Teaching summary
In this sermon, Pastor Leonard Rola explains that most Christians only celebrate part of the resurrection story. He reveals that the true message is not just faith in Jesus, but living by the faith of Jesus—the faith He had in the Father. Through scripture, he shows that Jesus trusted God completely to fulfill His promises, including raising Him—and us—into righteousness and new life. This understanding removes pressure from believers and shifts everything onto what Christ has already accomplished.
Bible verses referenced
Galatians 2:16- "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Galatians 2:20- "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Galatians 3:22- "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."
Hebrews 10:7- "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God."
Psalm 22:6-7- "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,"
Psalm 22:12-18- "Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have encircled me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture."
Isaiah 52:14- "As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:"
Isaiah 53:3-5- "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
2 Corinthians 5:21- "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Hosea 6:2- "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us, and we shall live in his sight."
John 20:11-14- "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus."
Romans 4:25- "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
Romans 6:4-5- "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
Romans 8:11- "But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
Ephesians 2:4-9- "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
John 17:20-23- "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Introduction: The Incomplete Celebration of Easter
- The Phrase “Faith of the Son of God”
- The Difference Between Faith In and Faith Of
- What Is the Faith of Jesus?
- Jesus’ Commitment to Fulfill the Word
- The Suffering Foretold in Scripture
- The Exchange: Sin for Righteousness
- The Resurrection Includes Us
- Mary at the Tomb: Lack of Expectation
- Raised Because of Our Righteousness
- United With Christ in Death and Life
- Living by the Faith of Jesus
Introduction: The Incomplete Celebration of Easter
The message begins with a reflection on Resurrection Sunday and how churches are filled with people celebrating the risen Savior. While this is powerful, Pastor Leonard explains that most Christians are only celebrating part of what truly happened. He compares this to celebrating only one twin instead of both, or having a wedding with only the bride present. A true celebration must include both parts—what Jesus did and what it means for us.
He emphasizes that celebrating only the resurrection of Jesus without understanding what it accomplished for believers results in an incomplete understanding of the gospel.
The Phrase “Faith of the Son of God
Pastor Leonard introduces a key phrase found multiple times in Paul’s writings: “the faith of the Son of God.” He highlights that scripture does not say “faith in the Son of God,” but “faith of the Son of God.”
Galatians 2:16- "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…"
This shifts the focus away from human effort and onto Jesus’ faith. It shows that justification is not based on our performance, but on Christ’s faithfulness.
The Difference Between Faith In and Faith Of
The sermon explains the difference through a simple analogy. Having faith in someone means uncertainty—you hope they will succeed. But having the faith of someone means you fully understand their certainty and confidence.
Galatians 2:20-"…the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God…"
Paul is not saying we live by our own faith, but by Christ’s faith. This removes pressure from the believer and places it on Jesus.
What Is the Faith of Jesus?
Pastor Leonard asks a critical question: What exactly is the faith of the Son of God?
He points to Jesus as the author and finisher of faith and directs attention to what Jesus believed and trusted.
Jesus’ Commitment to Fulfill the Word
Hebrews 10:7- "Then said I, Lo, I come… to do thy will, O God."
Jesus declared that He would fulfill everything written about Him. This was His faith—complete trust in the Father’s plan, no matter the cost.
The Suffering Foretold in Scripture
The sermon walks through prophetic scriptures describing the suffering of Christ.
Psalm 22:6-7…
Psalm 22:12-18…
Isaiah 52:14: "…his visage was so marred more than any man…"
Isaiah 53:3-5: "…he was wounded for our transgressions…"
Jesus knew all of this beforehand and still said, “I will go.” His faith was trusting the Father through suffering, humiliation, and death.
The Exchange: Sin for Righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:21- "For he hath made him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
This reveals the divine exchange: Jesus became sin so that we could become righteous. This is central to understanding the full meaning of the resurrection.
The Resurrection Includes Us
Hosea 6:2- "…in the third day he will raise us…"
Pastor Leonard emphasizes that the resurrection was not just about Jesus—it included us. When He was raised, we were raised with Him.
Mary at the Tomb: Lack of Expectation
John 20:11-14…Mary did not recognize Jesus because she did not expect the resurrection. Pastor Leonard connects this to believers today who do not fully understand what Christ accomplished.
Raised Because of Our Righteousness
Romans 4:25: "…was raised again for our justification." He explains that Jesus was raised because we were declared righteous. This is the second part of the celebration—our righteousness.
United With Christ in Death and Life
Romans 6:4-5…
Romans 8:11…
Ephesians 2:4-9…
|Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Everything that happened to Him happened to us.
Living by the Faith of Jesus
The message concludes by explaining that Jesus’ faith was this: He trusted the Father to raise Him—and us—into new life.
John 17:20-23…
Living by the faith of Jesus means trusting what He already trusted—that God has fulfilled His promise. This removes pressure from trying to “build faith” and instead rests in what Christ has done.
We hope this article has blessed you and given you a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the resurrection. The message is not just that Jesus is risen—but that you are risen with Him in righteousness and new life. Share this teaching with others so they, too, can experience the freedom of living by the faith of the Son of God.
