Jesus Christ gave His life to bring to Himself a Spotless Bride, the Church. She is not spotless now, practically speaking, but she is spotless positionally, by justifying faith.
The Cross has a power in the life of those for whom it was planned and accomplished. The faith of God's elect in Jesus Christ, obtains God's righteousness imputed, and the same faith, continued until death or until He comes, obtains God's righteousness practically.
The faith that looks upon Jesus Christ on the Cross and receives salvation, is the same faith which beholds the face of Jesus Christ and is transformed from glory to glory. By beholding the Lord of glory in His Word, the saints of God are being conformed to His image, the image of the Son of God, and are being transformed by the renewing of their mind to approve of God's will, because they behold it in the life of Jesus Christ.
What a thrill to contemplate our position; perfect righteousness of God.
What a thrill to contemplate our transition; to a life filled with the perfect righteousness of God.
All to the praise & glory & honour of Him who gave His life, that we might be made spotless, without blemish, holy, to be presented to Him, the Great Bridegroom.
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Where does the Bible say "God's righteousness imputed"?
ReplyDeleteHi Nick
ReplyDeleteGreat question. Romans 1:16-17 says the purpose of the gospel is "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith".
Abraham was an example of all believers and it is said of him in Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
That word "counted" could also be translated imputed.
The righteousness of God is imputed to the one who believes in Jesus Christ.
Rick
Hi Rick,
ReplyDeleteThe problem I have with that is that you are drawing from Rom 1:17 and then applying it to Rom 4, that's 3 chapters away.
And the term "counted" in Greek also appears in other places, for example:
"Romans 6:11In the same way, COUNT yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Surely you are to reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to Christ because you really are. If Paul meant "impute" by that word, he would be saying count yourself dead to sin but in fact you are not dead to sin and in fact are not alive to Christ. That doesn't make sense.
"Romans 8: 18For I RECKON that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Here again Paul using the same Greek word as in Rom 4, here he RECKONS that our sufferings in this life cannot compare to the glory of Heaven, and that is correct. If Paul meant "impute" here he would be saying the present sufferings are in fact comparable to Heavenly glory, but that cannot be right.
So when Paul uses the term "counted" as righteousness, that means Abraham's faith must have been a truly righteous act. Just as Phinehas' good work was "credited as righteousness" (Ps 106:30-31), using the same phrase as Gen 15:6 in Hebrew and Greek.
Dear Nick
ReplyDeleteThe whole of Romans is a treatise on the Gospel of God 1:1, in which Paul explains and expounds on how the just live by faith and apprehend the righteousness of God. What Paul writes in the beginning of the letter is relevant to what he writes later on the letter.
The righteousness of God which is revealed in the gospel 1:16-17, is displayed upon the cross in the person of Jesus Christ 3:21-26, and is apprehended by faith, as demonstrated in the example of Abraham in chapter 4.
A chapter change does not signify a new thought or new meaning to words. When Paul wrote the letter, there were no chapter divisions; he was writing a letter as I am now writing in response to you.
Justification by faith at the beginning of chapter 5, still has the same meaning as that laid out before hand. Faith apprehends the righteousness of God.
A truly righteous act would contradict what Paul has written in the preceding verses, where he asks the rhetorical question, what has Abraham found pertaining to the flesh, and if Abraham had done any righteous works then he would have something to glory in. What is Paul’s answer? But, not before God.
Abraham has not done anything righteous to obtain God’s righteousness. Abraham through faith, which is the gift of God’s grace, has obtained the righteousness of God, which cannot be obtained by works of righteousness, but only as a free gift of God.
Abraham believed, but where did he obtain that faith from? Faith is the gift of God. Salvation is by grace through faith. Salvation is not of works, lest anyone might boast. But, no one can boast before God, because salvation is all of God’s grace.
The righteousness of God is only obtained by faith, and faith is the gift of God. Faith is not a righteous act, but is an act of trusting the only One who has lived righteously.
When Israel was in the wilderness, and God sent forth fiery serpents as judgment of their sin, their act of looking at the brazen serpent was not righteous, but their faith in God’s provision as pictured by the brazen serpent saved them from death. Their trust was not in their own act, but in the action of God in promising life through a look at the brazen serpent. It was the righteousness of God they trusted in, not their own righteous act. They were suffering because their acts were unrighteous.
