Why do so many oppose imputed righteousness?

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Sep 29, 2019
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170
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#21
It would appear that large numbers of Christians are opposed to the Gospel truth of imputed righteousness, and sincerely believe that they must add their own righteousness to the righteousness of Christ (or apart from the righteousness of Christ) in order to be accepted into Heaven. Many even falsely believe that water baptism saves them.

Imputed righteousness is so foreign to human experience that if we did not have the Word of God to show us that God literally credits the righteousness of Christ to every believer’s spiritual account, none of us would believe it.

But imputed righteousness cannot be isolated from justification by grace through faith. Therefore if we believe that God justifies the ungodly because they have trusted wholly in Christ and His finished work of redemption, then we must also believe that at that very moment God places the *robe* of the righteousness of Christ upon the one who repents and believes God.

We first read of imputed righteousness in the Old Testament, but it is brought out clearly in the New Testament in the account of Abel, who was murdered by his brother Cain: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.(Heb 11:4) In the same way Noah was deemed righteous because he believed, trusted, and obeyed God, his obedience being the outcome of his faith: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:8) We see here that grace and faith are connected.

But the Holy Spirit uses the example of Abraham as the man who was justified by grace through faith, and to whom God imputed righteousness when he believed God: And, behold, the Word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and He [the LORD] counted it to him for righteousness.

Thus the Holy Spirit also inspired Paul to take Abraham’s example and apply it to every believer in Romans 4. While the New Testament speaks of this critical matter in several places, it is in the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Romans that Paul – under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit – explains the meaning of imputed righteousness.

ROMANS 4
JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS WOULD GLORIFY MAN
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND WAS DEEMED RIGHTEOUS
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

GRACE IS EXCLUDED WHEN MEN BRING THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

WORKS ARE EXCLUDED WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

CIRCUMCISION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

CIRCUMCISION SHOULD ONLY BE A SIGN OF FAITH
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

TORAH OBSERVANCE DOES NOT MAKE ANYONE RIGHTEOUS
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

JUSTIFICATION IS PURELY BY GOD'S GRACE THROUGH FAITH
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS STRONG AND GAVE GLORY TO GOD
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

EVERY BELIEVER’S FAITH IN CHRIST IS ALSO IMPUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Nehemiah, what does this mean in everyday life? To have the righteousness of christ imputed to us? It won't necessarily mean we suddenly behave better to our neighbour. Or is it just before God we are righteouss?
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,320
1,448
113
#22
It would appear that large numbers of Christians are opposed to the Gospel truth of imputed righteousness, and sincerely believe that they must add their own righteousness to the righteousness of Christ (or apart from the righteousness of Christ) in order to be accepted into Heaven. Many even falsely believe that water baptism saves them.

Imputed righteousness is so foreign to human experience that if we did not have the Word of God to show us that God literally credits the righteousness of Christ to every believer’s spiritual account, none of us would believe it.

But imputed righteousness cannot be isolated from justification by grace through faith. Therefore if we believe that God justifies the ungodly because they have trusted wholly in Christ and His finished work of redemption, then we must also believe that at that very moment God places the *robe* of the righteousness of Christ upon the one who repents and believes God.

We first read of imputed righteousness in the Old Testament, but it is brought out clearly in the New Testament in the account of Abel, who was murdered by his brother Cain: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.(Heb 11:4) In the same way Noah was deemed righteous because he believed, trusted, and obeyed God, his obedience being the outcome of his faith: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:8) We see here that grace and faith are connected.

But the Holy Spirit uses the example of Abraham as the man who was justified by grace through faith, and to whom God imputed righteousness when he believed God: And, behold, the Word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and He [the LORD] counted it to him for righteousness.

Thus the Holy Spirit also inspired Paul to take Abraham’s example and apply it to every believer in Romans 4. While the New Testament speaks of this critical matter in several places, it is in the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Romans that Paul – under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit – explains the meaning of imputed righteousness.

