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Part 10 - Luke 24 Declared Righteous[1]
This fall we’ve been talking about this thing, JUSTIFICATION = how you, a sinner, can stand before God and God say to you, “You are righteous. You are perfect. And you deserve to live in heaven forever with me.”
Today we’re going to read about Jesus’ resurrection and what that has to do with our justification but first remember what’s happened: Jesus died on the cross and then was buried. Now on the third day… let’s read.
Before we get to Jesus’ resurrection let me ask you something you might remember from your catechism: Do you think justification is an ACT or a WORK that God does? Does God justify us in one single act or does God work at justifying us most of our lives?
Remember your catechism: justification is an ACT of God’s free grace. It’s like at the beginning of the Bible when God creates everything. Genesis 1:3, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and….there was light!” Justification is just like that! When God justified you - he looked at you and said, “Let [x] be justified,” and you were justified!
Justification is a declaration. Justification is a statement of fact that you are forgiven your sins AND you are totally righteous. And when God says it, it’s true.
BUT, have you always obeyed all of God’s commandments perfectly? If not then how can God say that someone is righteous when they are sinful? Isn’t that lying?
In God’s eyes the justified sinner has obeyed him perfectly.
But how can that be? Where does that righteousness come from? Does God create your righteousness out of thin air or is it some kind of magic trick?
It’s not just made up righteousness. It’s not pretend. It’s not a lie. God can say you are righteous NOT because of anything you have done but because of what Jesus did for you.
Jesus earned righteousness by living a perfect life AND by paying the penalty for your sin on the cross. So God counts your sins to Jesus on the cross and you get forgiveness. And God counts Jesus righteousness to you so that you don’t just get forgiveness - God looks at you and says, “You are righteous, perfect and so you deserve glory and eternal life forever in heaven!” That’s your justification.
How do you know this is really true? How do you know Jesus really did it?
Because of Jesus’ resurrection! If Jesus died on the cross and stayed dead then that would mean he didn’t really beat sin and death. But he didn’t stay dead! He was raised which means he really paid the penalty for our sin and so death couldn’t hold him.
Jesus was condemned for our sins AND then he was justified because he perfectly fulfilled all the work God gave him to do including living for us and dying for us.
Where is Jesus right now?
If Jesus has beaten sin, death, and the devil then what does that mean for you if you die?
Jesus’ resurrection means he will get you out of the grave too.
To get into heaven God has to declare that you’re righteous, you’re justified. But can you ever lose your justification?
Never! Because your justification depends on Jesus’ life and death and resurrection. You can no more lose your justification than Jesus could lose his resurrection!
What is something we just learned that we can: 1) praise God for and 2) ask God for?
[1] Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, Chapter 83, Jesus Lives, Luke 24 426-431.