Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
— Romans 3:25-26
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
— Romans 5:6-8
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
— Romans 8:33-34
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
— Hebrews 4:14-16
Christ is Risen, by Martin Luther.
Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification.
— Romans 4:25
I believe in Jesus Christ risen again from the dead on the third day. We need a strong and firm faith to affirm this article of faith.
The words Christ is risen from the dead must be noted and written well. Each letter should be as big as a tower, yes, as heaven and earth. We must see, hear, think, and know nothing but this article of faith. We do not confess this article in the same manner that we tell a history, a fable, or a fairy tale. No, this truth must strengthen and quicken our hearts. We call it believing when we imprint it completely and unify us with the truth that Christ is risen, as if nothing else was ever written on paper. Paul is a right teacher to expand on this article. In Romans 4:25, he states that Christ was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. Ephesians 2: even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4: for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. When we truly believe this, we have a good life and death. For Christ has not only conquered death and risen from the dead for Himself, but connects us with it so that we may also be resurrected and live with Him forever. Our resurrection and life already began in Christ. There is so much certainty as though our physical resurrection already happened, although it is yet hidden and not fulfilled yet.
We believe the truth about the resurrection as if we see nothing else in heaven and on earth. If it is true that Christ rose from the dead, then we receive the best part of this resurrection already, so that the future physical resurrection of the flesh from the grave is counted a lesser thing. Who are we in comparison with Christ, our head? Not even a drop compared to the ocean. Now, if Christ, the Head of all Christians, by whom all live and have their being, and who is so great that He fills heaven and earth, and compared to whom sun, moon, and all creatures are small, if He has risen from the dead, and is the Almighty Lord over all things including death and hell, then we, as His members, must benefit from His resurrection, and partake in what He obtained for our sakes. As He made everything new by His resurrection, He will also take us with Him. Romans 8:11: but if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. We already have the greater part of our resurrection in that the head and heart are already in heaven, and only the body is covered in the earth waiting to be renewed. Where the head is, there must also the body go. In baptism, we have risen spiritually in faith. Our head rose from the grave and went up to heaven. Spiritually, the soul is already in heavenly places with Christ, and only the physical, earthly shell is yet here below. When we behold a dying Christian, we must confess and say, the better part of the resurrection already took place. Christ, the Head of the church, conquered death and rose from the dead. Thereby, my chief part, my soul, also did the same. Grave and death cannot harm me. My body is yet a tabernacle of the soul, made of earth and clay. The soul by faith is already in the new, eternal, and heavenly life and cannot die or be buried. We wait till this poor hut, our body, this old skin will follow and be made new and never perish again. If Christ left death and the grave, then he who says he believes and trusts in Him must follow. He went first so that we might follow. He began the good work, so that we would rise in Him by the word and baptism every day. Christ is risen, rose above all heavens, and our soul rose with Him. Our body will one day appear from death and grave and shine like the sun. May God grant us His grace, that we may understand this truth and comfort ourselves and others with it.
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