ROMANS 4
JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS WOULD GLORIFY MAN
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND WAS DEEMED RIGHTEOUS
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

GRACE IS EXCLUDED WHEN MEN BRING THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

WORKS ARE EXCLUDED WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

CIRCUMCISION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

CIRCUMCISION SHOULD ONLY BE A SIGN OF FAITH
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

TORAH OBSERVANCE DOES NOT MAKE ANYONE RIGHTEOUS
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

JUSTIFICATION IS PURELY BY GOD'S GRACE THROUGH FAITH
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS STRONG AND GAVE GLORY TO GOD
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

EVERY BELIEVER’S FAITH IN CHRIST IS ALSO IMPUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
I agree with the doctrine of imputation as you bring it and explain it here. It is Christ and not our own righteousness that makes us acceptable in God's eyes.

I think that one reason people may react to the doctrine of imputation is if it used to imply that the believer does not need to obey and follow Christ.

I think that imputation needs to be put alongside the change that Christ makes in our lives when we are born again. We have been crucified, buried with Christ, and risen again with him. Now we are no longer the same person we were before - we are a new man in Christ Jesus - "old things are passed away, behold all things are become new". Hallelujah! The old life of bondage to sin is over and done away, and we can live above sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#23
“Imputed Righteousness” is Righteousness that we do not earn, and cannot earn, and neither can we merit such. It is freely given to the believing sinner upon confession of Faith in Christ. It is the only type of Righteousness that God will accept, because it’s based on the perfect Righteousness of Christ. It is obtained by evidencing Faith in Christ and His Perfect Sacrifice of Himself.

God only awards imputed righteousness by maintaining Faith exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work (Romans 4:5). God only recognize the blood of Jesus on the door post of our hearts. That Believer is now under the strongest law in the universe, " The Law Of The Spirit Of Life In Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2)." This law is stronger than "The Law Of Sin And Death (Romans 8:1-2)." So when you do miss the mark and sin, you still have imputed righteousness. Which means: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Sin has no dominion over you. (The Believer must confess their sins 1 John 1:9)

The Holy Spirit, Works strictly within the parameters of the "Finished Work" i.e., "the Cross of Christ", which demands that our Faith be exclusively in the Cross of Christ. The reason is simple, that's were the price was paid, and the victory was forever won (Romans 6:1-14; 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 5; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 2:14-15).

JSM
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#24
The only way the Believer can walk in the Spirit is by placing their Faith exclusively in Christ (who He is) and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was won (what He has done), i.e., The Finished Work, i.e., The Blood of Jesus (Romans 8:2).

The Believer must stay in His death, burial, and resurrection and are, therefore, victorious (It is Jesus Christ life that brings victory). That is the only way they (we) are triumphant in Christ (II Cor. 2:14). And that is the only way He can work in them (us) both to will (change their desires), and to do (give them the power of the Holy Spirit) (Phil. 2:13)
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#25
Nehemiah, what does this mean in everyday life? To have the righteousness of christ imputed to us? It won't necessarily mean we suddenly behave better to our neighbour. Or is it just before God we are righteouss?
Dibby,
Imputed righteousness cannot be segregated from everything else that is a part of salvation (even though I have simply focused on this because of Christians not understanding what it means).

When God justifies the one who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, He does many things simultaneously:
1. God imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer
2. God gives him/her the gift of eternal life
3. God gives him/her the gift of the Holy Spirit
4. God gives him/her the gift of Christ Himself
5. The Holy Spirit regenerates the believer who then becomes a new creature in Christ

This results is a transformed life (see the example of Saul of Tarsus in the Bible)
1. The one who truly believes turns away from his/her sins ans idols to serve God and Christ. (repentance)
2. The genuine believer receives Christ as both Lord and Savior, which means that the believer has surrendered his/her heart, soul, mind, and will to God and Christ.

What did Saul say in response to Christ? And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6)

And we see the outcome of this surrender shortly thereafter: And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:20)
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
#26
Those who have a zeal of God in Romans 10:1-2-3. have already been born again or they would not have a zeal of God. See 1 Cor 2:14, the natural man cannot discern the things of the Spirit and would never have a zeal o God. Those in Romans needed to be delivered from their lack of knowledge of the gospel just as do most of the ones on this forum. John 1:12-13, even says "which were (past tense) born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God". You are indoctrinated so much with the idea that man plays a part by his choice to be born again, that you can not see the meaning of a scripture that is right there in front of your eyes.

ooops

Saul was consumed with zeal. was he led by the Holy Spirit?

