Paul’s gospel doesn’t just declare that Jesus was raised from the dead—it explains why He was raised.

“Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
(Romans 4:25)

This short verse is packed with gospel power. Christ was delivered up—handed over to death—because of our offenses. That is, He bore the penalty for our sins, taking the full weight of our guilt upon Himself at the Cross.

But why does Paul say He was raised because of our justification?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the divine proof that the penalty for sin has been paid in full. The empty tomb is heaven’s declaration that God has accepted the sacrifice of His Son. Without the resurrection, we would have no assurance that the sin debt was satisfied. But because Jesus rose (bodily), our justification is secure. His resurrection is the receipt that the full price has been paid.

Justification is more than forgiveness—it’s the act of God declaring a sinner righteous in His sight. And that righteous standing is grounded in a risen Savior.

This is a truth uniquely revealed to Paul. The other apostles witnessed the resurrection and proclaimed it as evidence that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel. But Paul goes deeper. He reveals that Jesus was raised for our justification—for the justification of those who would trust Him by faith alone, apart from works (Romans 3:28).

This is why Paul can say in the very first verse of the next chapter, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The resurrection guarantees our peace with God—not someday, but now.

Paul’s gospel is not merely about being forgiven—it’s about being declared righteous, sealed by a risen Christ who now intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).