But that was not the only time Jesus made that claim.
Jn.5:24-25, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”
John 10:36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,´ because I said, `I am the Son of God´?
John 19:7 “The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
There are many others who made same claim about Him!
1) The Gerasene Demoniac. Mk.5:7 “and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”
2) Simon Peter. Mt.16:16 “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
3) The Roman Centurion. Mt.27:54, “Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
4) John Mark. Mk.1:1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
5) Demons. Luke 4:41 “Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.”
6) The Angel Gabriel. Luke 1:32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;”
7) John the Baptist. John 1:34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
8) Nathaniel. John 1:49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
9) Martha. John 11:27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
10) The Apostle John. John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
Christianity stands or falls on whether Jesus really was who He claimed to be. If Jesus was not the Son of God, then He was a lying, deceiving imposter. It would mean that Jesus was not a good man, but a very evil man, for He was trying to convince the masses to believe He was someone that He was not. So, how can we know whether Christianity is the truth or not? How can someone ever know which religion is right? The answer comes down the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then He is who He claimed to be. If He didn’t rise from the dead, then He is a fraud.
What does Romans teach us about that? Romans 1:3-4 says, “concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.” This passage says that Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. The resurrection was a powerful declaration that Jesus is who He claimed to be.
While Jesus walked the earth, He made prediction after prediction that He was going to rise from the dead – Mt.12:39-40; Mt.16:21; Mt.20:18-19; Jn.2:18-22; Jn.10:17-18. It is self-evident that no mere man has the power to raise himself from the dead. If Jesus predicted His resurrection on multiple occasions, and then actually rose from the dead in the presence of many credible witnesses, then this proves that He was the Son of God.
But how do we know that Jesus rose from the dead? We have the testimony of multiple witnesses who were known for their high moral character, and who were willing to seal the truth of Christ’s resurrection with their own blood. In 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul says that Jesus appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time, and that most of them were still alive and able to be questioned concerning this. We base our belief that Christ really did rise from the dead on the testimony of those who actually saw Him, heard Him, and touched Him after He died.
So, what does all this mean? If you are convinced that Jesus rose from the dead, then you are also convinced that He was telling the truth when He walked the earth. When He said “Before Abraham was born, I am”, He was telling the truth. When He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn.14:6). The resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus is the divine Son of God, and that He came into the world to redeem sinners. It proves that Christianity is true, and not some myth or fable invented by man.
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It Means Jesus Paid For Our Justification In Full
(Rom. 4:25)
Romans 4:25 says, “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” The part of that verse that I want you to think about is “was raised because of our justification.” What does Paul mean by that? I believe he means that because Jesus fully paid for your forgiveness and justification, God raised Him from the dead. Think about it like this – Jesus died for the sins that killed Him. Since He atoned for those sins, there is no reason for Him to remain dead. When those sins were perfectly paid for, there was no more reason to keep Him in the grave. In fact, it would be unjust for Him to remain in the grave. Jesus rose from the dead as proof that God the Father has accepted His sacrifice for sin. Acts 2:24 says, “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” The resurrection of Jesus proves that Jesus was successful in purchasing our justification.
Folks, do you realize how important this is? What if Jesus had died, but never risen again? We would also wonder whether His death actually atoned for our sins. We would have no proof that it had. But the resurrection is the proof! We are declared righteous by God Himself because Jesus Christ purchased that for us. God wanted us to have proof that what He did in His death was perfectly sufficient, so He raised Him and allowed others to see Him in His resurrected glory. I am so glad for the resurrection. My hope of justification is not just a wish or a dream. It is built on a historical reality. On a real day in history, Jesus’ tomb was empty, and His body was seen alive by real, living people who would go on to testify of that, even if it meant dying for that truth. Halleluah! What a Savior!