Those in Romans needed to be delivered from their lack of knowledge of the gospel just as do most of the ones on this forum.
fulla hot air




You are indoctrinated so much with the idea that man plays a part by his choice to be born again, that you can not see the meaning of a scripture that is right there in front of your eyes.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#27
i tend to think that a guilty conscience freely lifted away because of forgiveness through the finished work of Jesus is ”too good to be true” in some minds. That some may be able to receive initially, but not forever. Thus comes works.

Blood sprinkling on our conscience through confession is all that is necessary for a continual sense of His presence. Intimacy. And a clear hearing of His Voice.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#28
i tend to think that a guilty conscience freely lifted away because of forgiveness through the finished work of Jesus is ”too good to be true” in some minds. That some may be able to receive initially, but not forever. Thus comes works.

Blood sprinkling on our conscience through confession is all that is necessary for a continual sense of His presence. Intimacy. And a clear hearing of His Voice.
And partaking in the body and the blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine in The taking of the Lord's supper.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#29
2 Chronicles 7:12

“12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an House of Sacrifice. (The Lord not only answered Solomon’s prayer by a manifestation of the fire falling from Heaven, but, as well, He portrayed what He will do, as it regards Solomon’s petition, and in no uncertain terms.

As well, we find here that the Lord referred to the Temple as a “House of Sacrifice.” We should take note that the modern Church should fall into the same category, inasmuch as our Message should be, “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” [I Cor. 1:23]. The Cross must be the primary Message [Rom. 6:3-14; I Cor. 2:2].)”

During the time of the temple dedication, Solomon offered a staggering amount of sacrifices - 120,000 sheep and 22,000 oxen. So many sacrifices were performed that day that the Kidron, which ran between the temple site and the Mount of Olives, ran red with blood.

The Cross must be the primary Message [Rom. 6:3-14; I Cor. 2:2]


JSM
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,606
13,863
113
#30
The Holy Spirit, Works strictly within the parameters of the "Finished Work" i.e., "the Cross of Christ", which demands that our Faith be exclusively in the Cross of Christ.
Your response up to this point was on point. This part is idolatry.
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#31
What Jesus accomplished on the Cross has given the Holy Spirit the legal right to live in us, to help us. The Cross has given us access into the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19 NIV). Every single blessing received by the Child of God comes through Calvary.

The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
  1. Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings.
  2. The Cross is the means by which all blessings are given.
  3. The object of our faith must be Christ and the Cross.
  4. That being done, the Holy Spirit will greatly help us.
If the Cross of Christ is not strictly the Object of our Faith, God looks at everything else as "worldliness." No matter how religious our efforts may be otherwise, it is still looked at by the Lord as "friendship with the world." This means the Believer in essence becomes an "enemy of God."

Christians must start thinking Spiritually, which refers to the fact that everything is furnished to us through the Cross, and is obtained by Faith and not works. Many Christians say you put too much emphasis on the Cross. I remind you that the Apostle Paul said, "We preach Christ Crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). He also said, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Notice two subjects: Christ and the Cross. Why would the Apostle Paul say such a thing? Because that is the only way we receive victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after Me (the criteria for Discipleship), let him deny himself (not asceticism as many think, but rather that one denies one's own willpower, self-will, strength, and ability, depending totally on Christ), and take up his cross (the benefits of the Cross, looking exclusively to what Jesus did there to meet our every need) daily (this is so important, our looking to the Cross; that we must renew our Faith in what Christ has done for us, even on a daily basis, for Satan will ever try to move us away from the Cross as the Object of our Faith, which always spells disaster), and follow Me (Christ can be followed only by the Believer looking to the Cross, understanding what it accomplished, and by that means alone [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14; 8:1-2, 11; 1 Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 3:14-15]). Luke 9:23

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it (try to live one's life outside of Christ and the Cross): but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it (when we place our Faith entirely in Christ and the Cross, looking exclusively to Him, we have just found "more Abundant Life" [John 10:10]) Luke 9:24

JSM

As far as trying to do something as it concerns taking up the Cross daily, we are to do nothing. In fact, it was already done at Calvary some two thousand years ago. On a daily basis, we should reinforce our Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5; 8:2, Gal. 2:20-21, Col. 2:10-15). This is the "Truth" which we must learn, act upon, and continue to act upon, which guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit.

