Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
For or Because?
Here, the proponent of UOJ would argue that the two uses of the the word “for” could be better translated “because” so as to render the verse, “He was delivered over to death because of our sins and was raised to life because of our justification.”
First, though it is true that the word “for” could be translated “because” it is also true that it can rightly be rendered “for” as well. While “because” may give the impression of better support for UOJ, in the end it does not.
Even if the verse is best translated “because” it still does nothing to prove UOJ, since in this verse, Paul is (in context, and context is always king) referring to believers only.
Lutheran or Calvinist?
Gasp! But, wait! Did I just say that Christ died (and was raised) for the sins of believers only? Absolutely not! But, in my experience, this is what the proponent of UOJ will normally declare of the one who makes this objection. “You must be a Calvinist who believes in limited atonement.” he might say. But is this sound reasoning?
If Christ died for the sins of the whole world and was raised to life for the sake of the whole world, then the whole world also includes believers, correct?
Imagine I take my family to the local stadium to watch our favorite sports team play. Our team pulls out a come-from-behind victory in the last few seconds of the game. In the car, on the way home, I say to my family, “Wow! Our team gave us a great game today, didn’t they?”
When I use the words “our” and “us” who am I referring to? I am referring exclusively to myself and my family. Does this mean I am indoctrinating my family with the false teaching of limited attendance? Does this mean I believe that the team only played a great game for my family and not for the other fans in attendance at the stadium; those watching on TV; or those listening on the radio? No. It simply means that I am talking to my family about my family.
By Works, By Faith or By Existence?
In context, in the book of Romans, leading up to verse 4:25, Paul’s whole point is to help the reader understand that no one can possibly earn God’s favor…no one can become righteous through works of the law. Instead, each and every one of us needs a foreign righteousness which comes by way of faith. Paul is specifically laying out the contrast in man’s attempts to be righteous on his own vs receiving Christ’s righteousness by faith.
In this context, it makes no sense whatsoever for Paul, in the middle of his explanation of righteousness by faith and not by works of the law, to pause and say, “Oh and by the way, justification really comes to all who have ever existed or will ever exist regardless of faith or works of the law. Now, let me get back to explaining this righteousness which comes only by faith and not by works.”
The whole of the context of Romans chapters 4 and 5, screams out to us that Paul is speaking exclusively to believers about believers, not the whole world in verse 4:25.
Even If…
But let’s, for the sake of argument, say that Paul is speaking of the whole world in 4:25. It still makes far more sense for Paul to be saying, “He was delivered over to death for the sins of the whole world and was raised to life for the justification of the whole world which has been applied to Christ’s account on our behalf and is found in him and received by faith.” than it does for Paul to be saying that the whole world has had justification applied to each and every personal account, yet righteousness comes by faith and not works. (By the way, don’t forget that the proponent of UOJ says justification and righteousness are synonymous.)
Read Romans for yourself in context and allow the text to speak to you rather than imposing meaning upon the text. If you are honest with the text, I think you will rightly conclude, Paul is speaking to believers about believers in 4:25.
So, what do you think…does UOJ or JIC work best here?