Imputed Righteousness???

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ocean

Active member
Oct 15, 2024
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#81
You are correct. The following passage teaches us that God counts our faith as righteousness, but it does not imply we are credited with the righteousness of Christ...

Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.​
David Celebrates the Same Truth
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:​
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,​
And whose sins are covered;​
8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”​
The New King James Version (Ro 4:1–8). (1982). Thomas Nelson.​
Note: The bold+underline is where the underlying original language uses the word, "λογίζομαι", which is translated here "counted", "accounted", "impute" and "imputes".​

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." It speaks of "becomming" the righteousness of God in Him. It says nothing about being credited with His righteousness.
Actually, we have no righteousness other than the righteousness of Christ, our Savior. It should be apparent that if something we do, ie practice faith in what God reveals to us, serves to credit us with righteousness, then might we not continue to fashion our own way into salvation? However, for some reason, God sent His only Son to die in our place, BECAUSE we do not have the ability to appear as righteous before God in any way, shape or form.

God's righteousness demands perfection. Has there ever been on person who has claim to that perfection? Abraham also disobeyed God so his belief, while righteous in it's acceptance of God, cannot possibly achieve the total perfection of God. I am saying Abraham was not perfect which would be the requirement before God for acceptance before Him.

A person can be righteous one moment and sin the next. That, is not righteous nor acceptable for God's requirement for the penalty of sin, which is death. The only way to obtain this righteousness is through Jesus, His death on our behalf. That, is what is meant by 'we have the righteousness of Christ' as scripture declares.

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6

Abraham was long dead when Isaiah declared the above. No mention of any type of righteousness a person may make before God. Rather the declaration that even what we say or consider as righteous, is vile to God.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Romans 5:9

Justification means we are not considered as sinful beings before God as our Father in heaven now sees us as sinless because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. People sometimes have a problem with that concept and will declare 'oh but I still sin!' Well, that is why Jesus came to earth to die for us. His sacrifice is what is acceptable to God on our behalf. We have forgiveness in Jesus.
 
Nov 1, 2024
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#82
Again, TDNT says,

If we ignore these passages, and postpone for the moment our consideration of the distinctive Pauline formula δικαιοσύνη θεοῦ, we may first maintain that δικαιοσύνη is almost always used in the NT for the right conduct of man which follows the will of God and is pleasing to Him, for rectitude of life before God, for uprightness before His judgment. The fact that the basic relationship to God is always in view, and that it is related to the event of revelation, distinguishes this usage from Greek and Hellenistic ethics and links it firmly with the OT. [Schrenk, G. (1964–). δίκη, δίκαιος, δικαιοσύνη, δικαιόω, δικαίωμα, δικαίωσις, δικαιοκρισία. In G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley, & G. Friedrich (Eds.), Theological dictionary of the New Testament (electronic ed., Vol. 2, p. 198). Eerdmans.]​

How can a person orient his conduct to follow God's will and please Him without first knowing what God requires of him? Louw-Nida gets to the heart of the meaning of the NT's use of the word "righteousness" because it points us to God to first understand His will then do it.

Some people want to insert intermediaries between God and man to define His will and the things that please Him. Some examples are morality, law, and conscience, thinking that orienting oneself to these things makes a person right with God. But that is not the case. God interacts with human beings directly and makes His will known to them. If a person hears Him and learns from Him and does what He requires, that person is right with God from His point of view (and His POV is the only POV that counts).

As a side note, if a person chooses the law as an intermediary between him and God, thinking that he is righteous in God's eyes if he follows all His precepts as laid out in the Bible, then his righteousness is derived from obeying the law (Phil 3:9). But the righteousness that we have in Christ is righteousness which comes by faith (i.e., by trusting Him and walking as He leads).
Louw-Nida's "definition" reminds me of a movie (forget the name) in which they say "It's got electrolytes, they're what a body craves". Someone asks, "What are electrolytes?" and they answer "They're what a body craves"
 
Apr 7, 2024
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#83
Actually, we have no righteousness other than the righteousness of Christ, our Savior. It should be apparent that if something we do, ie practice faith in what God reveals to us, serves to credit us with righteousness, then might we not continue to fashion our own way into salvation? However, for some reason, God sent His only Son to die in our place, BECAUSE we do not have the ability to appear as righteous before God in any way, shape or form.

