“Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:24-25 ESV)

When we send a package by way of the post office or a shipping company, we can request a delivery confirmation. This message, when returned to us, shows us the package was received and the transaction was completed.

Likewise, the resurrection of Jesus is God’s delivery confirmation of our salvation.

The Scriptures tell us that Christ was “delivered up for our trespasses,” meaning our sins were paid for. Then it says Christ was “raised for our justification,” meaning that payment for our sins was received and, so to speak, signed for. Thus in the crucifixion our ransom was paid and delivered; in the resurrection our ransom was accepted and confirmed. The dying of Christ is the ground of our being made right with God; the rising of Christ is the proof that we actually are made right with God.

The resurrection of Christ confirms the crucifixion of Christ. If there was no resurrection, then the crucifixion was powerless to save. “If Christ has not been raised… you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV). But Christ has been raised and that is God’s confirmation that you have been delivered. God is satisfied by Christ’s payment. Your sins really are forgiven.

God is sending us a message in the resurrection of Jesus: the transaction is complete. Christ’s atonement for us has been received. When we are united by faith to the crucified and risen Christ, we stand justified forever before God.