So it is with God’s righteousness on the cross. Many look upon the cross; God shall draw all men; but not all look with faith, belief, or trust in the righteousness of God displayed upon the Cross. Only those that trust in the righteousness of God in the person of Jesus Christ, Jehovah in the flesh, receive the righteousness of God. Sinners have no acts of righteousness themselves. All your righteousness is as filthy rags. God would not impute filthy rags into righteousness. God imputes trusting in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ as if you had lived that perfect righteousness yourself.
It is not the act of looking, but the trusting in the finished work of Christ Jesus that is counted as righteousness, whereby God accounts that person righteous. It is an actual position change, from unrighteous, to righteous. It is as if you had never sinned and as if you had lived perfectly righteous all your life. Yet, it is not by your act that you are justified, but by the act of God through Jesus Christ.
In Jesus Christ,
Rick
Sorry for not getting back here sooner.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there were no chapter divisions, but there is still sufficient "distance" between the texts that I don't think it is warranted to make such a leap that the "righteousness" mentioned in Rom 4 is that of previous 'chapters', esp 1:17.
When you said: "A truly righteous act would contradict what Paul has written in the preceding verses..."
I would take caution here. I'm going by the Greek term here, including how Romans uses it elsewhere. To say the definition of logizomai I have established from the text would "contradict Paul" is a red flag to me: would Paul use a term that contradicts his message?
I don't deny all gifts come from God, including faith, so there is no room to boast, but that in no way rules out the gift of faith can then be considered as a righteous act when properly used.
I think you are very wrong to say "faith is not a righteous act," because it would severely undermine texts like Hebrews 11, among others. I see no contradiction or conflict with faith being a gift and a righteous act, nor does it open the door for any boasting.
If faith were a righteous act thereby obtaining God's righteousness, we would have something in which to boast.
ReplyDeleteFaith is throwing off all confidence in who we are, what we can do, and putting all confidence in the work of Jesus Christ. We do not trust that our faith saves, but it is faith in Jesus Christ which saves.
Your leap that Paul has a different righteousness in mind is greater than mine. I believe Paul is writing a letter that is unified in theme and progresses in developing that theme, the gospel of God.
I don't think that is true. If God gives us the grace and gifts to do X, then we cannot boast for doing X. It would be false boasting at that point. Just like how you cannot boast that you paid to get into a movie if someone gave you the money to get in.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is faith in Christ that saves and that we are not putting confidence in ourselves, that's a given. In the case of Abraham, Romans 4:18-22, it is clear that Abraham knew he was well beyond age to have a son, yet He trusted in God's promise to bring it about, and God was pleased at Abraham's trust and saw it as a righteous act. This is why Abraham was blessed (Gen 26:4-5).
Also, I don't see my "leap" when there is no indication this is "God's righteousness" which Rom 4 is talking about. Romans talks about righteousness all over the place, but you would agree that not every time the term is used it must mean "righteousness of God."
The last mention of righteousness in Romans, is God's righteousness by faith of Jesus Christ. The burden of proving that Paul was no longer writing about God's righteousness when he gives Abraham as an example would rest on you.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a leap to say that just because God's righteousness is mentioned last that it must be the same righteousness used elsewhere, especially Gen 15:6, quoted in Rom 4:3. There is no indication Gen 15:6 was talking about "righteousness of God."
ReplyDeleteWhenever righteousness is used in reference to God, the text always says "His righteousness" or "God's righteousness," such references are not found in chapter 4. On top of that, you would put yourself in the absurd position of having to say "righteousness" must be the "righteousness of God" in any given NT text where "righteousness" is mentioned. Your argument has no way to determine when righteousness mentioned in a text is God's or not (eg when does "righteousness" in Romans stop being "God's righteousness"?).
Further, the meaning of "God's righteousness" is not something that makes sense being imputed. For example, in Rom 3:21-26 it talks about God "demonstrating" His righteousness, meaning it is a characteristic of Himself NOT a status (ie active obedience). In Rom 3:5 "righteousness of God" is contrasted to human 'unrighteousness,' which are sins, but the opposite of human unrighteousness is not God's righteousness, it's virtue.
Nick
ReplyDeleteThe burden of proof lies on you to prove that it is not speaking of the righteousness of God.