God's righteousness demands perfection. Has there ever been on person who has claim to that perfection? Abraham also disobeyed God so his belief, while righteous in it's acceptance of God, cannot possibly achieve the total perfection of God. I am saying Abraham was not perfect which would be the requirement before God for acceptance before Him.

A person can be righteous one moment and sin the next. That, is not righteous nor acceptable for God's requirement for the penalty of sin, which is death. The only way to obtain this righteousness is through Jesus, His death on our behalf. That, is what is meant by 'we have the righteousness of Christ' as scripture declares.

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Isaiah 64:6

Abraham was long dead when Isaiah declared the above. No mention of any type of righteousness a person may make before God. Rather the declaration that even what we say or consider as righteous, is vile to God.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Romans 5:9

Justification means we are not considered as sinful beings before God as our Father in heaven now sees us as sinless because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. People sometimes have a problem with that concept and will declare 'oh but I still sin!' Well, that is why Jesus came to earth to die for us. His sacrifice is what is acceptable to God on our behalf. We have forgiveness in Jesus.
I almost totally agree with you. After I sent my previous post, I realized it could lead a person to think that rightness with God is achieved by hearing and doing what God says. While it is true in one sense (i.e., we must trust God's testimony that we are sinners in need of a Savior and we must go to Jesus for the salvation He offers), the message of trust and obey is easily turned into salvation by faith plus works.

Certainly, the one and only thing that puts us and keeps us in a right relationship with God is Jesus' offering of Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Every sin we commit reinforces that same conclusion. And even though the only way to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit, nothing we do to walk in lock step with Him as He leads, guides, teaches, directs, corrects, and comforts us from the intimacy of our own hearts makes us righteous. As you said, He is our righteousness.
 
Aug 22, 2014
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#84
This is a tricky one. I've heard this preached a lot; usually they call it the "great exchange." But it doesn't sound right to me. The logical outcome of this teaching is the teaching that spiritually we are the righteousness of Christ but the flesh still sins. The whole thing sounds like Gnosticism to me.
That may be because the things of the Spirit are foolishness to you. I hope not, and defiantly cannot know that, but it makes perfect sense when you've been born of the Spirit, or "Born-Again".
 
Nov 1, 2024
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#85
How can a person orient his conduct to follow God's will and please Him without first knowing what God requires of him? Louw-Nida gets to the heart of the meaning of the NT's use of the word "righteousness" because it points us to God to first understand His will then do it.

Some people want to insert intermediaries between God and man to define His will and the things that please Him. Some examples are morality, law, and conscience, thinking that orienting oneself to these things makes a person right with God. But that is not the case. God interacts with human beings directly and makes His will known to them. If a person hears Him and learns from Him and does what He requires, that person is right with God from His point of view (and His POV is the only POV that counts).
It almost seems as if you view righteousness as an orientation towards God rather than a specific moral attribute. Is that a fair appraisal?
 
Oct 15, 2024
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#86
I almost totally agree with you. After I sent my previous post, I realized it could lead a person to think that rightness with God is achieved by hearing and doing what God says. While it is true in one sense (i.e., we must trust God's testimony that we are sinners in need of a Savior and we must go to Jesus for the salvation He offers), the message of trust and obey is easily turned into salvation by faith plus works.

Certainly, the one and only thing that puts us and keeps us in a right relationship with God is Jesus' offering of Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Every sin we commit reinforces that same conclusion. And even though the only way to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit, nothing we do to walk in lock step with Him as He leads, guides, teaches, directs, corrects, and comforts us from the intimacy of our own hearts makes us righteous. As you said, He is our righteousness.
Actually I did understand your post as you state above but reading further of your posts, I understood better. Thanks for your reply and clarification. It seems we agree on our understanding of righteousness only through Christ.