Justification, Death, and Resurrection: An Already–Not Yet Latter-Day Reality
1. Thesis: Justification Is Eschatological—Already and Not Yet
Justification is more than a timeless legal declaration; it is a latter-day verdict breaking into the present age. In Christ’s cross and resurrection the end-time judgment has arrived ahead of schedule, so that those united to Christ are already declared righteous (Rom 3:21–26; 5:1), while awaiting public vindication and bodily resurrection at his return (Rom 2:5–11; 8:23; Gal 5:5). This already/not yet structure (popularized by Ladd and widely recognized in NT scholarship) holds together two phases:
Inaugurated phase: the end-time verdict rendered now “in Christ.”
Consummated phase: the same verdict openly confirmed in the final judgment.
This framing preserves the forensic nature of justification (a real verdict now) and explains why the New Testament still speaks of a future aspect of righteousness and judgment.
2. The Cross as the Inbreaking of Final Judgment (Rom 3:21–26)
Paul’s “But now” marks a redemptive-historical turn: what the Law and Prophets anticipated has come to pass—God’s righteousness is revealed apart from the Law, through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 3:21–22). The timing words—“now” (nyni) and “the present time” (Rom 3:21, 26)—signal the eschatological “today” of salvation. God had “passed over” former sins in forbearance; at the cross he publicly demonstrates that he is just and the justifier of the one who trusts Jesus (Rom 3:25–26).
Two key terms show how this verdict arrives:
Redemption (apolytrōsis): release by a cost. The cost is Christ’s life—his blood (Rom 3:24; cf. Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:18–19). The Exodus shapes the pattern (release), and the Passover shapes the price (blood), both fulfilled in Christ.
Mercy seat (hilastērion): Christ set forth as the true place where wrath is borne and cleansing secured (Rom 3:25; cf. Lev 16). The Day of Atonement reaches its antitype: in Christ, the substitute bears the penalty and purifies the people and their worship so God may dwell with them.
Thus, the final judgment arrives in Christ’s cross—already executed for believers—while remaining not yet for unbelief (Rom 3:19; 5:9; 2 Thess 1:5–10).
3. The Resurrection and Justification: The Vindicated Last Adam (Rom 4:25)
Paul links resurrection and justification directly: Jesus “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Rom 4:25). The death answers for our guilt; the resurrection is God’s public vindication of his Son and, in him, of all who believe (Rom 1:4; 8:33–34). Isaiah’s Servant background intensifies this claim: the guilt-offering who bears iniquities also “makes many to be accounted righteous” (Isa 53:10–11). When God raises the Servant-King, he declares that the atoning work is accepted, the verdict stands, and a new-creation righteousness has begun in the resurrected Last Adam (1 Cor 15:20–22, 45–49).
In short: crucifixion secures the verdict; resurrection publishes and shares it with those united to Christ.
4. Union with Christ and the Imputation of Righteousness
How does Christ’s vindication become ours? Union with Christ. By Spirit-wrought faith, believers are crucified with Christ and raised with him (Rom 6:3–11; Col 2:12–13; 3:1). This union entails imputation: God “credits” righteousness apart from works (Rom 4:3–6, 9–11, 22–24). The Last Adam’s faithful obedience—culminating in cross and resurrection—is counted to the believer, while our sins were counted to him (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). Thus, inaugurated justification is not bare potential; it is a present, objective standing in the right before God.
5. The Consummated Phase: Future Vindication without Re-justification
If the verdict is already rendered, why speak of a future aspect? Because the same verdict will be publicly confirmed at Christ’s return (Matt 25:31–46; Rom 2:6–11; 8:23; 2 Tim 4:8). The judgment according to works is not a different gospel or a second instrument of justification; it is the open acknowledgment of those united to Christ whose Spirit-wrought obedience evidences living faith (Rom 2:13, 26–29; Gal 5:5–6; James 2). The already-justified will be openly vindicated and bodily raised—justification’s verdict matching resurrection’s transformation (Rom 8:30; Phil 3:20–21).
Key distinctions:
Ground: Christ alone—his righteousness counted to us.
Instrument: faith alone—union with Christ by the Spirit.
Evidence: Spirit-borne obedience—publicly displayed at the last day.
Outcome: the same righteous verdict, now universal and visible, accompanies resurrection glory.
6. The Kingdom Frame: New Creation Righteousness Now and Then
Justification belongs to the kingdom’s already/not yet:
Already: We have peace with God and access into grace (Rom 5:1–2); the Spirit indwells as firstfruits (Rom 8:9–11, 23); the church is a temple people whose worship is cleansed by the true mercy seat (Rom 3:25; Eph 2:19–22).
Not yet: We await the redemption of our bodies and the public setting-to-rights of all things (Rom 8:18–25; 2 Pet 3:13). The final judgment will not contradict the present verdict; it will consummate it.
This prevents two errors: (1) over-realized eschatology (collapsing future vindication into the present and denying ongoing groaning), and (2) under-realized eschatology (treating justification as merely future, robbing believers of assurance now).
7. Pastoral Payoffs: Assurance, Sanctification, Mission
Assurance: Because the end-time verdict has already been rendered in Christ, believers stand secure now (Rom 5:1; 8:1, 31–34). The coming judgment does not threaten a second trial; it reveals and celebrates the first.
Sanctification: Those co-crucified and co-raised with Christ walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4–11). The righteousness imputed becomes righteousness embodied by the Spirit (Rom 8:4; Titus 2:11–14).
Mission: A publicly displayed mercy seat means a publicly preached Christ (Rom 3:25; Acts 13:38–39). The church heralds an end-time amnesty available now to all who believe (Rom 10:9–13).
8. Conclusion: The Last Day Brought Forward
Justification is the last day brought forward: in the cross the judgment fell; in the resurrection the verdict stands; by union and imputation the verdict is ours; by the Spirit the verdict bears fruit; and at Christ’s return the verdict will be made public in resurrection glory. Already justified, not yet glorified—yet certain of both, because Jesus died and rose “for our justification” (Rom 4:25).
Bible Verses about Justification in the Already–Not Yet
Romans 3:23–24 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 4:24–25 – “It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Romans 5:1–2 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:33–34 – “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Philippians 3:9 – “…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”
Isaiah 53:11 – “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.”
1 Peter 1:18–19 – “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
John 5:24 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
