Justified in His Blood OR in His Resurrection?

QUESTION:
In Romans 4:25 we read that “Jesus, our Lord” was raised because of our justification. A few verses further on (5:9), however, it says that we are “justified in His blood.” So what is it: justified in His blood or justified in His resurrection?

ANSWER:
If “blood” were to refer exclusively to the shedding of blood (as nearly everyone seems to think), then Paul’s statements are indeed incomprehensible. For why would Christ still need to be raised for our justification, if we had already been justified through His death (shedding of blood)?

Paul’s statements only make sense if he means to say that Christ’s blood is synonymous with His resurrection from the dead. Then Christ’s blood indeed refers to His death, but (note this): to His overcome death.

Indeed, blood always brings to mind a sacrifice. But isn’t the unique thing about THE Sacrifice precisely this—that He lives? The blood does not simply refer to the Lamb that was slain, but to the Lamb who STANDS as slain.

“And I perceived, in the center of the throne (…) a Lamb STANDING, as though slain…”
– Revelation 5:6

When we realize that the blood speaks of the LIVING Sacrifice, an entire world opens up regarding the sacrificial service! Merely a slain animal was not an offering. An animal had to be slain and then offered—that is, ascend in smoke, “for a fragrant odor to God.”

Strictly speaking, there was only truly a sacrifice once the slain animal ascended in smoke. So too with the true Sacrifice. He became the Offering only after He rose from the dead. That was the fragrant odor to God.

Christ’s death was not an end in itself. No, He died in order to rise from the dead and thus abolish death (and therefore sin). In that new, incorruptible life which He brought to light, our justification is grounded.

Delen: