Jesus is justified by the Spirit in His resurrection. Though all the courts of mankind condemned Him to death, the Father reverses the sentence and therefore the verdict by raising Him.
That is also the vindication of Jesus’ followers. Peter, James, John, and the rest had been groping toward the belief that Jesus was the Messiah. They lapsed at the cross, but they had been loyal to Jesus.
When Jesus died, their loyalty and confession looked foolish. Until Jesus came back three days later, proving that He was the conqueror of death, the Christ of God.
Justification by faith may be transposed as vindication for loyal followers of Jesus.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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