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It Means We Can Walk In Newness Of Life
(Rom.6:4)
Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6 is describing the believer’s union with Christ. Because we are “in Christ” we participate in what He accomplished. When He died “our old self was crucified with Him.” When He was buried “we were buried with Him.” And as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Now, what does Paul mean by that statement? I believe he means that because Jesus rose from the dead, so do we. Our resurrection comes in stages. We experience a sort of spiritual resurrection in this life, and a bodily resurrection in the next. When Paul says that Christ’s resurrection means we can walk in newness of life, he is talking about us living a brand new kind of life now because we have been joined to the risen Christ. This is something that we should be telling lost people. “You can experience new life, a different kind of life, an abundant, joyful, satisfying life in relationship with God.” You don’t have to settle for your present life where you are enslaved to various lusts and pleasures. There is a whole different kind of life available to all who will believe in Christ.
There are some in our church who have experienced walking in newness of life over this past year. A year ago, if we met them on the street, they would be completely different people. As Ephesians 2 says they “walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” But something happened. What? They were given new life! This life was the very life of God implanted in their souls. That’s why they have new inward desires, and attitudes, and values. That’s why they love what they once hated, and hate what they once loved. A foreign life, an alien life, a Divine life has invaded them. And they will never be the same!
Brothers and sisters, are you walking in newness of life? Can the people around you see that there is something new and different and holy and spiritual about the way you live? This is one of the blessings that flow out of Christ’s resurrection. I pray we are all enjoying that blessing!
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It Means That We Can Bear Fruit For God
(Rom. 7:4)
Romans 7:4-5, “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.”
Romans 7 is all about the believer and the Law. Paul’s point in these verses is that the Christian has died to the Law. How did he die to the Law? It was “through the body of Christ.” The believer was joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead. But why? Why did the believer have to die to the Law? “In order that we might bear fruit for God.”
You see, verse 5 describes what our life was like before we died to the Law – when we were married to the Law. It describes our life then as being “in the flesh.” While we were living in that condition, the only kind of fruit we could bear was “fruit for death.”
Verse 4 speaks about bearing fruit for God. Verse 5 speaks about bearing fruit for death. Paul’s point is that the only way we can stop bearing fruit for death, and start bearing fruit for God is by being joined to Another, to Him who was raised from the dead. Why? Because only the risen Jesus can bear true spiritual fruit to the glory of God. If we want to bear that kind of fruit, we need to be joined to Him, so that His life can flow through us and produce His fruit.
If I were a branch and I wanted to bear grapes, I would need to be cut off of the fig tree and joined to the grapevine. If I want to bear fruit for God, I need to be cut off of the tree of Adam, and joined to the tree of Christ. And, that is exactly what has happened in your new birth. When you were born again, the Spirit united you to the risen Christ! His life is now pulsing through you, and will ultimately produce good fruit, spiritual fruit, fruit for God!
What does it mean to bear fruit for God? It means that we display attitudes, values, and actions that glorify God. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn.15:5).
My friends, do you see fruit for God being borne in your life? Are you experiencing the work of the Spirit in your life that makes you look like Jesus? Is your thought life being purified to be like His? Are your desires being transformed so that you desire what He desires? Do you love more and more what He loves, and hate more and more what He hates? This is bearing fruit for God, and can only be done as you are connected to Jesus Christ. Christ must be your life. He must be the One you live for, work for, and die for. Christ must be all!
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It Means Our Mortal Bodies Will Be Raised
(Rom. 8:11)
Rom. 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Paul is telling us in this passage that it would be inconceivable for God to raise Jesus Christ from the dead, and leave us in the grave. Why? Because there is an indissoluble union between the born again believer and Jesus Christ. That would be like raising the head of a corpse from the dead, and leaving the body in the grave. Think about this passage. It is telling us that the very same Spirit that dwelt in Jesus, also dwells in you! Now, that’s mind blowing! God raised up Jesus through His Spirit. That same Spirit lives in you. Therefore, God will also raise you up through His Spirit also.
This passage teaches us several important truths. One is that we are not complete without a body. God could have just decided to bring our souls to live with Him forever. But He didn’t. He decided that He was going to redeem the whole person: body, soul, and spirit. We are not complete without a body. And further, the Bible teaches that God is for the body. Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:13-14, “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” Did you hear that? The Lord is for the body! Don’t fall into the error of those who say that our body is not important; only the soul is important. No, God is for both the body and the soul. God has saved your soul already, and in the life to come He is going to save your body. Our deliverance from sin and the Fall would not be complete apart from the resurrection of the body.
