What exactly is imputed righteousness? It would also be helpful to hear from people that believe both sides of this doctrine, what are the pros and cons?
I listened to a sermon in this topic and it wasn't helpful at all. :-( So, if you all could shed light on this I would greatly appeciate it.
Thanks,
Jordan
Short version:
When a person is saved by grace through faith, God justifies the person by imputing the righteousness of Christ to the person.
This is spoken of in Romans 4:20-25. Imputed and 'counted to Him' mean the same thing. Notice that Jesus was "delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Speaking of Abraham:
"No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." 23But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
When we have faith, by the grace of God we are counted as righteous before God. Not because our works are righteous, because because Jesus' were.
What exactly is imputed righteousness? It would also be helpful to hear from people that believe both sides of this doctrine, what are the pros and cons?
Imputed righteousness is at the heart of the True Gospel.
Phil 3:8-9
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, [u]not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
KJV
It is by faith that it might be by grace. This is the method God has chosen to make His people righteous by standing. [i]Imparted righteousness
see if this helps explain it for you
The doctrine of imputed righteousness is found in Romans 4.
"Imputed righteousness" in the text is synonomous with "justification" and "reckoned" and "covered" and "forgiven".
One who repents of all of his sins, has the forgiveness of all of his past sins, has forgiveness of all of the sins he has repented of.
This forgiveness is the covering of all of his past sins, so that he is now presently reckoned righteous; he is treated as if he had never sinned in the past.
Of coarse, imputed righteousness is never perscribed in the bible to anyone who is still in their sins, but only those who have turned from their sins.
If imputed righteousness were perscribed to those who were in their sin, why did God say that He saw the works of the Churches in Revelations, and called them to repent, instead of saying "I see the righteousness of Christ?"
If imputed rightousness extended beyond past sins, into present and future sins, why then does God chastise anyone? How can He chastise sins that He does not see? How can He chastise sin that is already covered?
Obviously, imputed righteousness is not the covering of present and future sins, so that God cannot see. But imputed righteousness is the covering or the forgiveness of all sins that are turned from.
Brother Jesse, What is your understanding in the differences between Sin( singular- falling short of the glory of God) and Sins( plural- acts of disobedience toward divine laws set by God)? Just curious. Or maybe you haven't thought about it, but if you have or are now I'd be interested in your thoughts on that subject.
Imputed righteousness is the doctrine whereby a man is [i]declared[i]made
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;(Rom 3:24-25)
I heard Alistair Begg put it this way once; imputed righteousness is God giving you an "A" at the beginning of the course. You say, "but wait a minute, you haven't seen my reports or my papers yet!" God says, "I'll be working with you every day on those things but right now I want you to know that you've got an "A"".
In Christ,
Ron
I like that! :-)
Jesse mentioned
Apart from love covering a multitude of sins (Peter says) where do you find this in the New Testament?"covered"
"covered"Apart from love covering a multitude of sins (Peter says) where do you find this in the New Testament?
The doctrine of imputed righteousness is repeated talked about in Romans chapter 4. No text so thoroughly covers the doctrine of imputed righteousness as Romans 4.
It says that [b]OUR
It is there, in Romans 4:7, where we read "blessed are they whose iniquities are [b]forgiven[b]covered
Romans 4 uses [b]"imputed righteousness"[b]"covered"[b]"forgiven"[b]"reckoned"[b]"counted".
To have the imputed righteousness of Christ is to have all of your pasts sins forgiven, that is, to have all of your past sins covered, so that you are counted or reckoned righteous before God.
Brother Jesse, What is your understanding in the differences between Sin( singular- falling short of the glory of God) and Sins( plural- acts of disobedience toward divine laws set by God)? Just curious. Or maybe you haven't thought about it, but if you have or are now I'd be interested in your thoughts on that subject.
Sin, in the general sense, is synonymous with self-will. It is the underlining principle to all "sin", that which all sin springs up from.