Christ is presented as the righteousness of God, by which God justifies by faith, then Paul writes that Abraham is justified by faith.
Same thought, same righteousness. Unless you can prove otherwise, Paul is writing about the same thing that he was writing about in the previous paragraph.
Yes, Abraham believed in Gen. 15:6, and by faith he was accounted to the position of having the righteousness of God. That is what Paul says.
Otherwise you have twisted what Paul has said in context in Romans 3-4, in which case you are putting forth heretical teaching.
Rick
Nick
ReplyDeleteAlso, that faith is a righteous act contradicts what is said of David afterward, that God imputes righteousness without works.
Faith, when properly understood, is God working in & through the person, so that God gets all the glory and no one has any right to boast.
If it were my faith, then I would have a reason to boast, but it is the faith of Jesus Christ living in me, by & through the Person of the Holy Spirit, who circumcises my heart and gives me the faith.
Later, in verse 16, it is faith that it might be by grace, not by a righteous act, but by the free undeserved gift of God.
Rick
You said: The burden of proof lies on you to prove that it is not speaking of the righteousness of God.
ReplyDeleteNick: I stated my case, and one of the main problems your argument faces is that you have no way of knowing when Paul stops meaning "righteousness of God" as he continues to use the term "righteousness." Without the qualifier "God's" or "His," then you can't just assume.
You said: Christ is presented as the righteousness of God, by which God justifies by faith, then Paul writes that Abraham is justified by faith.
Nick: That's not quite accurate. Christ is not equated as the righteousness of God in Rom 3, rather He is the manifestation of God's righteousness. The "righteousness of God" as Paul uses it is not a person, it's a characteristic of God.
You said: Yes, Abraham believed in Gen. 15:6, and by faith he was accounted to the position of having the righteousness of God. That is what Paul says.
Nick: but look at the passage:
"Abraham believed God, and God counted it as God's righteousness."
That doesn't make sense grammatically or logically.
You said: Also, that faith is a righteous act contradicts what is said of David afterward, that God imputes righteousness without works.
Nick: The works condemned here are the "works of debt" of v4, meaning works done with the intention God owes you. The point of David's Psalm 32 was that since he lost his justification and was now repenting, he could only approach God in humility, and that God will not turn down humble repentance. God never OWES forgiveness, hence doing anything with the intent he owes is a "work of debt."
You said: Faith, when properly understood, is God working in & through the person, so that God gets all the glory and no one has any right to boast.
Nick: Faith is a gift, it can be used or abused, but never does it give room to boast as if it came from you. When properly used, it is a righteous act, and that's the only way Rom 4:18-22 can be properly understood.
You said: Later, in verse 16, it is faith that it might be by grace, not by a righteous act, but by the free undeserved gift of God.
Nick: The point of v16 and it's context is that salvation never came by the law because God's plan of salvation existed before the mosaic law was even given (see the parallel passage in Gal 3:15-18). The main point of Rom 4 is that since Abraham was justified prior to the law and circumcision, then the law and circumcision have no part at all in justification.
The righteousness of God is obtained by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:22
ReplyDeleteThe righteousness of God is manifested in Jesus Christ Romans 3:21-26
God justifies the ungodly by giving them His righteousness Romans 3:26
God gives His righteousness to the one who possesses faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 3:26
God justifies freely, by grace, not by any righteous acts of the person. Romans 3:24
All are sinners and unworthy of receiving God's righteousness apart from God's grace. Romans 3:23
Abraham is an example of one who is justified, not by works, but by faith. Romans 4:2
Abraham is counted as being in a position of righteousness not by works, but by faith. Romans 4:3
Abraham's faith was in Jesus. John 8:56 Therefore, Abraham's righteousness was that by faith, which is the righteousness of God.
The righteousness of faith, is the righteousness of God, which is presented in the gospel. Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-26
Praise be to God, who gives His righteousness to unrighteous sinners through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
God makes His people the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. 2Cor. 5:21 The only way to be in Jesus Christ is by faith, by grace, the gift of God.
Paul was not after a righteousness of his own, by works, by a righteous act of his own, but the righteousness of God which is through faith of Jesus Christ, which is the righteousness of God. Philippians 3:9
May those who oppose the truth be granted repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
Rick