We are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Satan has been defeated through the Cross. Principalities and powers have been spoiled (Col. 2:15). We are enforcing this victory through applying the Cross of Calvary to the pulling down strongholds by placing and maintaining our Faith exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won, i.e., "The Blood of Jesus." Our source of Power is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (Exodus 14:14). "In Justification, the Lord fights 'for' us, and in Sanctification, He fights 'in' us."

Two kinds of peace
  1. Justifying Peace - This is Peace with God, a legal standing. Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:14-15
  2. Sanctifying Peace - This is the Peace of God in the heart. Rom. 8:6; 14:19; 15:13; Gal. 1:3
The first is the result of a legal standing. The second is the result of the Work of the Holy Spirit. The first is static, never fluctuates, the second changes almost from hour to hour. The first, every Christian has, the second, every Christian may have.

Sanctifying peace allows the Holy Spirit to deliver the Believer into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ so that the Life of Christ is manifested through the Believer by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 4:11, Gal. 2:20-21, Romans 8:2; 13, John 14:21). We must remember, it is His Life (Christ) that brings the victory, and not ours.

The Word of God for the people of God, thanks be to God, Amen.
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
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#32
It would appear that large numbers of Christians are opposed to the Gospel truth of imputed righteousness, and sincerely believe that they must add their own righteousness to the righteousness of Christ (or apart from the righteousness of Christ) in order to be accepted into Heaven. Many even falsely believe that water baptism saves them.

Imputed righteousness is so foreign to human experience that if we did not have the Word of God to show us that God literally credits the righteousness of Christ to every believer’s spiritual account, none of us would believe it.

But imputed righteousness cannot be isolated from justification by grace through faith. Therefore if we believe that God justifies the ungodly because they have trusted wholly in Christ and His finished work of redemption, then we must also believe that at that very moment God places the *robe* of the righteousness of Christ upon the one who repents and believes God.

We first read of imputed righteousness in the Old Testament, but it is brought out clearly in the New Testament in the account of Abel, who was murdered by his brother Cain: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.(Heb 11:4) In the same way Noah was deemed righteous because he believed, trusted, and obeyed God, his obedience being the outcome of his faith: But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:8) We see here that grace and faith are connected.

But the Holy Spirit uses the example of Abraham as the man who was justified by grace through faith, and to whom God imputed righteousness when he believed God: And, behold, the Word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and He [the LORD] counted it to him for righteousness.

Thus the Holy Spirit also inspired Paul to take Abraham’s example and apply it to every believer in Romans 4. While the New Testament speaks of this critical matter in several places, it is in the fourth chapter of the epistle to the Romans that Paul – under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit – explains the meaning of imputed righteousness.

ROMANS 4
JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS WOULD GLORIFY MAN
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND WAS DEEMED RIGHTEOUS
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

GRACE IS EXCLUDED WHEN MEN BRING THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

WORKS ARE EXCLUDED WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

CIRCUMCISION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

CIRCUMCISION SHOULD ONLY BE A SIGN OF FAITH
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

TORAH OBSERVANCE DOES NOT MAKE ANYONE RIGHTEOUS
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

JUSTIFICATION IS PURELY BY GOD'S GRACE THROUGH FAITH
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS STRONG AND GAVE GLORY TO GOD
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

EVERY BELIEVER’S FAITH IN CHRIST IS ALSO IMPUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5:12-19 provides the answer.

People usually have some difficulty accepting that they are sinners because of Adam's disobedience. They then sin because they are sinners.

Most of us like to think that it is our individual sins that cause God to reject us, but Paul is clear that it was ultimately Adam's disobedience that made God rejects all of us.

Once you are able to accept that, then accepting that God sees you righteous because of Jesus's obedience, and not yours, would be much easier to accept.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
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#33
Romans 5:12-19 provides the answer
You have a good point. At the same time Romans 3 tells us that our sins separate us from God, and we are all therefore guilty before God.
 
Jan 12, 2019
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#34
You have a good point. At the same time Romans 3 tells us that our sins separate us from God, and we are all therefore guilty before God.
Except for a few rare times, definitely not in romans 3, Paul always refer to sin as a noun and not a verb.
 

