The Death & Resurrection Of Christ
By Dr. Bill Rains, Senior Pastor | April 5, 2026
Father, we're so thankful that you loved us so much that you looked beyond our sin. In spite of our failures and the messes we've made of our lives, you loved us like a precious parent does the son or daughter. You looked beyond our failures and saw our fears and you gloriously saved us the moment we trust in Christ as Savior.
On April 5, 2026, Dr. Bill Rains preaches The Death & Resurrection Of Christ from Romans 4:25. Jesus was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification — the heart of the Easter message and the only hope for our salvation.
1. The Innocent Son of God Delivered for Our Offenses
The darkest commentary on humanity ever written is the death of the innocent Son of God. He committed no offenses at all. He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22). Even Pilate declared, I find no fault in this man.
Yet He was betrayed with a kiss by Judas, whom He had honored. He was forsaken by all His disciples. He was lied about, spat upon, buffeted with fists, slapped, denied by Peter, pronounced guilty in a hypocritical trial, and rejected in favor of the murderer Barabbas. He was stripped, scourged, crowned with thorns, mocked as a false king, and forced to carry His own cross until He fell. At Golgotha, cruel nails pierced His hands and feet. As the cross was dropped into the hole, all His bones came out of joint. While hanging there, He was verbally abused, and after death, a spear was thrust into His side.
During those hours of agony, Jesus uttered seven last sayings, including Father, forgive them, It is finished, and Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. All of this suffering was because He was delivered for our offenses. He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, and was bruised for our iniquities. He was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2. The Personal Cost and Our Responsibility
Dr. Rains shared how, early in his Christian walk, he struggled to understand why anyone would crucify Jesus — until a wise pastor reminded him, “Brother Rains, you’re the reason… and I’m the reason.” We are the reason wicked hands crucified and slew the Lord of glory.
You don’t have to understand everything to be saved. Just as a woman learned to love a good man who loved her first, we can come to love the Savior as we discover His great love for us. We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). He looked beyond our faults and saw our fears. He looked beyond our sin and saw our need. And He would not let us perish.
3. Raised Again for Our Justification
The resurrection was essential to our salvation. Without it, all the suffering of the cross would have been in vain. But Christ was declared to be the Son of God with power… by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). He arose for our justification.
You cannot justify yourself by trying to be a better person. His death paid for your salvation; His resurrection enables you to stand before God one day pure, clean, and without a single sin on your account — because He bore your sins in His own body on the tree.
The evidence of the risen Savior is overwhelming — seen by the apostles, by over 500 people at once, and proven by many infallible proofs. No one can legitimately question it. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
He suffered and died for you.
The blood He shed was to wash your sins away.
He rose again so you can be justified forever.
If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, today is the day. Being saved is not about doing things or going places — it is turning the sincere desire of your heart to God and saying, “Lord, I know I’m a sinner. Please forgive my sins and save my soul. I love You for the way You’ve loved me, and I will tell everybody that I’m trusting You as my Savior.” When you do that from the heart, the Lord will give you eternal life. Heaven will be your home, and the power of sin will no longer rule over you.