In the Fall, our entire being was involved: spirit, soul, and body. It was not just our spirit that fell. Our body was corrupted as well as our soul. How so? Our bodies are called “mortal bodies” here. That means they are bodies that will die. That is one way they have been corrupted by the Fall. Before the Fall there is no indication that man’s body would ever die. But after the Fall, every man’s body dies. Just as my body has been affected by Adam’s sin, so too, my body will be affected by Christ’s righteousness. The first man plunged my body into death. The second man raises it to life.
It is not God’s will that we exist as disembodied spirits throughout eternity. Yes, it is true that during the Interim State we will exist as disembodied spirits. That is the time from our death to the second coming of Christ. But when Christ returns, our spirits will be joined to our bodies which the Lord will raise from the dead and glorify, and then we will reign with Christ in glorified bodies forever. After all, we will be dwelling on a New Earth in which righteousness dwells. If God is going to go to the trouble to create a New Earth, certainly He wants people with actual bodies to dwell in it.
My friends, you are going to have a perfect body to live in one day. No, not the one with all the aches and pains, and diseases you currently experience. What will this body be like? Paul helps us in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” Our new bodies will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. Sounds great doesn’t it?!
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It Means That Christ Is Interceding For Us
(Rom. 8:34)
Romans 8:34, “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”
Notice something from this passage – there is a logical sequence of events. Christ died – Christ was raised – Christ ascended to the right hand of God – Christ intercedes at the right hand of God. In other words, if it weren’t not for Christ’s resurrection, Christ would not be interceding for us right now.
Now, this is a huge blessing that I think we don’t think of or give thanks often enough for. Do you realize how huge it is that we have the Son of God sitting at God’s right hand interceding for us continually? How many of Christ’s intercessions do you think God is going to answer? All of them! We have an example of Christ’s high priestly prayer in John 17. What are the kinds of things that Christ intercedes for? Keep them. Unify them. Sanctify them. Glorify them. Now, what would it mean to you to know that the Son of God continually intercedes for you to be sanctified, unified, kept and glorified?
Hebrews 7:25 puts it this way, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” The reason God is able to save you, is because Jesus always lives to make intercession for you.
Conclusion
So, my friends, what does the book of Romans teach us about the practical implications of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
- Jesus is really who He claimed to be – the Son of God and God the Son. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Christianity is true. We can believe in Jesus with solid evidence to support us. We can bank our souls on Jesus Christ, because His resurrection proves He is who He said He was. Are you banking your soul on Jesus? Do you believe He is who He said He was?
- Jesus paid for our Justification in full. His resurrection proves that God has accepted His sacrifice as a sufficient atonement for our sins. He has paid for them in full. If that is really true, that should give you a greater joy than anything the world can give you. This can give you security and peace in any and every situation. You are right with God. The Judge of all the universe has declared that you are righteous in His sight! Are you rejoicing in that great truth?
- We can walk in Newness of Life. We are not destined to walk through this world enslaved and in bondage to our flesh and its lusts. There is another, higher, spiritual, holy life that we can enjoy. It is the New Life that Jesus gives to all who are in Him. This life is yours if you are in Christ. Enjoy it! Walk in it! Live it out! Are you walking in newness of life?
- We can Bear Fruit for God. It is possible for you to bring forth fruit that brings glory to God. You can display the life of Jesus Christ, and manifest His love, righteousness, mercy, and grace to others. Your life can be a wonderful, beautiful thing to observe. By being joined to Christ, you can manifest Him. Are you doing that? Is your life bearing fruit for God!
- Our Mortal Bodies Will Be Raised From the Dead. The same Spirit is in us that was in Jesus, and He will raise up our mortal bodies so that our entire being is redeemed – body, soul and spirit. Are you looking forward to the new body that you will enjoy in the resurrection?
- Christ Intercedes For Us. What a wonderful thing to know and really believe that we have an advocate, an intercessor on our behalf that cannot fail. When you are feeling down and lacking hope that you can have victory in this life, look up! He is at the right hand of God, and He always lives to make intercession for you. Do you believe this?
My friends, Easter is a wonderful time to let these great truths wash over you. Christ is risen! Rejoice and glorify Him in all of life!
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