DeighAnn

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
Jun 11, 2019
2,436
760
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#35
I don't think it is the imputed righteousness that people have a problem with, it is all the people insisting we QUIT doing anything, especially works, for what ever their reason, that comes afterwards. If everyone would have quit doing "works", it all would have died right then and there. It seems to me that any time "works for God" comes into play there is this or that in some way or another making works seem "bad".

Don't do works because if you do, you are working for/or to keep your salvation. Don't do works you have been made righteous. Don't do works your have been justified. Don't follow Gods laws or you are not truly saved. Be dead to the law, BEFORE you have gone through the law to become dead to them. Rest, don't work. Don't do anything on your own because Jesus/Spirit does it all. What is our "purpose"?

If God gives us everything and we do nothing what are we worth? Why didn't He just make a billion little Hims?
And why doesn't anyone want to move past the "milk"?

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
 
Sep 3, 2016
6,344
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#36
I don't think it is the imputed righteousness that people have a problem with, it is all the people insisting we QUIT doing anything, especially works, for what ever their reason, that comes afterwards. If everyone would have quit doing "works", it all would have died right then and there. It seems to me that any time "works for God" comes into play there is this or that in some way or another making works seem "bad".

Don't do works because if you do, you are working for/or to keep your salvation. Don't do works you have been made righteous. Don't do works your have been justified. Don't follow Gods laws or you are not truly saved. Be dead to the law, BEFORE you have gone through the law to become dead to them. Rest, don't work. Don't do anything on your own because Jesus/Spirit does it all. What is our "purpose"?

If God gives us everything and we do nothing what are we worth? Why didn't He just make a billion little Hims?
And why doesn't anyone want to move past the "milk"?

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
All works must be produced and birth by the Holy Spirit or it is dead works. The "Golden Bell and the Pomegranate" must bounce against each other or it is tingling cymbal and sounding brass. The Golden Bell = The Gift of the Spirit, and the Pomegranate = The Fruit of the Spirit (Exodus 28:34). We need both to be in operation.

We need "The Golden Bells (The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the spirit) and the Pomegranates (The Fruit of the Holy Spirit that gives us victory over sin) Exodus 28:34 NIV. If you have two bells and no fruit bouncing against each other you have 1 Corinthians 13:1, clanging cymbals.

One without the other produces an inconsistency and it is a problem. To say you don't need both is doubt and unbelief which is never acceptable to God. The Bell presents the power and the Pomegranate presents relationship. You must have the development of both. These are two different works of the Holy Spirit; the fruits and the gifts. The Golden Bells and the Pomegranate is a TYPE.

Faith placed exclusively in Christ and His Finished Work, i.e., The Cross, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, will always produce proper works by the Holy Spirit. This is the only Faith God will recognize. Anything and everything that is not of the Spirit is "dead faith." Lifeless Faith is profitless (rotten fruit). James 2:14-18

The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans 6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)

Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!

The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).

1. Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings.
2. The Cross is the means by which all blessings are given.
3. The object of our faith must be Christ and the Cross.
4. That being done, the Holy Spirit will greatly help us.

JSM
 
Sep 3, 2016
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#37
Question for all? Open your bibles! If "Grace is frustrated," and Christ becomes of no effect to this person, does the person still receive imputed righteousness from God?
That being the case, all Righteousness is stopped, because no Righteousness can come by law, whether God-devised or man-devised. If it can, then Jesus didn’t need to come down here and die on a Cross.

So, we are told in this one Verse of Scripture that it is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified,” or it is nothing!

JSM
 
Feb 28, 2016
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#38
it plainly states in 'scripture' that there is a (righteousness of The Law)
PS. 119:172.
My tongue shall speak of Thy Word: for ALL Your Commandments are righteousness.
the Law NEVER CLAIMS to bring Righteousness of Salvation, this is NOT its PURPOSE -
it's PURPOSE is to show us 'sin', as Paul says, in
ROMANS 7:7.
What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the Law:
for I had not known 'lust', except the Law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
ROMANS 2:13.
(For not the hearers of the Law are JUST before God', but the DOERS of the Law shall be JUSTIFIED.)