When a man's will, or heart, is selfish (supremely serving self) , it paves the way for lying, stealing, adultery, murder etc etc.
But "sins" would consist in the lying, stealing, adultery, and murder.
So "sin" is a state of the will, or a condition of the heart. While "sins" are the manifestation of that state of the will, the evidence of that condition of the heart.
But often I think that the distinction between "sin" and "sins" people try to make is unfounded. Sometimes when the scriptures use the word "sin" and the word "sins", it's simply the English language without any profound meaning.
For example:
Committing "sin"
Joh 8:34 - Whosoever committeth [b]sin
Committing "sins"
Jas 5:15 - and if he have committed [b]sins
"committeth sin" is singular while "committed sins" is plural, but both are deeds or actions.
Another example is:
SAVED FROM "SINS"
Mt 1:21 he shall save his people from their [b]sins.
SAVED FROM "SIN"
Joh 1:29 - Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the [b]sin
These scriptures are in essense saying the same thing; to be "saved" from "sins" and to have your "sin" "taken away" are identical.
Lets start from the opposite. Romans 4:8-9 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Reckoned is the same word as imputed. Strong's Greek Dictionary
3049. logizomai
Search for G3049 in KJVSL
logizomai logizomai log-id'-zom-ahee
middle voice from 3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).
Impute: Same; Strong's Greek Dictionary
3049. logizomai
Search for G3049 in KJVSL
logizomai logizomai log-id'-zom-ahee
middle voice from 3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on)
God is the one that is doing the imputing of sin and also God is the one that is imputing faith for righteousness sake. He is not imputing faith because of us, He is imputing faith because of the Faith of Christ. When that faith came by the birthing of Christ in us, we now have imputed faith by God. He makes the faith of Christ our faith. When God looks at us He sees Jesus Christ and we are imputed faith unto righteousness sake by His Grace. So both Faith and Righteousness are by God's Grace because of Christ that is Born Again in us by the Spirit and Water, That is the Spirit of Christ and the Living Water of Christ's Righteousness flowing from our inward parts, which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory.
Imputation is what God does when He see's a Born Again Christian, that is a person with Christ in him and him in Christ, how else could we be righteous?
In Christ and righteous by imputation of faith and righteousness that is Christ: Phillip
1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
A link to many articles regarding this topic
I like that!
Me too, I was really struck by Mr. Begg's analogy. When you understand imputed righteousness and justification by faith, it brings tremendous liberty because you can confidently go on serving and honoring God without constantly worrying whether you're doing it adequately or not.
Also, here is the entry from Torrey's Topical Textbook on Imputed Righteousness, it makes for a great Bible study...
[b]Righteousness Imputed
Predicted
Isa_56:1; Eze_16:14;
Revealed in the gospel
Rom_1:17;
Is of the Lord
Isa_54:17;
DESCRIBED AS
The righteousness of faith
Rom_4:13; Rom_9:30; Rom_10:6;
The righteousness of God, without the law
Rom_3:21;
The righteousness of God by faith in Christ
Rom_3:22;
Christ being made righteousness to us
1Co_1:30;
Our being made the righteousness of God, in Christ
2Co_5:21;
Christ is the end of the law for
Rom_10:4;
Christ called THE LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Jer_23:6;
Christ brings in an everlasting righteousness
Dan_9:24;
Is a free gift
Rom_5:17;
God's righteousness never to be abolished
Isa_5:16;
The promises made through
Rom_4:13;
SAINTS
Have, on believing
Rom_4:5; Rom_4:11; Rom_4:24;
Clothed with the robe of righteousness
Isa_61:10;
Exalted in righteousness
Psa_89:16;
Desire to be found in
Phi_3:9;
Glory in having
Isa_45:24; Isa_45:25;
Exhortation to seek righteousness
Mat_6:33;
The Gentiles attained to
Rom_9:30;
Blessedness of those who have
Rom_4:6;
THE JEWS
Ignorant of
Rom_10:3;
Stumble at righteousness by faith
Rom_9:32;
Submit not to
Rom_10:3;
Exemplified
Abraham
Rom_4:9; Rom_4:22; Gal_3:6;
Paul
Phi_3:7-9;
Just curious as to what scriptures teach that Christ's righteousness is imputed to us?
I know the scripture says that our own faith is imputed to us as righteousness.
And I know that because of Christ's atonement, all of the world can be forgiven of their past sins if they meet the conditions of repentance and faith; but where is the "imputed righteousness of Christ" doctrine derived from?
In fact it is both made and declared righteous.InTheLight wrote:
To be justified freely by grace is[b]not to be[u]made[/u] righteous[/b] but to be declared righteous...
Rom 5:19 [color=990000]For as by one man's disobedience[/color][in like manner of disobedience] [color=990000]many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one[/color] [in like manner of disobedience] [color=990000]shall many be [b]made righteous
If I am righteous because of what I do, then Christ is wrong. If I am unrighteous because of what I do then Christ is right. Then His atonement is perfect and the Father is merciful and what He did with His Son on the Cross is perfect. But if we say we must repent to get to the righteousness of Christ on the Cross and His atonement for all that believe and even for all that don't believe, then we are making Christ's work on the Cross Void.
When I am wrong and sin, that is when the atonement takes over and the Holy Spirit reveals all unrighteousness in all that we do wrong and sinful. So it is "not I who do it but the Christ that dwelleth in me", that makes me perfect before the Father.
AS Paul says; just the opposite: Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Who is the I that "no more do it", Christ in Paul making him a "new creature in Christ Jesus."
No longer Paul, but Christ-Paul=One; Galatians 2:16-18 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. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Don't take on the yoke of bondage, (law) but put on the Christ that is birthed in us. Galatians 2:20-21 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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If we say that because of that person's sin they are suffering, we are back under the Law, and we are free from the Law in Christ Jesus. If we say God has blessed that person because of what they have done right, we are back under the Law also. We must see that is not what we do but what Christ has done and is doing in the life of the believer.
1Cr 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; (or repent and keep the Law) only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Phl 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ
"For many walk" repent and be baptized and you will be righteous be fore God. Wrong! Then the Cross is of none effect to the repentant and baptized. "Believe and thou shall be saved, PERIOD... Then the cross of Christ is of sufficiency to save to the utmost and "there is not no condemnation in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
But in Grace and In Christ there is now no condemnation.
Rom 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Without the Spirit of Christ we are none of His.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
We are free from the Law of sin and death, and if we bring repentance and baptism back into our righteousness we are deceiving ourselves.
1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
If I do commit sin in the flesh, it cannot remain.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him.
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
1Jo 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Repentance a baptism and any of the law keep us from the freedom God has provided in Christ Jesus and make us debtors to the Law all over again.
Who has set us free? Even in my sin which cannot stay when the believer is in Christ, even in our adultry we won't stay because of the death of Christ on the Cross and by the adultry we will become the righteousness of God by our seeing the righteousness of Christ and then we can repent and change our direction to the life of Christ that is in us. Not to make me righteous before God, because We are Still Son's of God. My sin does not loose my son-ship, because it is not up to me, and as the prodigal son I will come back to the Father by His waiting and pulling me back to where I belong, in the Father's House, with all He has provided me in Christ and a fellow heir of the only Begotten Son, by my believing He is.
My son is in prison, but he is still my son and now he knows it without a doubt by my forgiveness and fathership and he has returned to the owner of his soul and spirit also. He knows I am his Father in the Flesh and By Jesus Christ His Father in Heaven is still the owner of all that He is, provided by the Cross in Christ Jesus. He is not a foxhole prison conversion, for he must serve all of his sentence, but praise God he is serving it with his flesh father loving and accepting and his heavenly Father forgiving and Loving and Accepting him by the Son that is birthed in him.
I would send all my son's and daughter's to prison for this outcome. Praise God.
In Christ Jesus: Phillip
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